Armenia and Azerbaijan have not yet discussed which section of the border will be subject to the next phase of delimitation, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, who heads the Armenian commission on border delimitation with Azerbaijan, announced in Parliament.
“At this moment, we haven’t discussed which section will be the next for delimitation. One thing is clear – it must be done by consensus. One side cannot come and dictate which section they want to address,” said Grigoryan.
Critical Analysis: The current approach to border delimitation raises serious concerns. This process should only proceed after:
- The establishment of genuine peace and security measures
- The return of Armenian territories currently under Azerbaijani control
- Proper accountability for Azerbaijan’s actions, including:
- The Second Artsakh War and its conduct
- The forced evacuation of the Armenian population from Artsakh
- The humanitarian crisis resulting from the blockade
- Documented atrocities against civilians
Azerbaijan’s continuing territorial ambitions toward Armenia proper represent a significant obstacle to meaningful border discussions. The international community has yet to hold Azerbaijan properly accountable for its aggressive actions and humanitarian violations. Starting border delimitation discussions without addressing these fundamental issues risks legitimizing past aggressive actions and potentially encouraging further territorial claims.
Any border discussions must be premised on respect for Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, with strong international guarantees and monitoring mechanisms in place.
