Azerbaijan and Armenia signaled mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity, a development discussed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during the sidelines of a regional summit. The reports indicate that this acknowledgment points to progress in stabilizing relations between the two nations.
Speaking on the basis of this accord, officials noted continued steps toward resolving outstanding issues. Pashinyan stressed the importance of safeguarding the rights and security of residents in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) within an international framework, and he voiced hope for a constructive dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert, the capital of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
On the Azerbaijani side, President Ilham Aliyev stated that Baku no longer has territorial claims against Armenia, underscoring a potential path to a formal peace agreement between the two countries in light of Armenia’s recognition of Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. He noted that there are strong prerequisites for normalizing relations and advancing regional cooperation.
The summit atmosphere also featured a dispute over terminology. Officials from both sides described a moment of tension following the use of the term Zangezur corridor, which was viewed by Armenia as signaling territorial claims. The Armenian side reminded that the tripartite statement involving Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan refers only to the Lachin corridor, which links Armenia with Artsakh. In response, Azerbaijani representatives argued that a corridor linking Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory does not infringe on Armenia’s borders and is a standard international concept used for regional connectivity.
Pashinyan highlighted that the Lachin corridor, which did not see Aliyev’s participation in certain discussions, faced closures during the talks. Meanwhile, President Putin expressed hope for a productive discussion among the three leaders and a clear, detailed examination of shared economic development interests in the region. The emphasis remained on reaching tangible agreements through a trilateral format that includes all sides regularly involved in the dialogue.
Putin also stressed the importance of the foundational agreements regarding territorial integrity and asked that consensus be sought on related issues. The unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, led by Arayik Harutyunyan, urged Armenian authorities to avoid actions or statements that might be interpreted as confirming Karabakh’s incorporation into Azerbaijan. Harutyunyan asserted that Artsakh would not be part of Azerbaijan and pledged continued international support for Artsakh’s position, even in difficult times.
Harutyunyan rejected the legitimacy of any move that would imply a change in Nagorno-Karabakh’s status. Meanwhile, Pashinyan asserted that guarantees must be put in place to prevent any renewal of ethnic cleansing or genocide against Armenians in the region. Armenia indicated a willingness to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan only if the security of the Armenian population in Artsakh is assured. The Armenian side also signaled ongoing intensive negotiations toward a peace framework with Baku and anticipated the signing of a formal text soon.
In Baku’s view, the signing of a peace agreement with Armenia is seen as inevitable, with constructive efforts to align such an accord with international principles and norms. Pashinyan outlined that border delimitation should be based on historical maps and documents from the era of the Soviet military authorities, suggesting that maps could form the basis for containment and the broader peace process as previously agreed in Prague in 2022 and in the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991.
There were further clarifications on territorial realities, with statements indicating that area calculations and maps would guide future confidence-building measures. The dialogue emphasized that both sides acknowledge the need to move forward with tangible agreements while addressing the rights and security of their respective populations. The path to a durable peace thus hinges on balancing political commitments with practical guarantees for those living in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.
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