After US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza recently revealed details about the proposed framework deal to resolve the conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh, Eurasianet has more. According to the article penned by Haroutiun Khachatrian, Yerevan has confirmed the details that had been circulating in Armenia for the past year and a half, but has also revealed more.

Not only do these new revelations include some surprises such as the fact that both Lachin and Kelbajar might eventually be released, but some of the obstacles to the framework deal are also highlighted. One of the main stumbling blocks remains the idea of how a referendum would be conducted, and not least since the Azerbaijani Constitution prohibits a plebiscite in a specific region or territory.

In Armenia, initial government reaction to the interview was emotional. Anger appeared targeted more at what was perceived to have been left unsaid, than at what was actually disclosed about the draft agreement. On June 26, the official newspaper Hayastani Hanrapetutiun published a story on Bryza’s comments under the title “Provocation or Pressure?” In the piece, the Armenian Foreign Ministry cited what it perceived as the gaps in the information provided by Bryza. The ministry stated that the regions connecting Armenia with Karabakh, Lachin and Kelbajar, are expected to remain under Armenian control until a referendum on the enclave’s status is held. During the period preceding the vote, Karabakh, according to the ministry, would also be given an internationally recognized status.

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Notably, no political party or public organization in Armenia has objected to the proposed Armenian withdrawal from the seven occupied territories, often termed “liberated” by Armenian organizations and politicians. The prospect of such a swap has been called “reasonable” by opposition leader Aram Sargsian, head of the Hanarpetutiun (Republic) Party and brother of the late defense minister Vazgen Sargsian, founder of the Yerkrapah organization of war veterans.

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In their absence, key questions about the proposed framework agreement linger. In a July 6 editorial entitled “Let’s Discuss, But What?,” the daily newspaper Aravot wondered whether the referendum on Karabakh’s status would be held among the enclave’s actual population, as proposed by Armenia, or among the residents of Azerbaijan, as advocated by the Azerbaijani government. The newspaper also queried whether Lachin and Kelbajar would remain under the control of Armenian forces before the referendum is held, or whether they would be demilitarized, as proposed by Azerbaijan.

Analysts seem sharply divided about the known features of the framework peace deal. For example, scientist Alexander Iskandarian was quoted by the Hayots Ashkharh daily on July 6 as saying framework agreement favors Armenia as never before. But others, including 168 Zham newspaper columnist Armen Baghdasarian, maintain that war with Azerbaijan seems inevitable since Baku would not risk a legitimate referendum on the enclave’s status.

The full article can be read online here.