Washington, August 11 – In the presence of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia have initialed the text of the “Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia”.
The agreement outlines a framework for ending decades of hostility and establishing formal diplomatic relations. It reaffirms mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international borders; renunciation of territorial claims; and a pledge to refrain from the use or threat of force.
Key provisions include:
Border recognition and security – Both sides confirm the former Soviet republican borders as international frontiers, commit to border delimitation and demarcation talks, and pledge not to host third-country armed forces along their shared border.
Non-interference and diplomacy – Each side will establish diplomatic relations within a set period after ratification, based on the Vienna Conventions of 1961 and 1963.
Combatting extremism and intolerance – Both countries commit to fighting racism, discrimination, violent extremism, and terrorism.
Humanitarian cooperation – The sides agree to address cases of missing persons from past conflicts, exchange all available information, and work with international organizations to return remains and ensure justice.
Economic and cultural cooperation – Azerbaijan and Armenia may conclude agreements in trade, transport, environment, humanitarian, and cultural fields.
Dispute resolution – Disputes over interpretation or application will first be addressed through direct consultations; if unresolved after six months, other peaceful means will be sought.
Ending prior claims – Within one month of the agreement’s entry into force, both sides will withdraw or settle all existing legal disputes and refrain from hostile diplomatic or informational actions.
The agreement will enter into force upon the exchange of documents confirming completion of domestic ratification procedures. The Azerbaijani, Armenian, and English texts are equally authentic, with the English version prevailing in case of interpretation differences.
This marks the most comprehensive attempt to date to formalize peace between the two countries, with Washington acting as a high-level witness to the process.
