Armenian premier says Azerbaijan border demarcation entering ‘practical stage’

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday said the delimitation and demarcation process of border with Azerbaijan is entering the “practical stage.”

“This means that it is necessary to clarify where the Armenian border actually lies,” Pashinyan said during a meeting with local residents in the village of Voskepar in the northeastern Tavush region.

“We see that we can start a real process of delimitation and demarcation in this section from Baghanis to Berkaber (villages),” Pashinyan said, adding that a war could start if Armenia opposes the process with Azerbaijan but his policy is to avoid such a situation.

“We are doing this not only for Armenia, but also specifically for the villages of Voskepar and Kirants, to ensure the safety of these villages,” he said.

Relations between Baku and Yerevan have remained tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan during a war in the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement that also opened the door to normalization.

Azerbaijan established full sovereignty in Karabakh after an "anti-terrorism operation" in September 2023, after which separatist forces in the region surrendered.​​​​​​

Both countries continue discussions to determine their mutual border, with talks having been held between the border commissions on seven occasions since May 2022.