Baku sets key condition for peace with Armenia

Azerbaijan firmly rejects a statement issued by the Armenian prime minister’s office on March 18, accusing it of distorting facts about border incidents and making baseless accusations against Baku, Azerbaijani foreign ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizadeh said on Tuesday.

Hajizadeh, responding to Yerevan’s claims of cross-border shootings, said that ending ceasefire violations and halting provocations by Armenian forces, documented in video recordings, are essential for regional stability.

“Instead of demonstrating goodwill by stopping provocations, Yerevan continues to put forward vague and unrealistic proposals, similar to those made during nearly 30 years of occupation of Azerbaijani territories,” Hajizadeh said.  

He added that these proposals resemble those once pushed by the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs instead of calls to end the occupation.

He also questioned Armenia’s ongoing military buildup near the border, arguing that it contradicts its stated commitment to peace.

Constitutional reforms are a prerequisite for a peace deal
Hajizadeh stressed that Armenia’s reluctance to amend its constitution, which still contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan, is a major concern.

“Despite being aware of the need to amend its constitution, Armenia has taken no steps in this direction. Azerbaijan maintains that a key condition for signing a peace agreement is the removal of these territorial claims,” he said.

He also reiterated Baku’s demand for the formal dissolution of the OSCE Minsk group, calling it a defunct entity with no role in the current peace process.

Armenia’s commitments to transport links are unfulfilled
Hajizadeh accused Armenia of failing to honor its written commitments to open transit routes connecting Azerbaijan’s western regions with the Nakhchivan autonomous republic.

“Despite signing agreements on opening transport links, Armenia has not fulfilled its commitments for four years,” he said.

Azerbaijan rejects Armenia’s stance on arms control
Hajizadeh also dismissed Armenia’s criticism of arms control mechanisms, arguing that Yerevan lacks the moral authority to discuss such issues.

“For nearly 30 years, Armenia systematically violated its international obligations on arms control, concealed large portions of its military equipment, and illegally deployed weapons on Azerbaijani territories during the occupation,” he said.

N.Tebrizli