ArmInfo. The South Caucasus needs long-term peace, where all the countries are connected by active economic, political and cultural ties. This was stated by the Ambassador of Armenia to the UK Varuzhan Nersesyan during a discussion organized by the Caspian Policy Center (CPC) at the House of Lords in London, UK. According to the report on the center's website, Nersesyan spoke on the "Crossroads of Peace" initiative by his government to unblock all transport and communication links in the region.
It is noted that he discussion, moderated by CPC Advisory Board Member James Sharp, focused on exploring opportunities for the United Kingdom in the Caucasus and Central Asia, recent developments, potential challenges to deeper cooperation, and the regional implications of increased engagement.
The event brought together a wide range of participants, including ambassadors and diplomats of regional embassies in the UK, members of both chambers of the British Parliament, international experts, and media representatives. Hosting the event, Member of the House of Lords, Lord David Evans, gave welcoming remarks, highlighting the geopolitical and economic significance of the Trans-Caspian region, likening it to the modern Silk Road. Lord Evans specifically emphasized Azerbaijan's role as a reliable partner, as well as the Caspian region's abundance of critical mineral resources. And Lord David Evans of Watford expressed his belief that through cooperation between the Caspian states, the region could become a strategic trade corridor between Europe and China. n his opening remarks, President of CPC Efgan Nifti underlined the region's growing diplomatic engagement. "During COP29, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on alternative energy cooperation. Plans for a submarine cable to transmit electricity to Europe via Georgia are also notable," he noted, adding that the United Kingdom already has established economic ties in the region and sees potential for deeper collaboration.
CPC Senior Fellow Dr Erik Rudenshiold stated that the region was entering a "modern era of exploration" driven by significant advancements in connectivity and infrastructure. Over the past three years, the Middle Corridor-the Trans-Caspian transport route-has been developed from the ground up," he remarked. "Today, this corridor is actively facilitating trade between Asia and Europe, with global logistics companies such as Japan's Maersk already utilizing the route. What was once a strategic vision has now become an operational reality."
Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Elin Suleymanov, highlighted recent strides in regional cooperation, noting that enhanced connectivity is developing organically from within the region. He welcomed progress in normalization efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing the value of direct dialogue and regional ownership in resolving disputes. As a positive example, he referenced a recent trilateral meeting in Georgia involving the deputy foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. "Projects that overlook the roles of Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Georgia cannot succeed," he stated, noting that any route from Europe to Central Asia inevitably passes through Azerbaijan. He added that the UK can play a role in advancing the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor in cooperation with Azerbaijan and Turkiye.
Turkiye's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Osman Koray Ertas, echoed the growing international focus on the region, noting its rising prominence on the Western agenda. "Turkiye has long championed the development of the Trans-Caspian corridor, and current geopolitical conditions now support meaningful progress," he stated. "Recent gas supply agreements and infrastructure initiatives clearly demonstrate this momentum."
Senior Counselor of Georgia's Embassy to the United Kingdom Nunu Mosiashvili reaffirmed the country's strong commitment to dialogue and active engagement in the development of the Trans-Caspian corridor. The discussion concluded with closing remarks from James Sharp, who underscored the importance of strategic partnerships and cooperative solutions to enhance energy and connectivity cooperation across the Caspian region, benefiting both the United Kingdom and the regional countries.
Notably, the event featured speeches by the ambassadors of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Uzbekistan to the UK, as well as diplomats from the embassies of Kazakhstan and Georgia. However, only Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan of the above-mentioned countries are Caspian states.