Armenia and Azerbaijan nearing completion of peace agreement – Mirzoyan

YEREVAN, March 12. /ARKA/. Armenia and Azerbaijan are very close to completing the work on the draft peace agreement, said Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

"If we manage, first and foremost, to complete the drafting of the agreement and then sign it, it will become one of the strongest pillars of peace and stability in the South Caucasus. This also complements other steps, negotiations, and agreements that we already have with Azerbaijan," he said in an interview with the Indian outlet WION.

As an example, Mirzoyan recalled the signing and ratification several months ago of the Regulations on the work of border commissions involved in the delimitation process between the two states.

The Foreign Minister also mentioned that Armenia had proposed to Azerbaijan the creation of a mutual control and verification mechanism for weapons.

"Thus, all these tools can help us establish long-term and stable peace in our region. All countries can play a positive role by welcoming the constructive steps of both sides and both countries. On the other hand, of course, I must also note that the agreements we have already reached with Azerbaijan were achieved through direct bilateral negotiations. I hope we will reach this goal soon," he said.

Ararat Mirzoyan said in early December of last year that Armenia and Azerbaijan had made some progress in signing the peace agreement, noting that the parties had already agreed on 15 of the 17 articles of the preamble and draft agreement, and that with sufficient political will, it could be quickly finalized and signed.