Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in an interview with Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya TV in Baku on August 26, reiterated his demand that Armenia removes a provision in its constitution that he argues “casts doubt on Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.”

Aliyev said Baku will sign a peace agreement with Armenia once the country modifies its constitution, adding that Yerevan is working on the draft of a new constitution prior to the holding of parliamentary elections next summer.  

While a council, led by Armenian Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan, is tasked with drafting the new constitution such a process faces numerous hurdles.

Aliyev issued a veiled threat to Yerevan not to rescind on its commitment to recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

“What I am trying to say is that if any future government of Armenia, no matter when it comes to power, puts under doubt what has been signed in Washington, Armenia will face serious complications, because the balance of power in the region is absolutely in our favor from all points of view. I think it's obvious to everyone, and if Armenia again puts under doubt our territorial integrity, we will respond adequately,” Aliyev told Al Arabiya TV according to Azertac, Azerbaijan’s state news agency.

Aliyev also boasted that the Azerbaijani military, in 2020, could have captured territory in Armenia’s southern Syunik Province, thus providing a land route between Azerbaijan proper and its Nakhijevan exclave.

After the Second Karabakh War ended with our victory, we could have taken that part by force. At that time, the Armenian army was totally demoralized. There were 12,000 deserters who ran from the war in the Armenian army and zero in the Azerbaijani army. The Azerbaijani army was motivated; the people were motivated, and there was no one in front of us. We stopped on November 10, 2020, at our border. We didn't take that part by force, but we told Armenia that they cannot block our communications with Nakhchivan,” Aliyev is quoted as saying. 

Aliyev said he believed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP)  will materialize very soon since bears the name of the U.S. president.

The Azerbaijani leader said the route will provide a second, alternative artery to connect Asia with Europe via Azerbaijan and that Armenia will benefit from transit fees it will receive.

Aliyev, in the interview, used the term “Zangezur Corridor”, wording that official Yerevan is reluctant to use.

Aliyev, when asked about the potential of U.S. investors in the project, replied that it’s not an issue for him. 

“It is not yet decided, but yes, it is possible for American investors to do it. For us, it doesn't matter. What is important for us is that it’s built and that there are international security guarantees. Security guarantees from Armenia alone will not be enough.”