Opening `Zangezur corridor` not on Moscow`s agenda - Sergei Kopyrkin 

ArmInfo.Breaking through the "Zangezur Corridor" is not on the Russian agenda, which they are also  trying to attribute to Moscow. This was stated by the Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergei Kopyrkin.

The Russian diplomat noted that the work of Russian diplomats in  Syunik, after the opening of the Consulate General there, will  contribute to the development of trade and economic relations between  Yerevan and Moscow, as well as in the EAEU format.

"The Syunik region is the gateway for trade between Armenia and the  Eurasian Union with Iran. A section of the international North-South  transport corridor, which is important for the republic, runs here.  As is known, the Russian side is facilitating the construction of  this highway. The amount of financial support through the Eurasian  Stabilization and Development Fund is $150 million. The Eurasian  Development Bank also announced its involvement in the development of  the transport framework of the Eurasian region. Russian companies and  structures with domestic participation operate in the region," the  ambassador noted.

Kopyrkin added that the expansion of the diplomatic presence in such  a sensitive region is intended, among other things, to reduce the  conflict potential of the South Caucasus that persists and is  constantly fueled by external players. "We have like-minded people in  this matter: since 2022, the Consulate General of Iran has been  operating here, with which working ties have been established,  including the development of interaction in the Moscow-Yerevan-Tehran  triangle. The Russian Consulate General, along with the border guards  of the Russian Federation guarding the Armenian-Iranian borders ,  will make an additional contribution to ensuring the security and  territorial integrity of the republic," he emphasized.  At the same  time, the head of the Russian embassy believes that additional  impetus will be given to bilateral interregional cooperation and  strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties.

"Up to 1 thousand Russian citizens live in the region. There are a  number of centers for studying the Russian language. The House of  Russian Books operates in Kapan. The representative office of  Rossotrudnichestvo in Yerevan organized Russian language courses for  teachers of the Kapan branch of the National Polytechnic Institute. A  series of initiatives of Russian municipalities to establish  partnerships is being actively developed relations with a number of  communities in the Syunik region. On June 16, 2023, corresponding  protocols of intent were signed in Kapan between the cities of Urai  and Meghri, Sestroretsk and Goris. In a word, there is more than  enough work to strengthen Russian-Armenian relations," Kopyrkin  recalled in a commentary to Sputnik Armenia. .

Kopyrkin also spoke about what Russian diplomats will not do. "By the  way, what Russian diplomats are definitely not going to do in Syunik,  no matter what our ill-wishers say, is "spying" - unlike Western  lovers of driving around the region with binoculars. Breaking through  the "Zangezur Corridor" is also not on the agenda, which is also they  are trying to attribute it to Moscow. As is known, the issues of  unblocking transport and economic ties in the South Caucasus are  being dealt with by the Tripartite Working Group headed by the  vice-premiers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan," the Russian  ambassador concluded.

The Meghri route is a project of a transport route about 40 km long  through the territory of the Syunik region of Armenia, which would  provide transport links between the western regions of Azerbaijan and  its exclave Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic. The opening of transport  routes in the region was provided for by the agreements that ended  the 44-day Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh in the fall of  2020.  Azerbaijan is trying to acquire not a transit road, but an  extraterritorial corridor, which it calls Zangezur.