Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan informed reporters that PM Nikol Pashinyan’s statements regarding proposals made to Azerbaijan did not contain political references. “If there are positive responses [from Azerbaijan], discussions will naturally progress to another phase,” Kostanyan added, referring to the proposals regarding overseeing each other’s weapons and refraining from attacks.

The Armenian official expressed Armenia’s sincere interest in fully normalizing relations with neighbors and signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. He mentioned that on January 4, Armenia sent Azerbaijan an updated version of the peace treaty text and is now awaiting their response. Recent announcements suggest that Azerbaijan's response will come in a few weeks.

Vahan Kostanyan informed reporters that the Armenian side has not yet signed the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summary documents adopted at the CSTO summit held in Minsk last year. He mentioned that discussions about these documents are still ongoing.

In response to a reporter's question about Armenia's concerns, Kostanyan stated, “It doesn’t worry [Armenia]; it’s at the phase of discussion.”

The package of these documents was adopted last November during the CSTO summit in Minsk. However, Armenia has not signed these documents because its delegation did not attend the summit.

Vahan Kostanyan also informed reporters that Armenia has not received any official communication from Russia regarding the replacement of its ambassador. Kostanyan mentioned that the agreement, or the formal approval, has already been sent. He added, “When there will be news, it will be properly communicated.”

Baku Condemns Armenian PM's Statements Amid Peace Agreement Talks

On January 29, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reacted to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's proposals.

According to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aykhan Hajizada, the Armenian Prime Minister's statements are intended to divert attention from the process of the draft bilateral agreement on peace and establishment of interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. "Despite the calls of the Azerbaijani side from the very beginning of the discussion of the draft of the mentioned agreement to the Armenian side to put an end to the ongoing claims against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan in its constitution, several decisions of the legislative body, as well as in appeals to various international courts after the 44-day war, in official correspondence and letters circulated within the framework of international organizations, Armenia has not yet taken any practical steps in this direction. In this regard, the Armenian side's voicing of proposals of no practical significance instead of taking measures in this direction creates misunderstanding and is unacceptable," the commentary reads.

Baku drew attention to Pashinyan's statements that Armenia is pursuing a serious policy of militarization; in recent years, contracts for the supply of weapons worth several billion dollars have been signed, and it is developing its military industry. "In this regard, the claims of the Armenian leadership that they are serious about the peace process is political manipulation," the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry pointed out.

"Such biased statements are an obstacle to further development and progress of the region based on respect for the norms and principles of international law. In its turn, Azerbaijan will continue its peacemaking and constructive efforts and expects Armenia to take adequate steps not in words but in deeds," Hajizada concluded.