Construction project of so-called "Zangezur corridor" is being  imposed on Armenia from outside - MP

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."