In a meeting with members of the Armenian community in Moldova, Armenia’s prime minister addressed the sensitivity surrounding historic Armenian and Azerbaijani settlements within the borders of both nations during the Soviet era. He urged calm and cautioned against overstating the issues tied to these settlements. The discussion focused on how to approach the legacy of villages that once existed across the Armenian SSR and the Azerbaijan SSR, and what it means for today’s diplomatic and regional dynamics.
During the exchange, the prime minister referenced the village known by different names in each country. He noted that the starting point should be the legal realities that underlie any territorial questions, rather than a purely political rhetoric. He suggested that if a map from 1975 shows a village as part of Azerbaijan, the current approach should respect that historical record while recognizing the need for practical governance and peaceful coexistence. He emphasized that political rhetoric should not magnify issues that could complicate relations or inflate the importance of disputed locales beyond their real impact.
On the matter of territorial enclaves and their transport implications, the prime minister stated that there are no Armenian enclaves expected to cause unsustainable transport problems. This point was presented as part of a broader argument about the manageable nature of Armenia’s geography and infrastructure, and the ways in which historical borders should be reconciled with contemporary travel and trade routes. The discussion underscored a preference for solutions grounded in legal frameworks and practical engineering rather than sensational narratives.
Earlier reporting indicated that high-level leaders from both Armenia and Azerbaijan, specifically the Armenian prime minister and President Ilham Aliyev, were planning a meeting in Moldova with the European Union’s leadership to discuss ongoing tensions and potential paths forward. The anticipated gathering highlighted the international interest in stabilizing the region and fostering direct dialogue between the two governments. The timing of this diplomatic engagement underscores a concerted effort to address sensitive historical memories while pursuing a forward-looking agenda for cooperation and peace in the South Caucasus.