Joint Statement of the Heads of State in Tehran

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Country/entity: Armenia
Azerbaijan
Nagorno-Karabakh
Region: Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name: Joint Statement of the Heads of State in Tehran
Date: 7 May 1992
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict (1991 - )
The territory of Nagorno-Karabakh has been a long-standing object of dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. During the existence of USSR, the territory was assigned to Azerbaijan, starting in 1921. After decades of disagreements over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, and in the wake of Gorbachev’s policies of political openness, the protests by Armenians in the region escalated into violent conflict in 1990, exacerbated by the central government’s inability to control the republics as the USSR itself was on the verge of collapse. The Autonomous Region (Oblast) of Nagorno-Karabakh (NKAO) proclaimed independence from Azerbaijan in 1991, after the Parliament of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic voted to abolish the Oblast. The territory itself is populated by ethnic Armenians, but surrounded by territories with an Azeri majority. The territory proclaimed independence, with the support of Armenia, and incorporating the areas that surround it, but has never gained international recognition and remains a de jure part of Azerbaijan. The violence intensified , leading to an estimated overall death toll of 30 000 After several attempts at mediation, the opposing sides agreed to a ceasefire in May 1994, but the situation has not been resolved to date and the violence had briefly resumed in the spring of 2016. The initial ceasefire in 1994 was the outcome of the so-called “Minsk process”, overseen by OSCE, with the participation of Russia, France, and the US.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Armenia-Azerbaijan-Nagorno Karabakh: Process 1990s
Parties: The Azerbaijan Republic
Ya. MAMEDOV

The Republic of Armenia
L. TER-PETROSYAN
Third parties: The Islamic Republic of Iran
Akbar HASHEMI RAFSANJANI
Description: This agreement sets our principles for future talks including the parties agreement to declare a ceasefire following the arrival of the international mediator and to discuss the issue of refugees.

Agreement document: AM_AZ_920507_TehranJointStatement.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Rhetorical
Page 1:...Respecting human rights and the rights of minorities, the sides drew each other’s attention to the questions of solving problems of Armenian and Azeri refugees.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: Page 1:...Taking international legal norms and the UN Charter as a basis, the sides emphasised the necessity of ensuring peace and stability on the borders, in Nagorno Karabakh, pointing out that it is advantageous both for the two states and for the region.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: Page 1:...Respecting human rights and the rights of minorities, the sides drew each other’s attention to the questions of solving problems of Armenian and Azeri refugees.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: Page 1:...The sides expressed a desire for solving all issues connected with the normalisation of bilateral relations at different levels by peaceful means on the basis of principles of the CSCE and international law.

Page 1:...Taking international legal norms and the UN Charter as a basis, the sides emphasised the necessity of ensuring peace and stability on the borders, in Nagorno Karabakh, pointing out that it is advantageous both for the two states and for the region.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: Page 1:...The sides agreed that within a week after the arrival of the special representative of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. M. Vaezi in the region (Baku, Yerevan, Nagorno Karabakh), after conducting negotiations with the concerned sides and with the support of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Armenia, ceasefire is established and simultaneously all communication roads are open with the purpose of meeting all economic needs.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1:...The sides agreed that within a week after the arrival of the special representative of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. M. Vaezi in the region (Baku, Yerevan, Nagorno Karabakh), after conducting negotiations with the concerned sides and with the support of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Armenia, ceasefire is established and simultaneously all communication roads are open with the purpose of meeting all economic needs.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1: ...With a view to develop bilateral relations and provide security in the region, the sides agreed to organise meetings of representatives of the both countries at a top level and periodically of the leaders of regions and responsible military representatives.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1:...The sides agreed that within a week after the arrival of the special representative of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. M. Vaezi in the region (Baku, Yerevan, Nagorno Karabakh), after conducting negotiations with the concerned sides and with the support of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Armenia, ceasefire is established and simultaneously all communication roads are open with the purpose of meeting all economic needs.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1: ...With a view to develop bilateral relations and provide security in the region, the sides agreed to organise meetings of representatives of the both countries at a top level and periodically of the leaders of regions and responsible military representatives.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: The Islamic Republic of Iran
Akbar HASHEMI RAFSANJANI (as international mediator)
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1:...In case of consent for the implementation of the reached agreement, besides the observers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, observers of the CSCE and others will be involved.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: ALI ABASOV, HAROUTIUN KHACHATRIAN, THE KARABAKH CONFLICT Variants of settlement: Concepts and reality
Third edition, revised and updated, Baku-Yerevan, 2006. Available from: http://www.ca-c.org

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE HEADS OF STATE IN TEHRAN

Upon the invitation of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mr. Yakub Mamedov, Acting President of the Azerbaijan Republic, and Mr. Levon Ter-Petrosyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, arrived in Tehran to hold bilateral negotiations and discuss regional problems.

Using this opportunity, upon the initiative and at the suggestion of the Iranian side, within the framework of diplomatic efforts on the normalisation of the situation in Nagorno Karabakh and at the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and bringing the viewpoints closer together with the purpose of reliving tensions in the region, the leaders of the two states met and conducted negotiations on May 7,1992.

The sides started with expressing their gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran, international and regional organizations as well as other countries for their efforts directed at a peaceful settlement of the conflict in the region and expressed hope that peaceful wishes and goodwill would promote peace and stability.

With a view to develop bilateral relations and provide security in the region, the sides agreed to organise meetings of representatives of the both countries at a top level and periodically of the leaders of regions and responsible military representatives.

The sides expressed a desire for solving all issues connected with the normalisation of bilateral relations at different levels by peaceful means on the basis of principles of the CSCE and international law.

Taking international legal norms and the UN Charter as a basis, the sides emphasised the necessity of ensuring peace and stability on the borders, in Nagorno Karabakh, pointing out that it is advantageous both for the two states and for the region.

Respecting human rights and the rights of minorities, the sides drew each other’s attention to the questions of solving problems of Armenian and Azeri refugees.

The sides agreed that within a week after the arrival of the special representative of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. M. Vaezi in the region (Baku, Yerevan, Nagorno Karabakh), after conducting negotiations with the concerned sides and with the support of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Armenia, ceasefire is established and simultaneously all communication roads are open with the purpose of meeting all economic needs.

In case of consent for the implementation of the reached agreement, besides the observers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, observers of the CSCE and others will be involved.

Positively assessing the work of the summit in Tehran, the sides agreed that all questions connected with bilateral relations should be solved by means of meetings and consultations of responsible persons at different levels and through negotiations.

The leaders of the two states, highly appreciating the efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressed hope that the Islamic Republic of Iran would continue its efforts until the ultimate peace and stability were established in the region.

The Islamic Republic of Iran

Akbar HASHEMI RAFSANJANI

The Azerbaijan Republic

Ya. MAMEDOV

The Republic of Armenia

L. TER-PETROSYAN