Baku: Pashinyan attempts to distract world's attention from claims towards Azerbaijan's territorial integrity

Pashinyan's allegations about Azerbaijan’s Constitution containing territorial claims have no ground and are misleading the international community, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Aykhan Hajizada said in post on X, according to Report.

"This allegation is a futile balancing act and an attempt to overlook/ignore the claims towards the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," he said.

The post further reads:

"It seems that there is a necessity to once again shed a light on this:

"First of all, even though the Constitution of Azerbaijan has a reference to the Independence Act of Azerbaijan of 1991 which refers to the Declaration of Independence of 1918 affirming the current Republic of Azerbaijan as a successor of the previous republic of 1918-2020, it does not contain any claim to the neighboring countries. Both documents emphasize the importance of respecting common norms, principles, and good neighborly relations.Most importantly, article 3 of the Declaration of Independence of Azerbaijan of 1918 notes that 'the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic is determined to establish good relations with all nations, especially with neighboring nations and states.'

"On the contrary, the Constitution of Armenia is based on the fundamental principles of Armenian statehood and pan-national aspirations enshrined in the Declaration of Independence of Armenia of 1990, among which aims for a 'reunification of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh,' and calls some territories of Türkiye as 'Western Armenia.' It is an irrefutable fact that this particular provision was used as a basis in Armenia’s multiple legislations, including Parliament’s decision of 18 February 1992 on the ratification of the CIS founding agreement (Almaty), and the decision of 8 July 1992. The same logic and approach were applied during the adoption of the court’s decision on the conformity of the regulation of the border commissions between Azerbaijan and Armenia with the Armenian Constitution of 26 September 2024.

"All these legislations demonstrate that Armenia has never recognized 'Nagorno-Karabakh' as part of Azerbaijan.Therefore, statements that Armenia recognizes the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan have no legal ground until Armenia makes changes to its Constitution and renounces all the legal and political acts that reflect its claim to Azerbaijan.

Also, taking into account Armenia’s history of aggression against Azerbaijan while joining the Almaty Declaration as well as ongoing claims in its legislation as well as political statements, and legal documents it is time to ask for clarification on what is meant by the 'recognition of each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty' for Armenia back in 1992 and now?

"When it comes to the issue of regions demonstrated in the map submitted to the Peace Conference of 1919 (Prime Minister has identified them as Syunik, Vayots Dzor Provinces of Armenia fully included in Azerbaijan, as well as the territories of Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Tavush, Shirak, Lori Provinces included in part), in order not to falsify the historical facts, it is necessary to recall the dates these regions were officially included in Armenia, which are long after the map of Azerbaijan was submitted to Entente: Syunik (Zangezur) – 30 November 1920, and Vayots Dzor (Dərələyəz) – 10 August 1920. When it comes to other regions enumerated by the Prime Minister, most of their parts were incorporated into Soviet Armenia by altered administrative divisions that also in some case violated international treaties, such as the Moscow Treaty of 16 March 1921.

:However, enumerating all these historical facts that could be proven with the official documents, does not mean that Azerbaijan has a territorial claim to Armenia."