20 minutos: Armenia needs to change its constitution to advance peace process with Azerbaijan

Armenia needs to amend its constitution to ensure progress in the peace process with Azerbaijan, Report informs referring to the Spanish publication 20 minutos.

The publication notes that Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to take steps to normalize relations not only in the diplomatic sphere but also in infrastructure.

Specifically, on June 22, Telecom Armenia and AzerTelecom signed an agreement on internet transit through both countries. Furthermore, on June 21, Baku exported another batch of petroleum products to Armenia – 17 railway tank cars of diesel fuel totaling 1,000 tons.

20 minutos writes that internet transit, petroleum product supplies, and other forms of cooperation are signs of genuine normalization of relations, not just declarative steps. However, according to the publication, this is not enough to conclude a full-fledged peace agreement.

"Armenia needs to bring its Constitution into line with the realities of peaceful coexistence. The main obstacle is the preamble of the current Constitution, which refers to the Declaration of Independence – a document that envisions the reunification of Armenia and Karabakh," the publication writes.

It also notes that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan advocates constitutional reform and the rejection of revanchist aspirations. However, following the June 7 elections, he does not have a constitutional majority and is forced to seek the support of other political forces.

"Second place in the elections went to Samvel Karapetyan's Strong Armenia party, which received 23.29% of the vote, while Robert Kocharyan's Armenia bloc came in third with approximately 10%. Both political forces represent openly pro-Russian positions and promote Moscow's interests. Their goal is to return the country to the Kremlin's orbit and block any course toward sustainable peace in the South Caucasus," the publication states.

The publication also cites European experience, including Ireland, North Macedonia, and Germany, as examples of constitutional amendments following conflicts as part of peace processes.

"Revanchist forces within the Armenian political establishment may use the preamble to the current Constitution to justify new regional escalation. They may subsequently promote the claim in their propaganda media that there is a supposed legal basis for such actions in Armenian legislation," the article notes.

According to the publication, amending the Armenian Constitution as part of the peace process is neither an exception nor a precedent for international practice: "Considering the examples cited, constitutional reform in Armenia should not be viewed as a concession, but as a necessary legal conclusion to the peace process with Azerbaijan. As long as the constitution retains language that may cause controversy, the stability and prosperity of the entire region will remain at risk."