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The repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) from Azerbaijan will take place within a short time, senior pro-government MP Sargis Khandanyan said on Friday.

Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on Thursday to exchange prisoners of war and work toward signing a peace treaty.

The two countries said in a joint statement they "share the view that there is a historic chance to achieve a long-awaited peace."

“The two countries reconfirm their intention to normalize relations and to reach the peace treaty on the basis of respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement added.

Azerbaijan said it would release 32 Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for the release of two Azerbaijani soldiers detained in Armenia.

“It's a matter of hours or days,” Khandanyan, head of the parliament foreign affairs committee, told reporters.

The MP said Armenia and Azerbaijan were expected to exchange prisoners on their shared border.

Khandanyan confirmed that the Azerbaijani soldier who killed the security guard of the Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine and was sentenced to life in Armenia earlier this year would be handed over to Azerbaijan as part of the swap deal.

He urged media not to release the names of POWs before their entry into Armenia.