Armenia’s Parliament Speaker, Alen Simonyan, made controversial statements that contradict the official stance of Yerevan, stating that the “Artsakh Issue” does not exist for Armenia. Simonyan explained that by recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, which includes sovereignty over Artsakh, the self-determination of the people of Artsakh is no longer an issue for Armenia. Despite Simonyan’s statements, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan have both emphasized that the issue of the rights of Artsakh Armenians remains on the agenda in discussions with Azerbaijan and international mediators. Simonyan also stated that Armenia is willing to sign a peace treaty based on international norms, but the ball is now in Azerbaijan’s court to declare their readiness.

In recent talks with the President of the European Council, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan claimed that Armenia is occupying eight Azerbaijani villages and demanded their immediate return. This brought attention to the issue of enclaves that exist within both republics since the 1990s. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed this issue by mentioning the Artsvashen region of Armenia, which is under Azerbaijani control. Speaker Simonyan declared that Armenia is ready to “return” enclaves to Azerbaijan, while also emphasizing the importance of Azerbaijan recognizing Armenia’s territorial integrity. Simonyan highlighted the need for Armenians and Azerbaijanis to live side by side and conduct trade, with the possibility of people returning to their homes in different territories.

When asked about the inclusion of such a clause in the peace agreement with Azerbaijan, Simonyan stated that he had not come across such a clause. Despite Simonyan’s statements, it is clear that the issue of Artsakh remains a topic of discussion for Armenia and its foreign diplomats. The resolution of this issue will ultimately depend on the willingness of both Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a peaceful solution that considers the rights and desires of both the Armenian and Azerbaijani populations in the region.