Azerbaijan Rejecting Armenia’s Proposals for Peace, Preparing for a Possible New Military Aggression

YEREVAN –Azerbaijan is rejecting Armenian proposals to sign a bilateral peace deal in possible preparation for a new military aggression against Armenia, deputy chairman of parliament Vahagn Aleksanyan said on Wednesday.

“I cannot exclude that by torpedoing talks on the peace treaty Azerbaijan is preparing the ground for its attack against Armenia,” Aleksanyan told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan likewise warned early this month that Azerbaijan may be planning to invade Armenia. Mirzoyan accused Baku of lacking the “political will” to sign a framework agreement sought by Yerevan.

The Azerbaijani side has repeatedly rejected an Armenian proposal to conclude such a deal and try to settle the remaining sticking points in the future. It has also made clear that Armenia must change its constitution before it can make peace with Azerbaijan.

In recent weeks, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has set further conditions for Yerevan. Last Friday, Aliyev also made fresh threats of military action against Armenia, accusing it of playing “dangerous games.”

Aleksanyan said that Yerevan should “continue and further intensify” its peace efforts in these circumstances.

“We must clearly show the world that Armenia is doing everything to sign the peace treaty whereas Azerbaijan is essentially torpedoing that process and preparing the ground for an attack, we have never said that Azerbaijan wants peace, does everything for peace … What we have said that is our goal is to establish peace,” Aleksanyan said.