European Court Rules in Favor of RFE/RL in Case Against Baku
Armenia, Azerbaijan Committed to “Momentous” Demarcation Accord
Leaders from Armenia and Azerbaijan have expressed their commitment to a landmark demarcation agreement signed last month, aimed at ending decades of hostility in the volatile region, according to a top U.S. diplomat. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been embroiled in wars over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in over 30,000 casualties as the countries transitioned into independence.
Azerbaijan recently regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh through a swift military campaign, but border disputes between the two countries persisted, with both sides occupying villages that were previously under the control of the other. The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, James O’Brien, described the agreement as a “generational commitment” by both countries during an interview in Yerevan on June 11.
The agreement, finalized on May 15, delineated the border between the two long-standing rivals, who have faced numerous deadly conflicts in the past. While some critics have raised concerns about the slow progress following the agreement, O’Brien emphasized the importance of careful deliberation and extensive discussions between the two nations at various levels.
The demarcation agreement, which included the transfer of territory from Armenia to Azerbaijan based on the Alma-Ata agreement, has been met with protests in Armenia and calls for the resignation of the country’s leadership. Opposition groups in Armenia have criticized the deal as unilateral territorial concessions and raised fears about the vulnerability of border communities to potential Azerbaijani aggression.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian defended the agreement, stating that it was necessary for Armenia’s security and to reconcile years of enmity with Azerbaijan. The United States and the European Union have praised the demarcation agreement, highlighting its reference to the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, which emphasizes the recognition of each other’s territorial integrity within existing borders.
O’Brien highlighted the opportunity for building a trade route linking Central Asia to the Mediterranean through peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. While the United States is willing to support any peace agreement reached by the two sides, O’Brien noted that neither country had requested the U.S. to serve as a guarantor of the agreement. The exact role of the U.S. in the process will depend on the decisions of Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the U.S. aiming to support peace efforts without intervening as a superpower in the region.
