Tuesday, October 24 2023 10:44

ArmInfo. On October 23, in Tehran, upon invitation of the Iranian side, Minister of Foreign  Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan participated in the regional consultative platform (®3+3¯), which was also attended by the Foreign Ministers of Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

During the meeting Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan noted  that there are problems, very complicated problems and there is a  history, but these issues need to be addressed otherwise, the region  is doomed to remain in the past. Minister Mirzoyan added that  settlement of current issues may ensure a cooperative environment in  the region as an important guarantee for development.

Emphasising that it will not be possible to implement future plans if  the red lines of regional coexistence defined by international law  are not respected by all, MInister Mirzoyan indicated that the goals  and principles of the United Nation Charter and in particular the  exclusion of the use of force and the threat of force, the principles  of territorial integrity, sovereignty, inviolability of borders and  the protection of fundamental human rights should be the guidelines.  "Moreover, it is important to adhere to these principles both in our  actions and in our rhetoric. In conditions of aggressive and  threatening rhetoric, it is difficult to imagine the creation of a  favorable environment, which will allow the implementation of  ambitious regional projects. Armenia, for its part, is loyal to those  principles." - Ararat Mirzoyan emphasised in his speech.

Referring to the agreement reached during the previous meeting in  December 2021, that these consultations will not turn into a platform  to discuss the conflicts, but rather will mostly focus on joint  economic and development agendas, Minister Mirzoyan noted that  Armenia values regional cooperation in economy, logistics, energy,  water resources management, protection of cultural heritage and other  areas.

Touching upon the unblocking of regional infrastructure Foreign  Minister of Armenia noted: "The Republic of Armenia, being a  landlocked country, is interested in the unblocking and further  development of all infrastructure in the region. Based on the  principles of sovereignty and jurisdiction of states, reciprocity and  equality of countries the Republic of Armenia is ready to become part  of regional infrastructure projects. We believe that the intersection  of north-south and east-west transportation routes in our region  including the sovereign territory of Armenia, can become a unique  "crossroad of peace" for all of us."

Minister Mirzoyan noted in his remarks that Armenia gives importance  especially to the process of integrating railway infrastructures,  through the construction or re-operation of the necessary  infrastructures in particular. The Republic of Armenia is interested  in having a railway connection with Iran, Russia and Central Asia  through the territory of Azerbaijan, based on the principle of  reciprocity providing access to the railway passing through its  territory for other regional countries, as well as for other  international passage. In this context, the reopening of the  Gyumri-Kars railway, as well as the passage of a branch of the  North-South project through the territory of Armenia, is of no less  importance.