Baku links final peace agreement to legal reforms as regional transport plans gain momentum
BAKU: Azerbaijan has said its relationship with Armenia has entered a period of “real peace” following decades of conflict, while maintaining that changes to Armenia’s constitution remain essential before a final peace agreement can be signed.
Speaking during a forum in the city of Shusha, Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the Azerbaijani president and head of the president’s foreign policy department, said both countries had made significant progress in normalising relations through direct engagement and expanding economic ties.
Hajiyev stated that peace between the two neighbours now extends beyond diplomatic declarations, describing it as a practical reality reflected in growing bilateral contacts and increasing supplies of Azerbaijani oil products to Armenia.
However, he reiterated that Azerbaijan continues to seek the removal of constitutional provisions it considers territorial claims against its sovereignty.
Baku maintains position on constitutional reforms
According to Hajiyev, Azerbaijan views the method of constitutional reform as Armenia’s internal matter. Nevertheless, he stressed that the disputed provisions must be formally removed either through a new constitution or another legal mechanism before a comprehensive peace agreement can be concluded.
Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced plans to hold a referendum on constitutional changes, with a draft expected before the end of the year. However, his governing party currently lacks the parliamentary majority required to initiate the referendum, leaving its political future uncertain.
Hajiyev added that publication of a draft constitution alone would not be sufficient to finalise the peace agreement.
Transport corridor plans gather pace
The Azerbaijani official also revealed that Baku has received what he described as “serious and positive signals” from the United States regarding a proposed transport corridor linking Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory.
The planned 43-kilometre route would improve regional trade by connecting Azerbaijan directly with Türkiye while strengthening transport links between Asia and Europe.
Hajiyev said construction work on the Washington-backed project could begin as early as this autumn. He further noted that infrastructure leading to Azerbaijan’s Zangilan region is expected to be largely completed by the end of 2026, allowing future integration with planned transport networks in Armenia and Türkiye.
