2024-02-16 03:31:46
The roads with two of our neighbors are closed, which is a very eloquent evidence of the complications in relations, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this at the “Silk Road” international conference.
He said that without roads it will be very difficult to build peace.
“It is obvious that the South Caucasus needs permanent peace. And what is peace? it is a state when countries live with open borders, connected by economic, political, cultural and human active ties, resolving all issues diplomatically and accumulating experience and contributions to dialogue,” Pashinyan said, stressing that this is real peace.
According to the Prime Minister, this is the reason why the RA government developed the “Crossroads of Peace” project, which is an important part of the peace agenda.
“The key meaning of this project is the development of communications between Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran by repairing, building and operating roads, railways, pipelines, cables, power lines,” Pashinyan emphasized.
He said that the roads passing through the south and north of Armenia have not been working regionally for 30 years, and many highways connecting the east and the west are also not working.
“Meanwhile, the reopening of those roads would become a short and efficient route connecting the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, both by rail and automobile,” said the Prime Minister.
Nikol Pashinyan said that this program will bring huge benefits to all the countries of our region.
“I consider it important to emphasize the principles of “Crossroads of Peace”, which are as follows:
1. all infrastructure, including highways, railways, airways, pipelines, cables, power lines, operate under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass
2. each country implements border and customs control in its territory through its state institutions, as well as provides sub-structures, including the security of the passage of goods, vehicles, people through them
3. the mentioned infrastructures can be used for both international and domestic transportation
4. All countries use each other’s infrastructures on the principle of equality and reciprocity. According to this principle, certain simplifications of border and customs control procedures can be implemented,” the RA Prime Minister noted.