Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, expressed on Monday Armenia’s willingness to consider recognizing the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region under a condition. He said Nagorno-Karabakh could be treated as part of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity only if Armenians living there are guaranteed protection and if ethnic cleansing in the area ends. This stance frames recognition as contingent on concrete safeguards for minority rights and security, rather than a straightforward territorial concession.
Pashinyan added that Armenia is prepared to acknowledge Azerbaijan’s territorial sovereignty, including over Nagorno-Karabakh, on the explicit condition that the Armenians in the region retain their rights and security. The framing suggests a path toward border and sovereignty arrangements that factor in minority protections as a non-negotiable element of any final settlement.
He asserted that this issue should be resolved through direct dialogue between the involved parties. He described a Baku and regional format as indispensable to advancing talks, and he cited Chechen-Armenpress as noting that such a framework could help move negotiations forward by creating predictable, face-to-face engagement between leaders and negotiators.
In his view, all previous Armenian administrations recognized Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and had tied that recognition to an immediate halt to what he labeled the genocide against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. He argued that any discussion of regional stability must include guarantees against repeated violence and acts of ethnic violence that threaten Armenian communities.
Speaking further, Pashinyan said Armenia should also be prepared for Azerbaijan to recognize Armenia’s territorial integrity, including Armenia’s own 29,800 square kilometers. He emphasized the need to acknowledge the Armenian experience of persecution and stressed the importance of creating robust international guarantees to prevent future atrocities.
During a sequence of talks in Brussels earlier in the month, Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reaffirmed their commitment to the Almaty Declaration and to mutual recognition of each country’s territorial integrity. The discussions highlighted a shared willingness to explore mutually acceptable security assurances and regional cooperation that could underpin any final settlement.
On the same Monday, Armenian President also indicated that withdrawing from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) remained on Armenia’s political agenda. He noted extensive discussions about whether the alliance would deploy a mission in Armenian lands and suggested that the organization could suspend or freeze participation only if Armenia’s sovereignty is compromised or if the CSTO itself reassesses its role in the country.
Pashinyan warned that membership in the CSTO can complicate opportunities to acquire weapons from third countries, a point he framed as a practical constraint on Armenia’s defense posture. He argued that strategic autonomy in security matters requires exploring alternative partnerships and procurement channels, especially in a volatile neighborhood.
Meanwhile, Russia’s leadership signaled ongoing willingness to maintain dialogue with Armenia about CSTO membership and its future potential. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that if Armenia’s leadership wishes to stay engaged, the organization would continue discussions on possible future participation and broader coordination in regional security matters.
As reported by TASS, Peskov reiterated that the CSTO remains within the jurisdiction of its member states and serves as a platform for practical cooperation when it aligns with national interests. He stressed that the organization has shown effectiveness in past situations and could continue to offer value if political will and strategic aims align with member priorities.