According to Serzh Sargsyan, the third President of Armenia, it appears that Armenia has not explicitly accepted Azerbaijan’s proposal for bilateral negotiations. Sargsyan mentioned that the recent Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement was confusing as it neither confirmed acceptance nor explicitly rejected the proposal. He suggested that further consideration is needed before a decision is made. Sargsyan shared these remarks with reporters in front of a Yerevan court.

“Of course, the proposal [by Azerbaijan] of bilateral negotiations cannot be accepted. I want to remind you that today’s ruler of Armenia, who wanted to criticize or ‘sting’ me when he said, ‘Look, look, he says that he did not negotiate with [Azerbaijani president] Aliyev, but I am negotiating,’ we saw what those negotiations led to,” Sargsyan said. 

According to Sargsyan, the crucial factor is whether a powerful state guarantees the results of the negotiations. He emphasized that without such assurance, either party could potentially breach the agreements.

Sargsyan pointed out that the co-chairs of the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue were three powerful countries, indicating the importance of having a powerful mediator. He expressed skepticism about bilateral negotiations with Azerbaijan, stating that they may lead to a dead end or, if they proceed, could involve significant concessions that may not secure a promising future for Armenia.

Serzh Sargsyan expressed the belief that signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan is necessary for establishing lasting peace in the region. However, he stated that he concluded the peace agreement based on leaks and foreign press reports, expressing concern that new concessions are made each time. He asserted that if such a peace treaty is signed, it should be labeled as a forced peace treaty akin to capitulation. 

“You remember that after the publication of the document of November 9, how the word ‘capitulator’ was ‘tattooed’ on him. And I am sure that if such a peace treaty is signed, he will be called a ‘double capitulator.’ Unfair peace is the cause of a new war,” Sargsyan added.

Read also: Armenia and Azerbaijan Ready for Direct Peace Talks