Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Yerevan has invited Baku to sign a formal agreement aimed at mutual arms control. This development was reported by the Russian news agency TASS and echoed by official circles in Yerevan. The message conveys a willingness to explore binding arrangements that would create transparent monitoring practices and verification mechanisms for weapons, with both sides agreeing to observe and report on compliance. In the surrounding diplomatic discourse, the goal is to reduce misperceptions and build confidence that reductions or restraints on weapon systems could be implemented in a verifiable manner, thereby decreasing the likelihood of unilateral moves that could destabilize the region. The emphasis appears to be on practical steps that could establish a baseline for restraint and numerical transparency, even as broader security questions persist in the Nagorno-Karabakh context and beyond. The overall tone of the remarks suggests a priority on dialogue and risk reduction that can form part of a broader framework for peace efforts between the two states.
On January 4, Hikmet Hajiyev, the Vice President of Azerbaijan and head of the Presidential Foreign Policy Administration Department, indicated that substantial progress has been achieved in drafting a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. While noting forward momentum, he also acknowledged that several substantive issues remain unresolved. He described the current discussions as having a constructive trajectory, with an agenda that contains both promising elements and complex challenges that require careful negotiation. The statements signal a continuing process in which practical security arrangements and long-term political agreements are being integrated, even as negotiators confront the delicate balance between national concerns and regional stability. In this framing, the path forward includes continued textual refinement, careful alignment of interests, and ongoing consultations among the involved parties to translate broad objectives into concrete commitments on paper.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated that Azerbaijan and Armenia will determine the precise venue and timing for signing the peace treaty based on their own assessments of readiness and strategic pacing. This perspective underscores a principle often seen in regional diplomacy: the flexibility to choose a moment that maximizes leverage and minimizes risk, rather than adhering to a fixed timetable dictated from outside. The sentiment also points to a degree of mutual ownership in the reconciliation process, signaling that both sides are intent on safeguarding sovereignty while pursuing a durable settlement. Observers note that such arrangements require careful coordination with regional actors and international partners to ensure that any agreed terms are enforceable and compatible with broader security assurances in the South Caucasus.
Previously, Nikol Pashinyan announced the reappointment of Armen Abazyan to lead Armenia’s National Security Service. This administrative update reflects an effort to preserve continuity in security policy during a period of intensified diplomatic activity. The reappointment is interpreted by analysts as a signal that Yerevan seeks stability within its security apparatus even as negotiations with Azerbaijan proceed, with the aim of aligning internal security posture with evolving external commitments. In parallel, observers are monitoring how these internal changes might influence Armenia’s negotiating stance and its ability to implement any future security or peace-related agreements, particularly those addressing arms control, border management, and regional confidence-building measures. As the process evolves, the interplay between domestic security leadership and international diplomacy remains a focal point for decision-makers on both sides of the border.