Goris-Kapan highway never part of Azerbaijan - ex-minister  

ArmInfo.The ex-minister of transport of communication of Armenia Henrik Kochinyan spoke of the nuances of the terms "transport corridor" and "road". He also stated  that the Goris-Kapan highway has never run through Azerbaijan`s  territory.  Talking to reporters in Armenia`s Parliament on Thursday,  Kochinyan pointed out a difference between the terms "road" and  "corridor", which, according to him are by no means equal. 

"A road is a road, and no one objects to unblocking transport  communications or transit traffic along our roads. Any reasonable  person`s wish is to see a transport blockade ended, but see it done  by means of our independent laws. So let us sit at the negotiating  table and discuss all the issues. What damage do we sustain from  Iranian trucks on our roads? But a road and a corridor is not the  same. After providing a transport corridor through your territory,  you lose control of it and its operation," Kochinyan said.  As  regards the construction of seven alternative highways in Armenia`s  Syunik province to replace the ones under Azerbaijan`s control,  Kochinyan stressed his disagreement with the Armenian authorities`  claims that part of the Goris-Kapan highway runs through Azerbaijan`s  territory. Part of the highway was constructed in the 1960s, and the  relevant authorities of the time knew perfectly well what and where  they were constructing.  

"Armenia`s government argues that the map show the highway entering  the Azerbaijani territories in several places. But my opinion is  somewhat different. When in the 1960s the Council of Ministers of the  Armenian SSR decided on the construction of the Gori-Kapan highway  they certainly knew where Armenia`s border was, did not they? The  Council of Ministers knew it perfectly well as no incompetent person  would have ever been among its members. And they knew what they were  constructing it for - to thwart Azerbaijan`s ambitions. Back then,  Azerbaijan`s authorities wanted a road network constructed along the  left bank of the Araks River to cut Armenia off from the southern  borders and drive a wedge. The Armenian side did not want to go via  Nakhichevan, which was the reason for the construction of the Goris-  Kapan highway, just as the Meghri-Kajaran highway was constructed in  its time," Kochinyan said. In this context, he raised a question of  how it happened that the Armenian SSR constructed a highway in  Azerbaijan`s territory and then served it for decades.  

"The then Azerbaijani authorities would not have agreed to such an  infrastructure to be constructed in their territory. In that part  Azerbaijan had no industrial enterprises or developed settlements. So  they had no reasons to allow such a construction project in their  territory. Moreover, the highway construction required felling of  forest in an area of several hectares. Azerbaijan would have never  allowed that," Kochinyan said.  He also reminded the reporters of the  USSR road atlas, which clearly shows the highways within Armenia`s  boundaries. 

According to an earlier statement by Armenia`s government, 21km of  the Goris-Kapan highway is under Azerbaijan`s control now. The  Azerbaijani side set up checkpoints and demands customs. Also, some  Armenian villages are in blockade now.