Pashinyan: we have a viable peace deal offer

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Azerbaijan has sent Armenia the 12th version of the draft peace treaty, which, according to him, indicates that negotiations are not at a dead end. He made these remarks during a conversation with journalists in the National Assembly after meeting with the Civil Contract faction.

Pashinyan announced that the Armenian side has a proposal that is acceptable to both the Armenian and Azerbaijani people, reports Factor.am .

"Now we must present our proposals; the process is ongoing. You are aware that the border delimitation commissions are working. We have offered a solution, and we hope that Azerbaijan will respond positively. Why should Azerbaijan react negatively? An objective analysis shows that there are no grounds for rejection," Pashinyan said, referring to Baku's silence on Armenia's proposals regarding arms control and the unblocking of transportation routes.

According to the Prime Minister, the proposals concern “the restoration of railway communication between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which includes re-establishing transport links between Western Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through Armenia’s sovereign territory”, as well as launching the Yeraskh-Meghri railway route. Pashinyan noted that both countries could use this route for international freight transportation.

He also addressed his earlier statement that freight transport would be carried out under simplified procedures.

"Azerbaijan currently has a connection with Nakhichevan via Iranian territory, and this connection is not obstructed—no one claims it is. We are proposing the same conditions as Iran has offered; we are also ready to make simplifications. Why are we prepared for simplifications? Because under the same principle, we need to ensure railway communication from Yeraskh to Meghri," he said, adding that Armenia is waiting for Baku's official response.

Pashinyan emphasized that Armenia's proposal reflects the concerns of both sides and could resolve existing issues.

"We have been engaged in negotiations for years, and at certain points, Azerbaijan’s concerns were not alleviated by the offers on the table. We analyzed our negotiation history and found an approach that addresses the concerns of all parties. Why am I not disclosing these proposals? Because they will be one hundred percent acceptable to both the Armenian and Azerbaijani people. I am not making them public to avoid tensions and to ensure that we do not disclose them before Azerbaijan responds," he explained.

Pashinyan also outlined the unresolved issues in the peace treaty, which relate to the deployment of third-party forces along the borders and legal disputes in international courts, reports 1lurer.am .