Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced the decision to return disputed border villages to Azerbaijan in an attempt to avoid further escalation of the ongoing conflict. Azerbaijan has been unwilling to compromise in its demands for the return of four border villages, in addition to Armenia returning to its Soviet-era borders. Pashinyan, stating on Tuesday that Armenia was facing an imminent Azeri attack should it not meet the demands, also publicly stated that the priority is to “not allow a war to start.” Tensions between the two nations have remained dangerously high since Azerbaijan’s military offensive to retake the Nagorno-Karabakh region in September 2023, violating a ceasefire implemented at the end of the second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020.
Pashinyan’s announcement comes while N.A.T.O. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visits Armenia, a non-member which has been increasing its ties to the West since Russia launched the war on Ukraine. Stoltenberg praised Armenia’s support for Ukraine and outlined N.A.T.O.’s support for Armenia’s territorial integrity, which has been under siege in recent years with violent incidents still regularly occurring along the border. Days earlier, Stoltenberg had visited Azeri president Ilham Aliyev, who again claimed that a peace agreement with Armenia is “closer than ever.” Though months of internationally mediated peace talks have yet to formulate any concrete agreement, it seems that Pashinyan’s decision to cede border territory could finally lead to a longer-lasting peace.
Armenia searched for an exchange in this deal, requesting that Azerbaijan’s troops withdraw from a specific border area, but this deal was refused. With few options left to avoid another bloody conflict in an already war-torn region, Pashinyan is taking the correct decision in ceding the four small villages along the border. Although Aliev claims that a peace deal is closer than ever, there have been flare ups in the conflict which indicate that any agreement will be forced through by Azerbaijan through military coercion rather than a truly mutual agreement. Armenia is willing to take necessary measures to find a permanent solution and its commitment to peace is clear, while Iliev’s friendship with Putin seems to be influencing his decisions to further prolong the conflict despite peace being on the horizon.
Work towards a peaceful conclusion to the border dispute has faced difficulties in recent months. The killing of four Armenian servicemen in February 2024 that Azerbaijan classified as a “revenge operation” in return for Armenian provocation, as reported by Al-Jazeera, has been the biggest obstacle in 2024 negotiations. The north-south highway that connects Armenia to Iran has been repeatedly blockaded by Azerbaijan, as has the Lachin corridor region along the border. In April 2023, the Lemkin Institute reported on Azerbaijan’s refusal to comply with the International Court of Justice’s order to allow free movement in the region, as the country instead stepped up its military presence amidst silence from the international community about this violation of international law.
Prime Minister Pashinyan’s decision to return disputed border villages to Azerbaijan marks a significant step towards mitigating tensions in the ongoing conflict. Despite Azerbaijan’s reluctance to compromise, Pashinyan’s prioritizations of preventing further escalation and pursuing peace are commendable. However, Azerbaijan’s continued military coercion must end here, now that Armenia’s agreement to cede territory and change its borders has been secured. International support for Armenia’s territorial integrity is crucial, amidst Azerbaijan’s refusal to comply with international rulings and close relationship with notorious aggressor Putin’s Russia. While Pashinyan’s move may pave the way for a more enduring peace, sustained diplomatic efforts and international pressure are necessary to ensure a just and lasting resolution to the border dispute and end human suffering in the region.
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