Some contentious issues remain
Even though the draft peace agreement is almost ready, there are still some contentious issues. "According to Baku, references to the country's declaration of independence should be removed from the Armenian constitution, as the latter document contains a passage on the future unification of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, which Azerbaijan interprets as a claim to its territories. However, Armenians consider this a legal formality and would agree now on the already agreed parts of the peace, leaving the constitution-making for later," Andras Kostur wrote in his analysis.
The researcher of the 21st Century Institute mentioned the so-called Zangezur Corridor as another problematic point. He recalled that it bisects the southern part of Armenia, through which Azerbaijan can have direct access to its exclave, Nakhichevan, as well as to Türkiye. However, the area is also a priority for Armenia, as it crosses the two routes that connect the country to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The expert also pointed out that Yerevan is trying to strike a balance between West and East. "In recent years, Armenia has increasingly sought alliances with Western states, led by countries with a significant Armenian diaspora such as France and the United States. However, Yerevan does not want to destroy its relations with Russia either, since even if a complete turn to the West were the intention of Armenian leaders, this would not be possible due to the country's geographical and economic position," he wrote. "For Armenia's leaders, the process of world disorder is thus a challenge that could stake the country's territorial integrity or even its very survival," he warned.
