The Azerbaijani government has dismissed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s recent peace proposals, calling them inadequate despite their apparent concessions aimed at securing an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal.
Pashinyan presented over a dozen proposals on Thursday, just days after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued new threats of military action against Armenia. Among the proposals was a willingness to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group on Artsakh, a long-standing demand by Baku. This marks a shift from Pashinyan’s previous stance, which had set conditions for such a move.
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizade dismissed the proposals, accusing Armenia of lacking genuine interest in building peace. He pointed to Armenia’s reluctance to amend its constitution, which Baku claims contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
“Your argumentation cannot be considered a confirmation of the ‘good intentions’ of Armenia,” Hajizade wrote on social media platform X.
Aliyev reiterated that constitutional changes in Armenia remain a key precondition for signing a peace treaty. He also demanded the opening of an extraterritorial corridor to Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan region through southern Armenia, warning that force could be used to secure it.
In Armenia, opposition figures have condemned Pashinyan’s approach, arguing that his conciliatory stance only emboldens Azerbaijan to push for further concessions. They pointed to Aliyev’s threats as evidence that Azerbaijan is not seeking genuine peace but preparing for broader military aggression.
“Baku’s escalating rhetoric and demands suggest preparations for a large-scale invasion of Armenia,” warned opposition voices, calling for a firmer stance against Azerbaijan’s pressures.
The rejection of Pashinyan’s proposals underscores the deepening impasse in Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks. While Yerevan appears willing to compromise on key issues, Baku continues to set additional conditions, casting doubt on the prospects for a sustainable peace agreement.
