Pashinyan Specifically Emphasized the Number '15': Daniel Ioannisyan

Daniel Ioannisyan, the coordinator of the IKM programs, writes: “Predictably, nothing was signed. Nikol Pashinyan stated that he supports the 15-point proposal suggested by the Russian side two months ago. He specifically emphasized the number '15' several times, as it was the 15th point that Baku was against (Aliyev wanted to limit the agreement to 14 points).

The 15th point referred to the status of Nagorno-Karabakh being left unresolved in the future (I do not know the exact wording). As expected, in Sochi, Aliyev did not agree to the 15th point, and Pashinyan also did not agree to the 14-point version. As a result, they signed a statement about nothing so that it would not seem that they signed nothing.

It is clear that Russia, which now has other common interests with Azerbaijan (for example, the corridor through Meghri), will not exert any pressure on Azerbaijan regarding the status of Artsakh or the rights of the Armenians of Artsakh. Instead, Russia, together with Azerbaijan, will be exerting pressure on Armenia to hand over the Meghri road to it. Here, a mediator is needed who will force Azerbaijan to recognize the existence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and take appropriate steps.”