ISTANBUL

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Tuesday that a real opportunity exists to finalize a draft peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

“We believe there is a real opportunity, a historical momentum to finalize the draft peace treaty, the signing of which could open the door for lasting peace in the region,” Mirzoyan said in an address at the Armenia-US Strategic Dialogue meeting held in Yerevan, which was attended by US Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien.

Expressing that Armenia is committed to normalizing relations and demarcating its border with Azerbaijan, Mirzoyan said this is “based on the mutual recognition of territorial integrity in accordance with the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration.”

Mirzoyan said Armenia is interested in unblocking all regional communications as part of the ongoing peace talks and vision for regional development, “based on full respect for countries’ sovereignty and jurisdiction and the principles of equality and reciprocity.”

He said enhanced partnership between Yerevan and Washington has potential to contribute to establishing a “durable and dignified peace” in the South Caucasus.

Mirzoyan said the agenda of their meeting includes economic cooperation, energy diversification, defense cooperation and beyond.

O'Brien said on X that his meeting with Mirzoyan underscored the "deepening bilateral partnership" adding that their discussions focused on democratic development, economic diversification, defense reforms and Euro-Atlantic cooperation.

He also held talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as part of his three-day visit which started on Monday.

Armenia, a former Soviet republic, is said to be distancing itself from Russia and seeks to diversify its foriegn policy.