Azerbaijan and Armenia have successfully concluded peace talks aimed at resolving their decades-long conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The two countries agreed on a comprehensive peace treaty, which marks a breakthrough in the region where major powers such as Russia, the EU, the US, and Turkey are vying for influence.
The negotiations began after two wars were fought over control of Nagorno-Karabakh, with Azerbaijan seizing the territory in September 2023. The talks stalled due to disagreements on key issues, including the non-deployment of third-party forces along their shared border and plans for withdrawing legal cases from international judicial bodies.
Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has recognized Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh after three decades of Armenian separatist rule. He also acknowledged that Armenia had returned four seized border villages to Azerbaijan last year.
Despite the progress, tensions between Armenia and Russia remain, with Yerevan accusing Moscow of not doing enough to support it. The conflict has driven a wedge between the two countries, with Armenia suspending its participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization over the bloc’s failure to aid it in the conflict with Azerbaijan.
The peace treaty is expected to be signed at a mutually agreed date and location, pending discussions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has expressed its expectation of constitutional amendments from Armenia, including removal of references to territorial claims over Nagorno-Karabakh from its constitution, which would require a referendum.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/13/azerbaijan-and-armenia-strike-deal-to-end-conflict-nagorno-karabakh