Armenia`s borders can only be changed by means of referendum -  statement 

ArmInfo.The delimitation and demarcation of borders between the Republic of Armenia and the 

Republic of Azerbaijan must comply with best international practice and be based on the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of the United Nations and the Helsinki Final Act, reads a draft statement of 

the National Assembly, presented by the opposition faction "Armenia", in connection with the beginning of the process of delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The statement, which was presented by NA deputy Artur Khachatryan at 

the meeting of the RA NA Committee on Foreign Relations on April 23, 

indicates the inadmissibility of the use of force or the threat of 

its use when concluding any international agreement. The delimitation 

and demarcation of borders between the two states can be carried out 

in an atmosphere of trust, for which the most important prerequisites 

are the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the sovereign territory 

of the Republic of Armenia, the cessation of expansionist rhetoric on 

the part of Azerbaijan, the return of all prisoners of war and 

detainees, the solution of existing humanitarian problems, the 

preservation of cultural , historical and spiritual heritage.

Moreover, delimitation and demarcation between states should in no 

way limit the right of the people of Artsakh to collectively return 

to Nagorno-Karabakh under international guarantees with the 

determination of the final status of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). The 

statement also noted that the delimitation and demarcation of borders 

between the two countries are consistent processes that take into 

account international law and best practices. When changing the 

borders of Armenia, a referendum is necessary.

In work on border delimitation, one should use not only maps drawn up 

on the basis of relevant legal acts, including those available at the 

General Staff of the Russian Federation, but also delimitation 

activities carried out by legal representatives of the bodies of the 

two former Soviet republics. The agreement on the delimitation and 

demarcation of borders between the Republic of Armenia and the 

Republic of Azerbaijan should ensure the complete and simultaneous 

unblocking of transport and other communication channels with the 

impossibility of limiting their sovereignty.

The Government of the Republic of Armenia and persons representing 

the Republic of Armenia are obliged to follow the above approaches 

and refrain from making any territorial concessions under the threat 

of violence, which is considered a criminal offense. The transfer of 

territory under the sovereign jurisdiction of Armenia to Azerbaijan 

is impossible without a decision being made in a referendum. The 

National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia calls on international 

organizations, parliaments of UN member countries to defend this 

position of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, condemn 

the aggression carried out by Azerbaijan against the Armenian people, 

take actions to suppress them and involve Azerbaijan in the peaceful 

negotiation process. The Parliament of Armenia calls on Armenians 

around the world to make efforts to push the international community 

to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic 

of Armenia, the rights of the Armenian people in accordance with the 

above position.

The deputy called on the authorities, as part of the delimitation 

process, to demand that Azerbaijan return the captured sovereign 

territories of Armenia. He recalled that Azerbaijan has occupied more 

Armenian territory than what it demands from Armenia. "We need to 

demand that Baku withdraw from areas in Tavush, including north of 

the Jogaz reservoir, and from Jermuk. This is the only way to go for 

delimitation, and not cede territory to Azerbaijan under force," the 

parliamentarian said.

He added that the Azerbaijani armed forces occupied about 200 square 

meters. km of Armenian territory, and instead of demanding these 

areas back as a matter of priority, Armenia makes unilateral 

concessions, which is actually capitulation. In particular, as the 

politician emphasized, on March 9, the seventh meeting of the border 

delimitation commissions was held, and two days after that, the 

office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan issued an ultimatum 

demanding the transfer of four villages in the Tavush region to 

Baku's control. He noted that the country's authorities declare the 

need to surrender the villages in Tavush, assuring that otherwise the 

Azerbaijani side will start a war against Armenia.

Threats of war, he recalled, are a violation of international law, 

and the authorities in Armenia contribute to the violation of 

international law by fulfilling Azerbaijan's ultimatums to avoid war. 

"Today the Armenian authorities declare that in the process of 

delimitation and demarcation they are based on the principles of 

legitimacy, but with their actions they encourage illegitimacy," the 

oppositionist said. He added that if the authorities, under pressure 

and threats from Azerbaijan, declare that these villages do not 

belong to Armenia, but It is unclear on what basis they claim this. 

The authorities refer to the Alma-Ata Declaration, which, according 

to the CIS Charter, is not a mandatory document for membership in the 

Organization. In other words, Khachatryan continued, there is no 

legitimate document from 1991. , under which would be the signature 

of the Azerbaijani side. Therefore, the reference is given to a 

practically non-existent document, the oppositionist believes.

Khachatryan also wondered who authorized the delimitation and 

demarcation commission to make a statement on the surrender of any 

territories. "According to the law, the prime minister has the right 

to form an advisory body and appoint its leader. That is, this 

commission is an advisory body, no one gave them the right to decide 

where the border will be. Any change in the border or territory must 

be approved by referendum," he said, pointing out, that the 

sovereignty of Armenia extends to these territories. Noting that, in 

accordance with information coming from Tavush, troops are moving 

there, he again asked the question: on the basis of what document is 

this happening?

Khachatryan noted that the main goal of the presented document is 

that, being an important representative body, the National Assembly 

should have a clear position on the principles of border delimitation 

and demarcation based on international law and the best international 

experience. At the first stage, the politician continued, the 

delimitation of the entire length of the border must be completely 

completed, a full and detailed document must be drawn up, if this 

document involves changing the borders, a referendum must be held and 

only after all this the parties will be able to move on to the 

demarcation process. Khachatryan emphasized that the starting point 

for delimitation should be the actual borders in force at the time of 

Azerbaijan's accession to the CIS in 1993. The process of 

delimitation and demarcation should ensure the simultaneous and 

complete unblocking of the border, without any restrictions on 

sovereignty.

On April 19, the Armenian Foreign Ministry, following the results of 

the eighth meeting of state commissions, announced that Armenia and 

Azerbaijan agreed to begin delimitation from the Tavush region and by 

July 1 to complete the approval of the draft regulations on the joint 

activities of delimitation commissions. Since the evening of the same 

day, residents of the border villages of Tavush, dissatisfied with 

the agreements between Yerevan and Baku, have been holding protests 

on the Armenia-Georgia interstate road.