The debate over constitutional reform in Armenia has moved far beyond the sphere of domestic politics. Today, it represents the final and perhaps most consequential issue standing between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the path toward a comprehensive peace agreement. Although the two sides have finalised and initialled the text of a peace treaty, the Armenian Constitution remains the principal obstacle preventing its formal signing.

Constitutional reform has become one of the key conditions put forward by Baku before the peace agreement can enter into force. Azerbaijan maintains that the preamble of Armenia's current Constitution refers to the 1990 Declaration of Independence, a document containing provisions that imply territorial claims against Azerbaijan. From Azerbaijan's perspective, as long as these constitutional references remain in force, they create legal and political uncertainty that contradicts the spirit of a future peace treaty and could serve as grounds for renewed disputes in the future.

For this reason, Azerbaijan insists that the constitutional issue must be fully resolved before the final peace agreement is signed.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly acknowledged the need for constitutional reform. He recently announced that the draft of Armenia's new Constitution is expected to be published before the end of the year, explaining that its release had been postponed because of parliamentary elections and the need to organise broad public discussions.

Armenian officials have also indicated that the new Constitution will no longer contain a reference to the Declaration of Independence. Should this commitment be fulfilled, one of the principal legal obstacles to peace would effectively disappear.

However, the fundamental question remains: will Armenia ultimately adopt the new Constitution, and is the country politically prepared to take this step in the........

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