Pashinyan: it is essential that Armenia, Azerbaijan agreed on basic  principles of border delimitation

ArmInfo. It is very important that during the negotiations held yesterday, Armenia and Azerbaijan 

agreed on the basic principles of border delimitation.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan told reporters on April 

20.  According to him, these principles will be recorded in the 

regulations of the delimitation commissions.  "We carried out a 

preliminary demarcation, thereby giving a start to this process," the 

head of government said, adding that resolving the issue with the 

regulations is essential, and the parties have moved towards it 

during the previous seven meetings of the commissions. 

"We often pass laws that subsequently need amendments. But if in the 

case of laws we are talking about domestic issues, then in interstate 

relations it is necessary to consider all the nuances. Especially 

since these agreements will be ratified and will have practical 

significance. It would be very difficult to continue on the path of 

unresolved issues," Pashinyan emphasized.

He added that both Armenia and Azerbaijan have no experience in 

carrying out delimitation, and its start from the Tavush region 

should be perceived as a pilot project. The country's borders, the 

prime minister continued, should be redefined in accordance with the 

provisions of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, according to which the 

administrative borders of the Soviet republics are recognized as 

their state borders.  Thus, now it is important to go and, as they 

say, "on the ground," de jure clarify the borders, as well as the 

maps on which they are established, Pashinyan emphasized.

He added that sections of the borderline immediately between the 

settlements of  the Armenian village of Baghanis- Azerbaijani 

Baghanis Ayrum, Armenian Voskepar- Azerbaijani Ashaghi Askipara, 

Armenian Kirants- Azerbaijani Kheyrimli, Armenian Berkaber- 

Azerbaijani Ghizilhajili will be established based on the  maps of 

2024 based on maps of the previous period. It is possible that this 

year the delimitation of a number of other sections of the border 

will be adjusted, which will be reflected on the maps of 2024. "But 

it is obvious that this year it is unlikely that it will be possible 

to complete this process, therefore, everything that remains for next 

year will be marked on the maps of 2025, and so on for the rest of 

the years," said the head of the Armenian government.

Yesterday, the parties agreed to complete agreement on the draft 

regulations on joint activities of delimitation commissions by July 

1.The parties have agreed that the process of  delimitation will be 

based on the  Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991. The parties have also 

arranged to stipulate this fundamental principle in the draft 

Regulation (in the future, in case the Agreement on establishment of 

peace and interstate relations between the Republic of Armenia and 

the Republic of Azerbaijan provides otherwise, the relevant clause of 

the Regulation will be brought into compliance with the principles as 

prescribed by this Agreement). Agreed that after the parties approve 

the Regulation, they will arrange the order and continue the 

delimitation process of all the remaining sections of the border, 

including the issues of enclaves and exclaves.  Yesterday, the eighth 

meeting of the commissions on state border demarcation was held on 

the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan, following which a protocol was 

signed. According to the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 

delimitation of borders of the separate sections of the borderline 

immediately between the settlements of  the Armenian village of 

Baghanis- Azerbaijani Baghanis Ayrum, Armenian Voskepar- Azerbaijani 

Ashaghi Askipara, Armenian Kirants- Azerbaijani Kheyrimli, Armenian 

Berkaber- Azerbaijani Ghizilhajili has been preliminarily agreed 

upon.