As diplomatic momentum builds between Armenia and Azerbaijan, eyes are now turning to Washington, where a Joint Declaration is expected to be signed between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with the participation of US President Donald Trump. While not yet the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement, the declaration could mark a historic milestone in the decades-long conflict between the two South Caucasus nations.

Azerbaijan has consistently emphasised two key conditions for sustainable peace: constitutional amendments in Armenia to eliminate territorial claims against Azerbaijan, and the establishment of unimpeded overland access to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, often referred to as the Zangazur Corridor.

To better understand the implications of these developments, we spoke with Prof. László Vasa, Chief Advisor and Senior Research Fellow at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs, and Professor at Széchenyi István University, Hungary.

Asked about the potential impact of Armenia amending its constitution — one of Baku’s key demands — László described the move as a critical confidence-building step. He said that while the expected declaration in Washington would not yet mark the conclusion of a peace agreement, it signals substantial progress toward normalising relations between the two nations.

“If Armenia undertakes the constitutional reform requested by Azerbaijan,” László noted, “bilateral relations would likely enter a new phase.”

He explained that removing constitutional references to territorial claims could unlock a number of short-term initiatives: accelerated border delimitation and demarcation, the restoration of transport links, and even the launch of reciprocal consular services. There would also be room for humanitarian cooperation, including demining efforts and resolving the issue of missing persons from past conflicts.

Beyond the symbolic value,........

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