In a significant move towards peace and stability in the Caucasus region, Armenia and Azerbaijan have announced the start of demarcation of their common borders. The two countries, both former Soviet republics, have been plagued by conflicts for over a century.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently agreed to return four border towns to Azerbaijan, which sparked protests by Armenians fearing isolation and loss of property. However, the Armenian Ministry of the Interior confirmed that demarcation work would begin without any transfer of territory.
Both countries acknowledge the importance of resolving border disputes to maintain peace and stability in the region. To this end, experts from both countries have begun clarifying coordinates based on a geodesic study.
The demarcation of borders based on Soviet-era maps is seen as a necessary step to prevent further conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. After Armenia’s defeat in 2020, the country had to relinquish control over significant parts of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, ending a decades-long conflict in the region.
Protests continued in different regions of Armenia, with concerns over border disputes and the potential for new conflicts with Azerbaijan. However, with the start of demarcation work, both countries are taking steps towards resolving these disputes and maintaining peace in the region.
