Azerbaijan pressures Armenia to alter Constitution
Concessions under the guise of constitutional reform
Azerbaijan is publicly demanding that Armenia remove constitutional references to its 1990 Declaration of Independence as a condition for a peace agreement, according to statements by Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev on Aug. 4.
Baku characterizes references in Armenia's constitutional preamble linking to the declaration—which mentions the reunification of Armenia and Artsakh—as territorial claims. Armenia's government has disputed this interpretation while simultaneously proposing constitutional reforms that would sever these ties.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has argued that removing the constitutional link to the Declaration is necessary for peace. Government officials say the Karabakh movement is politically closed and constitutional reform would formalize that conclusion.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani forces occupy over 200 square kilometers of internationally recognized Armenian territory, according to Armenian officials. Analysts question whether Armenia is surrendering negotiating leverage without documented guarantees that constitutional changes will advance peace talks.
