2024-06-01 14:56:50
RA Overseas Minister Ararat Mirzoyan gave an interview to the Turkish TV channel “TRT World” throughout the framework of participation within the Antalya Diplomatic Discussion board.
Query. Usually, once we are coping with the method of regulation and, as you talked about, the technique of constructing belief, the financial system often performs an important function. How do you see the commerce between Armenia and Turkey?
Reply: After all, there’s a direct correlation between the opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey and the event of commerce relations, one can debate which is able to have an effect on the opposite extra, however I consider that if we open the border, enterprise relations will develop on their very own. My impression is that we’ve got management, political will from each side, and if we take the ultimate steps, open the border, then financial ties will develop and discover their approach.
Query. Let’s additionally speak about Azerbaijan. You have got had conferences in the previous few months, we are able to say years. How do you assess the prospects of peace, actual peace, full settlement, not a ceasefire? Understandably, this nonetheless implies a good distance, however what stage have you ever reached on the diplomatic entrance?
Reply: Certainly, we aren’t discussing a ceasefire with Azerbaijan, however a means of attaining peace. We’re negotiating the draft peace settlement, there are additionally different dialogue platforms. Conferences have been held on the stage of the leaders of the nations, negotiations between the ministers of international affairs. We now have managed to agree on many issues, however there are key, essential points on which the events’ positions are nonetheless removed from one another. I wish to point out among the most necessary ones.
To begin with, the primary is the problem of guaranteeing territorial integrity, border recognition and additional demarcation course of. In 1991, the 2 nations signed and ratified a doc by which they acknowledged one another’s territorial integrity and borders. It’s the declaration of Alma-Ata. With out going into an excessive amount of element, it’s the doc by which the twelve republics of the USSR accepted that, firstly, the USSR ceased to exist, and secondly, the executive borders between them have been acknowledged as interstate, worldwide borders. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been amongst these republics. Over the past spherical of negotiations, the leaders of the 2 nations reaffirmed their dedication to the Alma-Ata Declaration, its rules, significantly the 2022 deadline. In Prague, then in Sochi, Brussels, additionally on different events. Due to this fact, the 2 nations reaffirmed that they acknowledge one another’s territorial integrity and agreed to hold out the additional delimitation course of in accordance with the Alma-Ata Declaration, 1991. on the idea of the border. Nevertheless, now that we wish to confer with the Alma-Ata declaration within the peace treaty, stating what I described a second in the past, nothing extra, we see reluctance on the a part of Azerbaijan to signal such a doc; they merely take away that hyperlink, that half from the textual content. At the least this raises questions amongst RA diplomats, as a result of there are doubts that after the crimes that passed off in our area, after the compelled deportation of Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh, their homeland, Azerbaijan could have additional plans, to proceed its ambitions in the direction of the sovereign territory of Armenia. As a way to keep away from such a situation or misunderstanding, if it’s a misunderstanding, Azerbaijan can merely signal beneath the textual content I discussed, ratify it.
Query. There have been many platforms that attempted to deliver Armenia and Azerbaijan to the identical desk. Georgia, Russia, Europe tried to do it. I perceive that there was enmity between the 2 nations for a very long time, so it will be naive or too optimistic to suppose that diplomacy can instantly contribute to the elimination of enmity and constructive discussions. Nonetheless, which platforms do you contemplate essentially the most comfy for constructive discussions?
Reply: Brief reply: on all platforms. The one downside, at the very least in my private impression, is the dearth of political will on the opposite facet to conclude the peace settlement.
Query. Have you ever mentioned relations with Azerbaijan with Turkey? Has Turkey ever tried to mediate or at the very least unite the events on some points?
Reply: Sure, we’ve got seen a number of such makes an attempt. With all due respect, our response has been that for the mediation effort, and this isn’t only for Turkey, however for all the opposite actors, we’ve got to see that the positions and intentions of the potential mediator are utterly balanced, utterly impartial. We are able to say, at the very least the notion is that the positions of Azerbaijan and Turkey are an identical, which often doesn’t create an setting for mediation. Nonetheless, we’ve got introduced our perceptions, and a constructive dialogue is going down on this challenge as nicely.
Query. Another query about commerce corridors. We see what modifications are occurring with worldwide roads. commerce routes are being rearranged, the Center Hall is now essential, aimed toward connecting China to European markets, there may be discuss of the India-Center East Center Hall, a growth highway connecting Iraq and Turkey to European markets, a “world gateway” within the EU, a “world gateway” within the US “rebuild higher”, and in China, in regards to the “One Guti, One Street” packages. What’s your view on the corridors that can join Armenia and Azerbaijan to that wider community?
Reply: Understandably, Armenia just isn’t solely , but additionally able to turn into part of new worldwide logistics and transit routes. As a way to constructively broaden the dialogue on this matter, for tangible outcomes, in addition to to current our intentions and preparedness in one of the simplest ways, we’ve got developed the “Crossroads of Peace” challenge, which, if applied, will deliver financial benefits to all nations of the area and past, and never solely economically, but additionally politically . if applied, it may well turn into a major issue contributing to peace within the area, as a result of commerce and interconnection deliver with them a sure stability and peace. That is our intention. We proceed to current this initiative to all our potential companions. The concept behind it’s that items and other people from Azerbaijan can cross, cross the border of Armenia and enter the territory of Nakhichevan, and the identical ought to apply to residents of Armenia. There are 4 necessary circumstances that can enable the method to be carried out correctly. The infrastructures which were beneath blockade for a number of a long time needs to be unblocked beneath the sovereignty of the nations via whose territory they move, they need to function beneath the nationwide jurisdiction of the events, in addition to on the rules of equality and reciprocity. These rules are very pure, everybody on the earth will agree, and we hear from Azerbaijan that they respect these rules, they haven’t any intention to violate the sovereignty of Armenia, however on the identical time they suggest that the forces of a 3rd nation be deployed, for instance, alongside the railway that can move via Armenia. Their expectation can be that the residents of Azerbaijan will move via the territory of the Republic of Armenia with out going via border inspection procedures and customs management. We consider that RA can guarantee the security of passengers passing via its territory, we are able to facilitate procedures, trendy, revolutionary applied sciences will be helpful on this matter, however nobody can enter and depart our nation with out correct registration.