Armenia is negotiating new minefield maps in Nagorno-Karabakh, aiming to build trust with Azerbaijan and involve the international community in the process. The goal is to establish a safer environment and foster transparency around the location and status of mined areas. The effort reflects a broader push to reduce risk and improve regional stability through verified information and cooperative verification mechanisms.
Armenia has previously provided minefield maps to Azerbaijan on two occasions. In both cases, Baku raised concerns about inaccuracies in the data, underscoring the challenges of achieving precise, mutually accepted information on contaminated zones. The discussions continue to focus on improving data quality, expanding field surveys, and aligning technical standards so that any transferred maps are reliable and useful for de-mining operations and civilian protection.
The current approach involves designing new maps through comprehensive surveys. If an atmosphere of trust is cultivated and confidence-building measures take hold, Yerevan signals a willingness to share those updated maps with Azerbaijan. In this next phase, the process would invite international observers and organizations to participate, aiming to strengthen legitimacy and ensure neutrality in how information is gathered, verified, and transmitted.
In related developments, the Armenian leadership notes historical steps taken in the past to facilitate transparency, including the transfer of minefield information from areas controlled by Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan. These actions are cited as part of ongoing efforts to demonstrate commitment to peace, safety, and international norms governing post-conflict reconstruction and risk reduction.
Recent administrative changes in Nagorno-Karabakh have shaped the regional governance landscape. A decree signaling the termination of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s formal existence and the subsequent legal and administrative adaptations have implications for how border security, de-mining coordination, and humanitarian protection are managed in the transition period. Observers emphasize the importance of clear, verifiable records and cooperative mechanisms to prevent gaps in mine clearance and civilian safety during this transition.
Earlier reports mentioned that Azerbaijan had received an updated version of a peace framework from Armenia. The exchange of peace proposals and amendments continues to be a central channel for advancing negotiations, with mine action and risk reduction playing a critical supporting role. Stakeholders stress that durable peace depends not only on political agreements but also on the practical measures that reduce danger on the ground and protect civilians in affected areas.