2024-08-09 05:33:42
Armenia confirmed that the provision on the opening of regional transport lines was removed from the draft peace agreement with Azerbaijan on the basis of “mutual agreement”. The Armenian service of RFE/RL – Azatutyun writes about this.
“We should note that the effective opening of transport lines is an important element for peace and economic development in the region, this is reflected in the agenda put forward by the Republic of Armenia. This point is illustrated very well in the Peace Junction program of the Armenian government. The program is based on the principles of sovereignty and jurisdiction, as well as reciprocity and respect for equality.”– Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ani Badalyan he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service on August 7.
The president’s representative says that a “mutually acceptable option” has been found.
Before this announcement, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyevrepresentative on special assignments Elchin Amirbeev In an interview with Radio Liberty, he said that Baku and Yerevan have reached a “mutually acceptable option” on the route connecting Azerbaijan to the western exclave of Nakhchivan. Baku calls this route “Zangezur Corridor”, which is supposed to pass through the province of Sünik, historically known as Zangezur, in the south of Armenia.
“By mutual agreement, we decided to withdraw an item from the peace agreement and return to it at a later stage. I do not want to complicate the task of concluding a peace agreement. Therefore, we decided to remove it from the text…”, – These are the words of E. Amirbeyov.
The representative of the President said that after the signing of the peace agreement, the delegations of the two countries “can resume the discussion to find a mutually acceptable formula to reopen communication lines between the main part of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan”.
Mutual needs
The Yerevan official has long opposed the term “corridor”, arguing that both countries should retain jurisdiction over transport lines that pass through their territories. Armenia also said that transport lines should be reopened in a wider regional context, the railway link from the Nakhchivan territory of Armenia to Iran should be reopened, and the border with Turkey should be opened.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been working on a peace agreement for over two years. Western powers, including the US and the EU, have asked these two South Caucasus countries to conclude a peace agreement soon. Azerbaijan demands that Armenia drop the call for “reunification” with Karabakh in its constitution in order to sign the peace agreement. Azerbaijan claims that Karabakh was never Armenian territory.
Baku officially restored its sovereignty over Karabakh with a 44-day war in 2020, and a one-day military operation in 2023.
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