Armenia's Peace Treaty or Concession? Saghatelyan Alarms Public with Draft Concessions

In a public Facebook post, Ishkhan Saghatelyan, Chairman of the ARF Armenia Supreme Council, shed light on what he perceives as a concerning revelation about Armenia's ongoing negotiations with Azerbaijan. Saghatelyan contends that the document being negotiated is not a definitive peace treaty but rather a draft filled with new concessions.

Nikol Pashinyan's assurances over the past three years have centered on three vital principles: Azerbaijan recognizing the territorial integrity of Armenia, opening communications without undermining sovereignty, and establishing international mechanisms to guarantee the agreement's implementation. However, in a stark response, President Aliyev clarified Azerbaijan's stance, emphasizing the non-negotiable aspects.

Firstly, Aliyev asserted that Azerbaijani troops would not retreat from the territories occupied after November 9, 2020. Secondly, he insisted on a “corridor” passing through Meghri, allowing unchecked passage for both people and goods from Azerbaijan. Thirdly, Azerbaijan rejected Armenia's plea for international guarantees. Furthermore, Aliyev opposed delimitation based on maps from 1970 and laid claim to eight villages within Armenian territory.

This official response is perceived as Azerbaijan's attempt to solidify its current gains, legitimize its actions in Artsakh and Armenian territories, and avoid assuming any future obligations. Saghatelyan contends that labeling the document as a "peace" agreement, given these conditions, would entail acknowledging Armenia's conflict with Azerbaijan, legitimizing the use of force by Azerbaijan, and jeopardizing the rights of Artsakh residents.

In response to this perceived dire situation, Saghatelyan proposes a solution: removing the current government, forming a national government, and building a competitive state capable of overcoming internal and external challenges. His post highlights the gravity of the ongoing negotiations and the perceived risks associated with the draft document's concessions, as highlighted by Saghatelyan.