Azerbaijan refuses Armenian MP’s peace meeting call

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan has dismissed a proposal from Armenian MP Sargis Khandanyan to hold an interparliamentary meeting, calling him a “populist.” Khandanyan, who chairs the Armenian National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and represents the ruling Civil Contract party, announced this on X.

He said that Samad Seyidov, head of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary committee on foreign and interparliamentary relations, turned down the invitation.

“My Azerbaijani counterpart publicly rejected my proposal to exchange views on the draft peace agreement, calling me a ‘populist.’ If advocating for peace is populism, then I proudly accept the label,” wrote Khandanyan.

He emphasized that his proposal still stands.

“My offer remains on the table. I’m ready to engage in interparliamentary confidence-building efforts in support of peace and stability in our region,” the statement added.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly stated that the draft peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is finalized and awaits signing. He has called on the Azerbaijani president to initiate consultations on formalizing the agreement. On March 13, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry said it accepted Azerbaijan’s proposals on the two remaining disputed articles and that the deal is ready for signing. Armenia expressed readiness to begin talks on the date and location. Baku, however, has introduced new preconditions and claims it is premature to discuss dates for a meeting.