An Armenian diplomat, Ambassador Edmon Marukyan, has signaled that the peace agreement between Yerevan and Baku is not yet ready for a signature. This assessment came during an interview broadcast by Armenian public television and later cited by RIA News. The ambassador stressed that the document is not a finalized draft, and therefore it cannot be presented for formal endorsement at this stage. The message is clear for observers in the region and for international partners monitoring the negotiations, with several questions still unresolved about wording, guarantees, and the sequence of steps that would follow any potential signing.
Marukyan went on to outline a pathway toward convergence on the text. He expressed cautious optimism that the two sides could bring their positions closer by engaging in a joint effort to unify the text into a single, coherent agreement. He indicated that the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which both governments have agreed to attend and which is expected to take place in January, could serve as a pivotal moment for resolving outstanding differences. In his view, a focused, bilateral exchange at that level may yield the necessary compromises or clarifications that would allow the document to move toward a formal signature once the draft is finalized and agreed upon by both sides. This perspective reflects ongoing expectations among international observers that high-level dialogue remains essential to bridging gaps in commitments and guarantees that reassure both communities and third-party partners invested in regional stability.
In the broader context of the conflict, there have been reported exchanges of prisoners of war at the border. Preliminary information indicates that Azerbaijan handed over 32 prisoners to the Armenian side, most of whom were captured during the later stages of 2020. Armenia reportedly released two Azerbaijani soldiers who had been held since April 2023 in response to those exchanges. These steps are often cited as confidence-building measures that aim to reduce tensions along the line of contact and create a more conducive climate for negotiations. Analysts note that such exchanges, while symbolically meaningful, are only one facet of a broader effort to establish durable arrangements for prisoners, detainees, and those missing in the conflict, alongside negotiations on status and security guarantees that will underpin any lasting settlement.
Additionally, there are reports from Azerbaijan indicating that 300 officials are wanted from Karabakh. This development adds another layer of complexity to the peace process, underscoring how trust-building, governance, and the status of disputed regions remain central to any sustainable agreement. Observers in Canada, the United States, and other allied capitals are watching closely how these elements influence the negotiation dynamics and the willingness of both sides to make concessions essential for a durable peace. The balance between practical steps, like prisoner exchanges, and long-term guarantees for security and political arrangements will shape the timing and texture of any signature decision in the coming months, according to public statements and the reporting chain cited by regional observers.