UNITED NATIONS: Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, declared at the UN General Assembly that a “partial peace” with Armenia is not an option, despite Yerevan’s optimistic tone.
The two nations have been locked in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway ethnic Armenian region in Azerbaijan. After decades of tension, Azerbaijan reclaimed the area in a swift military operation last year, leading to the mass exodus of nearly 120,000 Armenians.
Bayramov emphasized that peace cannot be achieved without Armenia abandoning its constitutional references to “reunification” with Nagorno-Karabakh, which he claims still challenge Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. He also raised concerns about Armenia’s rising military spending and acquisition of offensive weaponry.
While Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed hope that peace is “within reach,” Bayramov insisted that Armenia must legally relinquish all territorial claims to finalize any treaty. The two countries have reportedly agreed on 80% of a peace treaty, including border delineation, but Azerbaijan wants all issues resolved before signing.
Bayramov acknowledged progress in negotiations but stressed that expeditious steps are needed to secure lasting peace. The international community is also pushing for an agreement before the upcoming COP29 climate summit, set to take place in Baku in November, increasing the urgency for both nations to reach a deal.
