YEREVAN, July 16 — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed his government’s commitment to achieving a long-term peace agreement with Azerbaijan, expressing confidence in public support for the process. Speaking at a press conference in Yerevan, he said peace, not war, is the goal of current negotiations.
“There will be peace, not war, between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We are working on a lasting solution and must continue to do so. I believe the Armenian people will support us in this,” Pashinyan said, as reported by Armenian media.
Paraphing Peace Before Signing?
Pashinyan also confirmed that paraphing the peace agreement prior to formal signing is one of the options under discussion.
“Yes, such an idea exists. It is on the table,” he stated.
Paraphing a document—a diplomatic step that signals preliminary consent before the final signature—could serve as a confidence-building measure between the two sides and pave the way for final ratification at a later date.
Context: Ongoing Peace Negotiations
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been engaged in protracted negotiations to finalize a peace deal following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and the subsequent shifts in territorial and political control. International mediators, including the EU, United States, and Russia, have played varying roles in facilitating dialogue.
Recent rounds of talks have focused on:
Border delimitation and demarcation;
Restoration of diplomatic ties;
Opening of regional transport corridors;
Security guarantees and humanitarian access.
While no formal timeline has been set for signing a treaty, both sides have signaled increased political will in recent months, despite continuing mistrust and unresolved technical issues.
