Armenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, stated that he proposed a non-aggression pact with Azerbaijan if the signing of a peace agreement between the two states were delayed. This update was reported by Sputnik Armenia.
He explained that if the peace accord could not be finalized on schedule, Armenia would consider a non-aggression agreement, and he noted that a joint arms control mechanism had been suggested to Baku.
Pashinyan also pointed to recent comments from Baku about Armenian military reforms and the weapons and equipment Armenia has acquired. He argued that maintaining a capable military is a sovereign prerogative of the state, and questioning this right would amount to questioning Armenia’s right to exist.
The prime minister added that he is prepared to offer long-term assurances that Armenia will hold no territorial claims, while he expects reciprocal commitments from neighboring Azerbaijan.
On January 19, Nikol Pashinyan met in Yerevan with Javier Colomina, the representative of the NATO Secretary General for the Caucasus and Central Asia.
In Moscow, a former Russian foreign ministry official characterized Pashinyan’s remarks about Russia as unacceptable.