ArmInfo.Yerevan's "Crossroads of the Peace" initiative is in many ways consonant with the project that has been discussed over the past years within the framework of a tripartite working group co-chaired by the vice-prime ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan.
Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova stated on November 9 during a briefing, in response to a request to express her attitude towards Yerevan's "Crossroads of the Peace" initiative.
In this vein, the Russian diplomat recalled that the trilateral working group is engaged in unblocking transport and economic ties in the region. "And in our firm belief, this process plays a vital role in normalizing relations between Baku and Yerevan, contributing to stabilization and opening the transport and logistics potential of the entire South Caucasus," Zakharova said.
She recalled that the leaders of the three countries decided to establish this working group just a few months after the end of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020. She added that the group has already held 19 meetings and has done a lot of work to assess the current state of the logistics infrastructure and select the best options for railway and road communications. "We managed to come very close to reaching a package solution that would be beneficial to all parties. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to put an end to this issue due to the lack of political will of the parties," Zakharova said.
At the same time, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that Moscow stands ready to assist in the processes of unblocking regional communications, including on the basis of the provisions of trilateral high-level statements of November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, where the role of the Russian Federation is clearly stated.
Answering the question about the establishment of special division of the National Security Service of Armenia by decision of the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan to protect communications in this direction, Zakharova noted that in accordance with the above-mentioned tripartite statements, control over transport communications between Azerbaijan and the Nakhijevan Autonomous Region is called upon to be carried out by the border services of the Federal Security Service of Russia.
The diplomat also recalled that the first meeting of the special representatives of Armenia and Turkey on the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations was held in Moscow on January 14, 2021, and this was done based on the goal of bringing Armenia out of the blockade.
"It seems to me that another good platform for developing mutually acceptable solutions between the countries of the region and their neighbors is the 3+3 consultative regional initiative, the meeting of which was held just recently. We expect that at the next platform meeting in Turkey in 2024, transportation topics will be discussed as well. Within this format, Yerevan's constructive proposal will be in demand," Zakharova concluded.
On October 26, speaking at a forum in the capital of Georgia, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said that the government of the republic has developed and is presenting the "Crossroads of the Peace" project as an important part of the peace agenda. The key meaning of this project is the development of communications between Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran through the repair, construction and operation of roads, railways, pipelines, cables, and power lines.
"The railways passing through the south and north of Armenia have not been functioning at the regional level for thirty years, numerous highways connecting the East and West are not functioning, while the resumption of operation of these roads would provide a short and efficient both rail and road route connecting the Caspian Sea with the Mediterranean. Likewise, these railway and road communications can become an effective way to connect the Persian Gulf with the Black Sea, including Georgian ports. This project will greatly benefit all countries in our region, and I want to draw attention to governments and private investors for this opportunity," said the head of the Armenian government.