We cannot say we are abandoning the enclaves-exclaves issue, Pashinyan says

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has responded to Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov’s remarks on the issue of enclaves and exclaves.

Bayramov had earlier said that the two sides had reached a number of understandings on border delimitation, under which the process would continue from north to south, while issues related to enclave villages would also be resolved.

Speaking to reporters after a government meeting on July 9, Pashinyan stressed that all unresolved issues must eventually be addressed.

“I have spoken about the issue of enclaves and exclaves, including during the election campaign. We must resolve all outstanding issues, and I would like to remind you that we also have a clear interest in this matter, because the village of Artsvashen, which has exclave status, remains under Azerbaijan’s control despite being part of Armenia’s sovereign territory under the principles set out in the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. I cannot say that we are abandoning, or could abandon, the enclaves-exclaves issue. No, we must move forward and find a solution. What that solution will be is a matter for discussion. We have moved the issue into a framework where it will not generate additional tensions, including for external use. The issue exists and must be addressed in accordance with the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration and the maps that serve as the basis for the delimitation process,” Pashinyan said.

He added that there are two possible approaches to resolving the issue.

“The first option is for the territory to remain an enclave or exclave belonging to the state to which it legally belongs. The second option is for us to reach an agreement and, for example, distribute equivalent territories along the border or make adjustments in specific areas. These procedures are provided for under both Armenian legislation and the Constitution, and we must address the issue accordingly,” he said.

Pashinyan also drew attention to what he described as an important detail. He said that only about a month or a month and a half ago he had learned that Azerbaijani banknotes and passports depict a map of Azerbaijan in which Artsvashen is shown in a different colour and marked as an enclave, indicating that it is not part of Azerbaijan.

“This is a very important nuance, and I believe we should adopt a reciprocal approach in order to treat the relevant maps under the Alma-Ata Declaration accurately, because that follows from our agreements and from the text of the initialled peace agreement. This is an important fact that should shape our policies, our attitude and our position, because we must understand one essential point: we should not be guided by the logic that whoever controls a territory owns it. Instead, we should be guided by the logic of the peace agreement,” Pashinyan said.