The Long Road to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Agreement: The prevalence of the Principle of Territorial Integrity Over the Right of Self-Determination

Abstract

On March 13, 2025, Armenia and Azerbaijan announced a peace agreement toconclude a conflict that began in 1988. The disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh exemplifies a paradigmatic case where the principle of territorialintegrity and the right to self-determination have been in conflict for nearly fourdecades. Ultimately, the principle of territorial integrity has prevailed. Thisarticle examines the aspects of the peace agreement that are known so far,particularly the mutual recognition of both countries' territorial integrity basedon Soviet-era borders, the necessity to reform the Armenian Constitution toeliminate any territorial claims on Azerbaijan, the prohibition of militarydeployments from third countries, the renunciation of any future internationallitigation, and the disbanding of the OSCE Minsk Group.This text analyses relevant treaties, resolutions from international organizations,and the historical roles of external actors such as Russia, the European Union,and the United Nations. Special attention is given to the legal frameworksestablished by the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, and the principle of utipossidetis juris.Measures to strengthen the peace agreement are being studied. The analysisemphasizes the importance of combining economic cooperation and inter-community dialogue to promote long-term stability in the South Caucasus.