The prospect of a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia has gained renewed significance as Armenia approaches a pre-election period marked by relative stability.
Speaking to AnewZ, Tural Ganjali, a Member of Parliament representing Khankendi, outlined how political and economic conditions in Armenia could influence the trajectory of the peace process.
Ganjali stressed that stability within Armenia is essential at this stage.
“Stability in political terms in Armenia is very essential,” he said, adding that a stable environment would allow the country “to conduct the elections and… pursue further the political positive atmosphere, especially a peace process with Azerbaijan.”
He expressed cautious optimism following the initialling of a draft peace treaty last summer.
“Hopefully after the successful conducting of elections in Armenia, I hope that the new Armenian government will be able to finally sign [the] peace treaty,” he said.
The wider geopolitical environment continues to shape domestic conditions in Armenia. Ongoing conflicts linked to Russia and tensions in the Middle East have affected regional economies. Ganjali said cooperation with Azerbaijan has helped mitigate some of these challenges.
“Azerbaijan has been first to lift the restrictions upon Armenia,” he noted, adding that access to “gasoline products, grain products… significantly helped Armenia” to stabilise its economy.
He also pointed to the benefits of diversifying partnerships, warning that reliance on a single partner “significantly creates obstacles for Armenian economy”.
According to Ganjali, increased engagement with Azerbaijan could help Armenia broaden its economic and political options, reducing external vulnerabilities.
The peace process is emerging as a central theme in Armenia’s domestic politics. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has framed the elections as a choice between peace and renewed conflict, a message Ganjali believes resonates with voters.
“The most important element… of the pre-election campaign… is to introduce peace,” he said. He linked public support for this approach to the long-term effects of conflict, noting that “everything is related to the conflict… the economic situation because of the conflict with Azerbaijan.”
While acknowledging opposition from some groups, he added: “Most of [the] Armenian population would like to see peace.”
Ganjali also addressed the idea of “institutionalising peace,” describing it as a process of embedding cooperation into formal structures and removing long-standing barriers.
“Institutionalising peace means removing all the obstacles… from the agenda of our relations,” he said. This includes reopening transport and communication links, as well as establishing diplomatic ties.
“When we speak about… institutionalising [the] peace process, it means… building embassy… and helping people also on the ground.”
One key issue is the reopening of transit routes, including the Zangezur corridor, which could reconnect regional trade networks. Ganjali emphasised that such steps would also support humanitarian goals, including the return of displaced people.
The potential reopening of borders with both Azerbaijan and Türkiye is seen as a significant step towards regional integration. Ganjali said open borders would lead to “open trade turnover” and increased economic activity across the South Caucasus.
He also referred to international involvement, including support from the U.S. for regional transport initiatives. However, he underlined that progress depends primarily on cooperation between the two countries.
“Despite what happens in different parts of the world… we have to work together to open this corridor,” he said, adding that such developments would help end Armenia’s isolation and support broader regional growth.
As Armenia enters its election period, its domestic political direction is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the peace process.
The combination of political stability, economic cooperation and regional connectivity remains central to efforts to move from a draft agreement towards a lasting settlement in the South Caucasus.
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