Azerbaijan removes references to Moscow and Kars agreements from Nakhchivan Constitution

The Preamble of the Constitution of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is being amended, The Daily Baku reports.

This is reflected in the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On the Approval of Amendments to the Constitution of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic,” approved by an order of President Ilham Aliyev.

The Preamble of the Constitution of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which had been in force until now, stated that the foundations of Nakhchivan’s autonomy were established by the Moscow Treaty of March 16, 1921, and the Kars Treaty of October 13, 1921, which remain in force.

These international treaties reaffirmed that Nakhchivan is an integral part of Azerbaijan and clarified its territorial boundaries. Beginning on March 16, 1921, Nakhchivan was first called the Nakhchivan Soviet Socialist Republic, later the Nakhchivan region from June 16, 1923, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic from February 9, 1924, and since November 17, 1990, it has been called the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The first Constitution of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was adopted in 1926, the second in 1937, and the third in 1978. The current Constitution of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is based on the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan adopted by nationwide referendum on November 12, 1995.

The new version states that the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is an inseparable part of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

It is also noted that the Constitution of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is based on the principles established in the Declaration “On the Restoration of the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan” dated August 30, 1991, the Constitutional Act “On the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan” dated October 18, 1991, and the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan adopted by nationwide referendum on November 12, 1995.