By Zhanna Avagyan
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has proposed dissolving the OSCE Minsk Group as part of a comprehensive peace initiative. This move comes shortly after Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev declared that signing a peace treaty would be “impossible” without both the Minsk Group’s dissolution and changes to Armenia’s Constitution.
In a detailed Facebook post, Pashinyan outlined his vision for regional peace, addressing several key issues including territorial definitions, refugee rights, and security concerns. He specifically challenged Azerbaijan’s “Western Azerbaijan” narrative, arguing that such terminology effectively closes the possibility of meaningful dialogue about refugee rights by implying territorial claims against Armenia.
Pashinyan’s proposal directly responds to Aliyev’s unequivocal demands and threats of force if his conditions go unmet.
Just two weeks ago, Pashinyan had taken a markedly different stance, expressing serious reservations about Azerbaijan’s intentions. He had emphasized the need to ensure that Azerbaijan’s push for the group’s dissolution wasn’t motivated by plans to pursue policies toward Armenian territory under the pretext of “Western Azerbaijan” claims.
Azerbaijan has consistently advocated for dismantling the Minsk Group, arguing that its mandate has become obsolete since Armenia recognized Karabakh as Azerbaijani territory. “If Armenia has recognized Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, and the Minsk Group was created to resolve the Karabakh issue, what need is there for its continuation?” Azerbaijani officials have repeatedly stated. President Aliyev has gone further, stating that “If Armenia doesn’t need a peace treaty, then neither do we,” in what observers interpret as a threat of military action.
Pashinyan’s 12-point proposal includes crucial elements such as the mutual abandonment of escalatory rhetoric, continuation of border delimitation processes, implementation of transport connections, and the establishment of joint mechanisms for investigating ceasefire violations. However, Azerbaijan has remained silent on several of these proposals for months while intensifying its demands.
Despite this major shift regarding the Minsk Group, questions remain about the implementation process. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not confirmed whether an official joint application for dissolution has been or will be submitted to the OSCE. Moreover, it remains unclear whether Armenia would support the group’s dissolution if Azerbaijan rejects other elements of the proposed peace package.
The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States, has served as the primary international mechanism for negotiating a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh conflict since 1992.
While Pashinyan’s administration frames the proposal within a broader set of initiatives, the timing – immediately following Aliyev’s threatening statements – suggests a response to mounting pressure rather than a product of bilateral negotiations.
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