Crossroads of Peace aligns perfectly with the summit theme "BRICS and  the Global South- building a better world together" - Pashinyan

ArmInfo.The Crossroads of Peace transport and communications project aligns perfectly with the theme of the summit "BRICS and the Global South - building a better world together".   Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made this statement at the summit in the presence of over  40 heads of state and government. 

Pashinyan noted that the essence of the project is the following:  Armenia is ready and interested in organizing passage of vehicles,  cargo, passengers, pipelines, and cables through its territory. It is  the shortest route between the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf,  through the territories of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic  of Armenia and Georgia (north-south direction), as well as the  shortest route between the Caspian Sea and the Sea of Marmara,  through the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic  of Armenia and Turkey (east-west direction).  The east-west  direction, according to him, can be used also for transport and  communication links between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the  Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan.  

"I would like to emphasize once again that the Republic of Armenia is  able ensure and fully ensure the safety of the passage of goods,  resources, vehicles and people through its territory. This is our  desire, our obligation, and we guarantee it, and will always  guarantee it. All claims that Armenia has agreed to a third country's  participation in ensuring the security of communications on its  sovereign territory or that something like this is stipulated by any  document, are false," Pashinyan emphasized. He also reported that the  day before, the Parliament of the Republic of Armenia ratified the  "Regulation on the joint activities of the Commission on Demarcation  of the State Border and Border Security between the Republic of  Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Commission on  Demarcation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan  and the Republic of Armenia".

According to him, after the mentioned document comes into effect in  both countries, the parties will be able to accelerate the process of  demarcation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based  on the fundamental principles of the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991.

"Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have repeatedly announced in recent  months that the draft agreement "On the establishment of peace and  interstate relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic  of Azerbaijan" has been agreed upon by at least 80-90 percent.  Wording on mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity,  absence of mutual territorial claims and obligation not to make such  claims in the future, adherence to the principle of non-use of force  and threat of force, non-interference in each other's internal  affairs, establishment of diplomatic relations and establishment of  bilateral mechanisms for fulfilling the obligations assumed by the  parties have already been fully agreed upon," Pashinyan highlighted.

According to him: "Our assessment is as follows. To date, the draft  agreement formulates, addresses and resolves all the fundamental  issues necessary to create a solid foundation for peace and regulate  relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of  Azerbaijan, and we are already proposing that Azerbaijan sign this  agreement," Pashinyan concluded.