“If Armenia Signs a Peace Agreement With Azerbaijan, It Does Not Mean That True Peace Will Be Fully Established” – FM Says

On September 10, during a session of the National Assembly, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan spoke about the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process. His words carried both hope and warning. He explained that even if Armenia signs a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, it does not mean that true peace will be fully established.

“Even if we sign a peace agreement in the near future, we still cannot say that everything is over and peace has been fully established,” Mirzoyan said, reminding the deputies and the public that peace is not just a piece of paper. It is a long process that requires care, attention, and caution.

Mirzoyan noted that the August 8 declaration in Washington, which some described as “just papers,” is still considered an important event because it formally stopped open fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Peace has been established,” he said, but quickly clarified that this is only temporary, since many deep problems remain unresolved.

He pointed to the issue of Armenian prisoners of war who are still held illegally in Azerbaijan. “We do not have a final solution to the issue of [Armenian] prisoners [in Azerbaijan], although Azerbaijan was obligated to release everyone,” he reminded parliament. The refusal to release these captives shows how unreliable Baku is when it comes to fulfilling its commitments.

The minister warned that the history of hostility between the two nations cannot be ignored. “It is undeniable that there is a long history of enmity and bloodshed between the two nations. Peace is established not between friendly nations, but between countries and nations that have been in conflict,” Mirzoyan said.

He said that at this moment, the situation is calm, and the risk of a sudden escalation is minimal. But he stressed that this fragile silence should not be mistaken for a lasting peace. “Even if I go ahead and say that in the near future we sign a peace treaty, still, we cannot say that everything is finished and peace is fully established. Do problems remain? Many.”

Among those problems are humanitarian issues, such as the fate of Artsakh Armenians who were ethnically cleansed from their homeland in 2023. Azerbaijan continues to erase Armenian heritage in Artsakh, destroying churches, cemeteries, and cultural landmarks. These crimes have not been addressed in the so-called peace agreement.

Another major issue is the unblocking of regional communications. For years, Azerbaijan has demanded what it calls a “corridor” through Armenia’s Syunik Province to connect with Nakhijevan. Mirzoyan rejected this narrative, stressing that the agreements are based on reciprocity, not unilateral concessions.

“In exactly the same way, under exactly the same conditions, we are also being unblocked. Dear people, let us not forget that the Republic of Armenia has been under blockade from two sides for more than thirty years, and now we are the ones gaining opportunities,” the minister said.

He underlined that all processes must respect Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In the face of Azerbaijani propaganda and manipulation, he explained that it is necessary to constantly repeat these principles.

While the government presents the Washington declaration as a path toward stability, the truth is far darker. The initialed “Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations” legitimizes Azerbaijan’s conquests, achieved through years of aggression, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing.

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