Argentina Kept Malvinas in Its Constitution. Why Must Armenia Remove Karabakh?

Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian has drawn a comparison between Argentina’s constitutional claim to the Falkland Islands, known there as the Malvinas, and growing demands that Armenia remove references to Nagorno-Karabakh from its Constitution as part of a peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

In a statement published on Facebook, Oskanian argued that Argentina’s position demonstrates that a country can maintain a constitutional territorial claim while remaining committed to peaceful diplomacy and international law.

His comments came after Argentina’s national football team displayed a banner supporting the Malvinas following its World Cup semifinal victory over England, reviving debate over the South Atlantic islands, which have been disputed by Argentina and the United Kingdom for decades.

Oskanian said many observers focus on the political symbolism of the dispute but overlook an important legal reality: Argentina formally incorporated its claim to the Malvinas into its Constitution in 1994. At the same time, he noted, the constitution commits the country to pursuing that objective exclusively through peaceful means, diplomacy and respect for international law.

He said that example raises broader questions about the demands being made of Armenia during ongoing peace negotiations with Azerbaijan.

“Baku insists that Armenia remove all references to Nagorno-Karabakh from its Constitution, presenting it as a prerequisite for peace,” Oskanian wrote. “But if Argentina has the right to maintain its constitutional position on the Malvinas while remaining committed to peaceful and diplomatic means, why should Armenia be denied the same right?”

Oskanian argued that constitutional provisions do not automatically undermine peace. What matters, he said, is whether a state pursues its objectives through dialogue and legal mechanisms rather than military force.

He concluded that durable peace is built through diplomacy, adherence to international law and respect for human rights—not by compelling nations to rewrite their constitutions or abandon their historical positions.

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