Thu Mar 13 16:24:35 UTC 2025: ## Breakthrough in Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Talks After Karabakh Recapture
**YEREVAN/BAKU** – A surprise breakthrough has been reached in the decades-long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with both countries announcing agreement on the text of a peace treaty. The development follows Azerbaijan’s forceful recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, which prompted the exodus of almost all of the region’s Armenian population.
Both Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministries confirmed the completion of negotiations on a draft agreement, paving the way for the establishment of interstate relations. While Armenia declared its readiness to sign, Azerbaijan stated that constitutional changes in Armenia are a precondition. Azerbaijan claims the current Armenian constitution implicitly lays claim to Azerbaijani territory, a claim Armenia denies. However, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously advocated for a constitutional referendum, further complicating the immediate timeline for signing.
The agreement marks a significant turning point in a conflict that has spanned nearly four decades, marked by war and displacement. The initial outbreak of hostilities in the late 1980s resulted in the mass expulsion of hundreds of thousands of people from both sides. While both countries expressed a desire for peace following Azerbaijan’s recent military success, progress had been slow and fraught with tension, with their shared border remaining heavily militarized and closed.
Although the text of the agreement is finalized, the exact date of signing remains uncertain, contingent upon the resolution of Armenia’s constitutional issues. The announcement comes despite recent inflammatory rhetoric from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who earlier this year accused Armenia of posing a “fascist” threat. The successful conclusion of negotiations, however, offers a glimmer of hope for lasting peace in the volatile South Caucasus region.
First Piper 