ArmInfo. The construction project of the so-called "Zangezur corridor" is being imposed on Armenia from the outside. MP from the <Armenia> opposition faction Artur Khachatryan told reporters on October 24.
According to him, it would be possible to choose the Ijevan-Kazakh route, which is much shorter, but the issue of building a route in the south of the country is constantly being raised. The MP believes that it is obvious that this route is being put forward by Baku under pressure on Yerevan.
He pointed to Azerbaijan's justifications related to the provisions of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020. Meanwhile, the 9th paragraph of this statement consists of only two proposals, the first one is about unblocking transport and economic communications of the region, and the second one is about the full use of the Karvachar (Lachin) corridor. "The signatures under this statement have not yet dried, but they have already closed the Karvachar corridor," the parliamentarian noted.
Yesterday, during the meeting of the heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 3+3 platform, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan stated that Armenia is ready to take part in regional infrastructure projects on the basis of respect for sovereignty, jurisdiction, as well as the principles of reciprocity and equality.
He noted that Armenia, being landlocked, is interested in unblocking and further development of all infrastructures 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," Mirzoyan said, noting that Yerevan especially attaches importance to the process of integrating railway infrastructures, in including through the construction or resumption of operation of the necessary infrastructure. "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 important."