Russian-Brokered Peace for Armenia and Azerbaijan

March 23, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)—Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced in a posting today that the protracted conflict with Azerbaijan is over: “There will be a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and it will be based on the joint official statements adopted at the highest level. There won’t be а new escalation! The international community must strongly support this narrative.”

More needs to be seen, but Pashinyan’s confidence appears to be based upon agreed terms for the two neighbors’ borders, the opening of transportation routes, and the establishment of contacts between civilian groups, lawmakers, and religious leaders from both countries.

Recent tensions had broken out in military confrontations and exchange of fire. In February, the European Union had tried to move in on Russia’s peacemaking efforts, announcing an aim to “contribute to stability in the border areas” between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Moscow brushed this off as a geopolitical project aimed at pushing Russia out of the region. Azerbaijan’s government in Baku also warned that it could “impede the process of normalization.”

Moscow’s continued work for a trilateral agreement amongst Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia was the basis for today’s outbreak of peace. It comes in the wake of China’s remarkable agreement worked out with Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia and Shi’a-dominated Iran.