Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that Azerbaijan has sent a document consisting of 5 articles to Armenia on the normalisation of relations and is waiting for a response.

Recalling that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave the message "we are ready to sign peace" to Armenia a year ago, Bayramov continued as follows:

"There has been no response to our offer by Armenia for nearly a year. To show its goodwill, the Azerbaijani side recently made a new offer to Armenia. The proposal is a comprehensive document if Armenia thinks that it is not ready to work on a ceasefire already. It may be because... We proposed to the Armenian side some basic principles, which essentially include the normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We expressed and confirmed our opinion in accordance with the basic principles and traditions on the regulation of relations between states. We said, 'We are ready to develop relations on the basis of certain principles.' Armenia should look at these and express its opinion. If Armenia sincerely wants the relations to be normalised, this is a very good opportunity for them. Armenia's response will be clear soon, and we will of course take the appropriate steps from now on."

Noting that the proposal was sent recently, Bayramov said, it was "a one-page document. The basic principles were determined, and these principles were proposed. If the Armenian side wants the relations to be normalised, they should immediately report their approach to this proposal. I must say that all the principles recorded in that document are principles of international relations, there are no unusual comments there."

Accentuating that the preconditions for starting the process are unacceptable, Bayramov said, "a bilateral cooperation group should be established, and this group should start its work."

The Azerbaijani political commentator Javidan Ahmadkhanli flagged that “honestly, I do not expect Armenia to accept such an offer. Yerevan looks at this issue in reverse, wants to discuss all problematic issues and the issue of territorial integrity after the status of Karabakh is determined.”

Bayramov said that steps will be taken after Armenia's response is known. “Perhaps these words also indicate that the proposal is an ‘ultimatum’ before the possible processes.”

Andranik Hovhannisyan, an international expert and former expert of the Orbeli Centre said that the initiator of the bilateral meeting is the Azerbaijani side, which yesterday presented a five-point precondition for the signing of a "peace agreement" to the Armenian side. They are:

• Recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity by Armenia, including renunciation of any claim to Karabakh

• Withdrawal of Armenian troops from the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, from the so-called "enclaves," we are talking about one village of Ararat region and villages of Tavush region

• Demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Delimitation [would be] based on the Soviet map of 1970

• Unblocking of transport communication, including giving special status to the so-called ‘Zangezur Corridor.’

• Discuss the possibility of Azerbaijani refugees returning to Armenia or compensation for their material damage.