Azerbaijan Rejects Armenian Civil Contract MP’s Proposal for Peace Talks

A high-ranking Armenian official’s attempt to initiate a parliamentary dialogue with Azerbaijan has been publicly dismissed by his counterpart, casting uncertainty over prospects for interparliamentary cooperation during ongoing peace negotiations.

Sargis Khandanyan, a member of Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party and Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations in the National Assembly, recently invited his Azerbaijani counterpart, Samad Seyidov, to a joint meeting. The goal was to discuss the ratification process of a newly drafted peace agreement between the two nations. However, Seyidov rejected the proposal, even going so far as to label Khandanyan “a populist.”

Khandanyan, expressing his disappointment on X, reaffirmed his commitment to building dialogue. “If advocating for peace is populism, then I proudly embrace the label for as long as necessary. My offer remains on the table,” he stated.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have reached an agreement on the draft Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations, signaling an important milestone in negotiations aimed at stabilizing the region. However, for the agreement to take effect, it must be ratified by the parliaments of both nations.

Recognizing the crucial role of lawmakers in this process, Khandanyan tried to bring together the foreign relations committees of both legislative bodies. He formally invited Seyidov, who serves as the Chair of the Committee on Foreign and Interparliamentary Relations in Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis, to meet at a neutral location along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.

“This meeting would provide a platform to exchange perspectives on the draft peace agreement and deliberate on its ratification process,” Khandanyan explained. “Furthermore, it would serve as an opportunity to discuss the broader parliamentary dimension of the peace process, fostering dialogue on future inter-legislative cooperation—both bilaterally and within multilateral parliamentary platforms.”

The rejection of Khandanyan’s proposal shows ongoing tensions despite the diplomatic progress made in drafting the peace agreement. Experts argue that interparliamentary engagement could have served as a valuable confidence-building measure between the two nations.

Such discussions, Khandanyan noted, would have complemented other peace initiatives and contributed to regional stability. “I stand ready to engage in confidence-building measures at the inter-parliamentary level, tirelessly working for peace and stability in our region,” he asserted.

The refusal from Azerbaijan suggests lingering mistrust, raising concerns about how smoothly the peace agreement will progress through both countries' legislative bodies. The absence of direct parliamentary engagement could prolong the ratification process or even create new political hurdles.

Despite this setback, the Armenian government appears determined to push forward with diplomatic efforts. Khandanyan has left the invitation open, signaling that his government remains willing to engage in dialogue at any time. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani officials have not provided further clarification on whether they might reconsider such talks in the future.