Armenia: PM Addresses Azerbaijan's Demands to Change Constitution

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has dismissed Azerbaijan's concerns about territorial claims in Armenia's constitution, Orda reports, citing Novosti-Armenia.

Previously, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said peace between the two countries could be achieved if Armenia ends territorial claims against Azerbaijan. 

Another demand would be to amend Armenia's Constitution and other legal documents.

Aliyev believes the Armenian Declaration of Independence contains direct calls for the unification of Karabakh with Armenia and the violation of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

He has also claimed references to this document are reflected in the Constitution of Armenia.

If this is an expression of Azerbaijan's sincere concern, then there is every reason to consider these fears 'dispelled,'
Pashinyan said on today.  

He explained that Azerbaijan's claims stem from "the preamble of the Armenian Constitution containing a reference to the Declaration of Independence, which mentions Nagorno-Karabakh."

Pashinyan cited a recent ruling by Armenia's Constitutional Court from September 2024. 

It clarified that constitutional references to the Declaration of Independence apply only to "those provisions of the declaration that received their literal fixation in the articles of the Constitution."

There is no direct or indirect mention of Nagorno-Karabakh in any article of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia,   he emphasized.

Pashinyan did claim that Azerbaijan's constitution does have claims against Armenia.