Azerbaijan Rejects Partial Peace with Armenia at UN Assembly

At the UN General Assembly, Azerbaijan's foreign minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, stated that a 'partial peace' with Armenia is unacceptable, emphasizing the need for Armenia to amend its constitution to abandon territorial claims against Azerbaijan. This statement follows a history of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that saw a significant military offensive by Azerbaijan last year, resulting in the displacement of nearly 120,000 ethnic Armenians to Armenia. Despite ongoing negotiations, Bayramov insisted that any treaty must first resolve all outstanding issues, including Armenia's constitutional references to 'reunification' with Nagorno-Karabakh. Meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed optimism about peace, suggesting that a treaty is nearly complete and urging immediate signing. However, Bayramov's demands for constitutional changes are seen as a potential obstacle to finalizing an agreement. The situation is further complicated by Armenia's increased military spending and procurement of offensive weapons, which Azerbaijan views as a threat. As the international community pressures both nations to reach a resolution, the upcoming COP29 climate talks in Baku may provide a critical opportunity for progress in negotiations.