Azerbaijan prolongs peace process with Armenia and increases uncertainty by refusing to sign agreement, says Spanish legislator

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 8, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan’s refusal to sign an interim peace agreement with Armenia until all outstanding issues are resolved prolongs the peace process, increases uncertainty and shows that Baku wants to push for further concessions from Armenia, Member of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Jon Iñarritu has said.

“Azerbaijan’s rejection of Armenia’s proposal is, unfortunately, not surprising. This decision likely stems from Azerbaijan's more authoritarian approach to both politics and negotiations,” Iñarritu told Armenpress.

In his UN General Assembly speech, PM Nikol Pashinyan reiterated his offer made to Azerbaijan to sign the agreed-upon articles of the peace treaty and leave the outstanding parts for further discussions.

“Its refusal to sign the already agreed points of the peace treaty could be a move to maintain control over unresolved issues and push for further concessions from Armenia,” the Spanish legislator said.

Iñarritu warned that even if Azerbaijan signs the agreement, it won’t necessarily guarantee its adherence to it.

“It’s also important to recognize that even signing an agreement doesn’t necessarily guarantee Azerbaijan’s adherence to it. We've seen this before, particularly with the trilateral agreement signed on November 9, 2020, which Azerbaijan has repeatedly violated. The aftermath of this breach included the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh and the continued illegal detention of civilians and leaders from the Republic of Artsakh in Baku, used as bargaining chips in negotiations and as a form of humiliation against Armenia,” he said.

Jon Iñarritu added that Azerbaijan's refusal to advance a partial agreement could have serious consequences.

“This tactic prolongs the peace process, increases uncertainty, and raises the risk of renewed clashes or border incidents. It signals a lack of commitment to prioritizing stability or addressing the humanitarian needs of those affected by the conflict, potentially undermining any progress toward a peaceful resolution. This stance also underscores the fundamental difference between Armenia's democratic values, which seek to resolve conflicts through peaceful and diplomatic means, and Azerbaijan's authoritarian regime, which has historically relied on force and coercion in its dealings with Armenia. Azerbaijan’s reluctance to commit to even partial agreements suggests that it is more focused on maintaining leverage than on achieving a lasting peace,” he said.