Good news! Blessed are the peacemakers! Will peace become a reality this time despite still sheer insurmountable differences?
"... Claims that a landmark treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan is imminent have been made so often in recent years that they now attract little attention. A breakthrough was expected at the end of 2022, then spring 2023, as well as in the fall of 2023, when Baku’s seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh finally put an end to their long-running territorial dispute. ...
The Armenians would like to use military maps from the 1970s as the basis for a border agreement, whereas Baku wants experts to map the situation on the ground and to use that as the basis for a permanent settlement. Baku’s approach means Azerbaijan retaining many strategic positions. In addition, President Ilham Aliyev has said that the Azerbaijani army will not retreat from positions it seized during bouts of fighting in May 2021 and September 2022—even if they are on Armenian territory. ...
Another issue on which the two sides appear to be converging is that of transport corridors. By stating it will build a road via Iran—not Armenia—to its exclave of Nakhichevan, sandwiched between Armenia and Turkey, Azerbaijan has made a significant concession.
Not only has Aliyev publicly announced that the construction of the Iran route is already under way, he has named his price for ditching the Armenian route (also known as the Zangezur Corridor): that Azerbaijan will not open its border with Armenia. Even the possibility of Azerbaijan renouncing its claim to the Zangezur Corridor is a positive development. ..."
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