Armenia Ready to Ink Peace Deal With Azerbaijan by Year-End: Security Council Secretary

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Флаги Армении и Азербайджана - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 10.12.2023
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YEREVAN (Sputnik) - On Thursday, Yerevan and Baku reconfirmed in a joint statement their intention to normalize relations and work toward signing a peace treaty based on sovereignty and territorial integrity. The countries also agreed to exchange 32 captured Armenian military servicemen for two Azerbaijani soldiers.
Armenia stands ready to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan as early as before the end of this year or as soon as possible thereafter, Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan said.

"Armenia is ready to advance the peace process ... Of course, it seems difficult in December, but we are ready to sign an agreement even before the end of December, and if it doesn't work out, we are ready to sign a peace deal in the shortest time possible," Grigoryan said in an interview to Public TV of Armenia.

He described the recent joint statement as unprecedented since it was a product of direct negotiations between the two South Caucasus nations, and "no mediator participated in them."
"If the foreign ministers [of Armenia and Azerbaijan] meet soon, and after that there will be a leaders' meeting, it is possible to finalize all this in a very short period of time, roughly a month, if there is political will, and sign a peace treaty," Grigoryan said, adding that the text of the agreement would be 70% ready if Azerbaijan finally accepted the three principles Armenia has been pushing for.
The principles include mutual recognition of territorial integrity, recognition of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration as a political basis for border demarcation, and opening of regional communications.
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