Armenia and Azerbaijan announced today that they have begun demarcating their common border, a major step for these two Caucasus countries that have already been locked in wars over territorial issues.
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Interior said in a statement that groups of experts are proceeding with “clarification of the coordinates on the basis of a geodetic study”, while Armenia’s Ministry of Interior, which confirmed “demarcation works” of the border, ruled out “the transfer of any part” of the sovereign territory of Armenia” in Baku as part of this process.
Last month, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accepted Baku’s request to return four border villages that were seized by Yerevan’s forces during the 1990s war.
The decision sparked protests by hundreds of Armenians in a region on the border with Azerbaijan, who fear they will be isolated and some of their homes will come under Baku’s control.
Yesterday, Monday, Armenian protesters blocked the road connecting Armenia with Georgia. They also attempted to block demining operations.
Today new protests broke out in Armenia, mainly near Lake Sevan and the city of Nogeberyan.
Last week, the two rival countries signaled their intention to demarcate their border based on Soviet-era maps.
Pashinyan insisted on the need to resolve border disputes to “avoid a new war” with Azerbaijan.
