From Conflict to Clarity: Armenia and Azerbaijan’s Border Demarcation Initiative: Challenges and Promises

Armenia and Azerbaijan have announced the start of demarcating their common borders, a significant step towards resolving conflicts in the Caucasus region for over a century. The Armenian Ministry of the Interior confirmed that experts have begun clarifying coordinates based on a geodesic study, while the Ministry of the Interior of Azerbaijan stated that work has started to demarcate borders without any transfer of territory.

Protests by Armenians near the border have sparked concerns about potential border disputes and new conflicts with Azerbaijan. In 2020, Armenia lost control over significant parts of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan after defeats in two wars, resulting in thousands of casualties on both sides. Both countries acknowledge the importance of resolving border disputes to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former Soviet republics, have been plagued by conflicts for centuries. The demarcation of borders based on Soviet-era maps is seen as a necessary step to prevent further conflicts between them. While there are concerns about potential loss of property and isolation among Armenians near the border, both countries are working together to resolve these issues peacefully.

The demarcation work is expected to take several months before it’s complete. Still, it marks an important milestone in efforts to bring stability and peace to one of Europe’s most volatile regions.