Aliyev reiterated on Thursday that such a change is a precondition for the signing of an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty discussed by the two sides. The Foreign Ministry in Yerevan rejected the demand as a “blatant interference in the internal affairs of our country.”
“At the same time, we believe that such rhetoric is torpedoing the peace process and calling into question the Azerbaijani leadership’s sincerity to achieve peace,” it said in a statement.
Aliyev said that the Armenian constitution contains “territorial claims” to Azerbaijan. He earlier pointed to the constitution’s preamble that mentions a 1990 declaration of Armenia’s independence. The declaration in turn cites a 1989 unification act adopted by the legislative bodies of Soviet Armenia and the then Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.
“The Republic of Armenia has no territorial claims to any of its neighbors, including Azerbaijan,” stressed the Foreign Ministry.
Echoing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s earlier response to Aliyev’s demands, the ministry said one of the “agreed provisions” of the draft peace treaty stipulates that the parties cannot use their domestic legislation for not complying with the document. It also said Yerevan is ready to “work constructively and intensively to finalize and sign [the treaty] within the next month.”
Pashinian himself declared in January that Armenia needs a new constitution reflecting the “new geopolitical environment” in the region. He afterwards denied critics claims’ that he wants to scrap the current constitution at the behest of Baku. Still, Pashinian said that peace with Azerbaijan will be impossible as long as the constitutional reference to the 1990 declaration remains in place.
Gegham Manukian, a parliament deputy from the main opposition Hayastan alliance, claimed that Aliyev’s latest comments are a further indication that Pashinian promised such a constitutional change to Baku.
“Once again it became clear that … Nikol Pashinian was lying and deceiving his own people when he claimed that he wants to change the constitution for the sake of Armenia,” said Manukian.
Armen Khachatrian, a senior lawmaker from Pashinian’s Civil Contract party, denied any secret deals with Baku, saying that Aliyev’s statements are directed at the Azerbaijani public and aimed at “causing a stir in Armenia.”
“Stop quoting Aliyev and seeking comments,” Khachatrian told journalists.
Aliyev renewed his demands for the constitutional change in late April after forcing Pashinian’s administration to agree to hand over four disputed border areas to Azerbaijan. Armenian opposition leaders have strongly condemned Pashinian for bowing to the Azerbaijani pressure, saying that the land transfer will only encourage Baku to demand more Armenian concessions.