Pashinyan: Reciprocal Territorial Exchanges to Resolve Armenian-Azerbaijani Enclave Disputes

YEREVAN — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has proposed resolving the longstanding issue of enclaves and exclaves between Armenia and Azerbaijan through reciprocal territorial exchanges as part of a comprehensive peace settlement.

In a video posted on Facebook, Pashinyan outlined his vision for relations between the two countries following the signing and ratification of a peace agreement.

“Armenia must have a territory of 29,743 square kilometers, and the delimitation and demarcation of borders must take place on the basis of the Alma-Ata Declaration. Armenia and Azerbaijan must have no claims against one another,” the prime minister stated.

Addressing the issue of enclaves and exclaves, Pashinyan emphasized that the matter should be resolved through mutually agreed territorial adjustments.

“The issue of enclaves and exclaves must be resolved according to the following formula: there should be no enclaves or exclaves on either side of the border. In other words, Armenia and Azerbaijan must exchange territories of precisely corresponding sizes,” he explained.

The prime minister also stressed the importance of reopening transportation routes and ensuring unrestricted regional connectivity.

“All roads and communication routes must be open. Within the framework of the TRIPP project and beyond, all transportation and communication routes must operate freely, including routes connecting Armenia to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory and Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan through Armenian territory,” he said.

Pashinyan further emphasized that both countries must abandon territorial and political claims against one another.

“Neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan should make any claims against the other, and they should leave each other in peace on all matters,” he stated.

He specifically referred to claims involving Karabakh, Gardman, Shirvan, Nakhichevan, and the concept of “Western Azerbaijan,” arguing that such claims should have no place in future bilateral relations.

The prime minister then addressed what he described as the most important question: whether this vision of peace could realistically be achieved.

“Based on my contacts with the president of Azerbaijan in Turkmenistan, I have a preliminary impression that we have an opportunity to shape peace in this way,” Pashinyan said.

He concluded that Armenia and Azerbaijan would now need to focus on turning that opportunity into reality through further negotiations and practical steps toward a lasting settlement.