Armenian FM says Aliyev's remarks don't fit peace narrative

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan says Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s use of the name “Goycha” to refer to Armenia’s Lake Sevan does not align with the peace narrative between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mirzoyan noted that while Aliyev referred to the Tsarist Russian maps showing the lake as “Goycha”, the comment was not constructive. “There are also tsarist-era maps that show it as Sevan,” he said, adding that delving further into historical geography could create “an uncomfortable situation”.

Mirzoyan emphasized focusing on “the real Armenia within borders recognized by Azerbaijan” and cited the Alma-Ata Declaration affirming mutual recognition of territorial integrity as more significant.