Aliyev Wants More From Armenia: New Constitution, More Territories
On the day that Armenia began the handover of four village in the Tavush Province to Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev demanded more from Yerevan, saying that Armenia must change its constitution as a precondition to the ratification of the peace deal.
“Armenia must change its constitution, stop using Mount Ararat as a symbol and establish a land route between the eastern regions of Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan,” Aliyev told an international forum to discuss the upcoming UN Climate Summit, which will take place in Baku later this year.
“Armenians should change their Constitution. I say this not because I want to interfere in the internal affairs of another country. I say this because the Declaration of Independence, which is referenced in Armenia’s Constitution, says that the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh is a part of Armenia,” Aliyev elaborated to the forum, which included several international participants.
“How can we sign a peace treaty when they have such a reference in the Constitution? So, when I say that they should change the Constitution, it is not because I am being arrogant or belligerent, but because it is a prerequisite,” Aliyev declared.
Azerbaijan’s president went even further by demanding that Armenia take out Mount Ararat from its National Emblem. Using the Turkish name for the biblical mountain, Aliyev said, “that must be changed. They have many other mountain in Armenia. Let those be the symbol.”
Aliyev also emphasized the so-called “Zangezur Corridor,” which he insisted is the ninth point in the November 9, 2020 agreement he signed, along with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
He explained that while the term “Zangezur Corridor” is not used in the Nov. 9 agreement, nevertheless the document calls for the creation of a transport link between eastern Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan, which will be monitored by Russian border patrol guards.
“However, Armenia has been violating that clause for more than three years now. But, signed it [the agreement], didn’t they? Now they are trying to get rid of that provision. However, that is not possible,” said Aliyev.
“They [Armenia] are blocking the construction of the land route with the autonomous republic of Nakhichevan. Such behavior is very frustrating. Everybody knows under what conditions the agreement was signed. [Nevertheless] but bears the signature of the Prime Minister of Armenia, and it should be respected,” Aliyev added.
Before demanding that Armenia return four other villages to Azerbaijan, Aliyev framed the agreement reached Friday, which resulted in Armenia agreeing to cede four villages in Tavush, in return for nothing from Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani leader said that when left alone, without mediators advancing their own agendas, Armenia and Azerbaijan are able to reach agreements more quickly.
He also said that Baku has accepted an offer from Kazakhstan to host talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign minister in Astana. Aliyev added that, if Armenia agrees to the talks, then they can proceed, clarifying that Astana will not act as mediator but, rather, a coordinator.
“Now we have a general idea of what the peace agreement should look like. We just need to work out the details. However, of course, both sides need time,” Aliyev said, referring to the talks about a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, adding that a document may be signed ahead of the UN Climate Summit.
