Armenia and Azerbaijan have initiated the process of border demarcation, marking a significant step in their efforts to normalize relations after decades of conflict over territorial disputes.
Last month, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan agreed to return four villages to Azerbaijan, which were originally part of Azerbaijan during the Soviet era.
This decision, based on Soviet-era maps, was met with protests from residents of nearby Armenian villages.
On Tuesday, the interior ministries of both countries announced the commencement of border demarcation activities on the ground.
Azerbaijan stated that expert groups are working on determining coordinates through geodesic studies, while Armenia emphasized that no parts of its sovereign territory would be transferred to Azerbaijan as a result of this process.
The announcement triggered fresh protests in Armenia, with demonstrators blocking key highways, including the Armenia-Georgia highway near Lake Sevan and the town of Noyemberyan, close to the Azerbaijani border.
The four villages to be returned to Azerbaijan—Lower Askipara, Baghanis Ayrum, Kheirimly, and Gizilhajili—were occupied by Armenian forces in the 1990s, leading to the displacement of their Azerbaijani inhabitants.
Border Delimitation Raises Concerns and Hopes in Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
Residents of nearby Armenian villages are concerned about the potential isolation from their country and the risk of their houses falling into Azerbaijani-controlled territory as border demarcation progresses.
This region holds strategic importance for Armenia, as parts of the vital highway to Georgia, crucial for foreign trade, could end up in Azerbaijani territory.
Additionally, the delimited border will pass near a major Russian gas pipeline and features advantageous military positions.
Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasizes the urgency of resolving remaining border disputes with Azerbaijan to prevent further conflict.
He announced that Russian border guards, stationed in the area since 1992, will be replaced by Armenian troops, marking a significant shift on the ground towards peace.
Last year, Azerbaijani forces reclaimed the Nagorno-Karabakh region from Armenian separatists, ending a decades-long standoff.
Although both leaders express optimism about reaching a broader peace agreement, unresolved territorial issues continue to pose a threat of renewed hostilities.
