Armenia to Cede Border Territory in Major Deal With Azerbaijan

  • Agreement was reached by two countries’ deputy prime ministers
  • Deal could pave way for peace agreement between the neighbors

Azerbaijan soldiers stand guard near the bridge of the Hakari river at the Lachin checkpoint to Armenia.

Photographer: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images
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Armenia agreed to withdraw from several Azerbaijani border villages it has controlled since the early 1990s, a major step toward averting renewed hostilities between the two neighbors and reaching a long-elusive peace agreement.

Deputy prime ministers from the two countries, Shahin Mustafayev of Azerbaijan and Mher Grigoryan of Armenia, reached the agreement Friday during a meeting at the border, according to statements from both governments.