Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has offered Azerbaijan a proposal to sign a non-aggression pact, pending the drafting of a comprehensive peace treaty, as reported by AFP and cited by Digi24.
This proposal comes in the context of the historical conflicts between the two nations, primarily centered around the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, which Azerbaijan ultimately recaptured.
In his speech commemorating Armenia's Army Day, Pashinyan mentioned,
"We have presented Azerbaijan with a proposal for a mutual arms control mechanism and the signing of a non-aggression pact in case the signing of a peace treaty is delayed."
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has seen two major wars, in the 1990s and again in 2020, resulting in its recapture by Azerbaijani forces in September.
Following the recapture, nearly the entire Armenian population of the region, over 100,000 people, fled to Armenia. In December, a prisoner exchange between the two countries marked a significant diplomatic step forward, reigniting hopes for peace. However, tensions remain high, with armed incidents regularly occurring at the border.
Pashinyan's proposal for a non-aggression pact is seen as a move to stabilize the situation and reduce the risk of further conflict while a more permanent peace agreement is negotiated.
This development signals a potential shift towards a more peaceful relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan, despite the ongoing challenges and complexities of their historical disputes.
