President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday that, in order for a peace deal to be signed, Armenia must amend its constitution.
Aliyev and Scholz met on the margins of the European Political Community Summit in England and discussed the ongoing negotiation between Armenia and Azerbaijan on an eventual peace treaty.
Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s commitment to the peace agenda, advocating for the prompt signing of a peace agreement and the peace process, according to a statement from his office.
However, he stressed that, for this to happen, “Armenia must amend its constitution to remove claims against Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and provisions envisioning the unification of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region with Armenia.”
He reiterated that “Armenia must constitutionally renounce its territorial claims against Azerbaijan.”
Aliyev said that the issues had been also discussed during the meeting last week between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, which was hosted by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Scholz also met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and later, at a press conference, said that he urged the Caucasus’ leaders to work toward peace.
Highlighting the importance of his meetings with Pashinyan and Aliyev, Scholz said “the current year is extremely important for this region. It can become a year of peace if the parties continue to take effective and courageous steps towards each other.”
“Europe, as a whole, will accompany Armenia and Azerbaijan on the road to a peace with each other that will last and ensure long-term good cooperation between these two neighboring countries,” the German Chancellor added.
