Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran to settle things leaving Armenia aside
MP Rasim Musabekov's commentary for Caliber.Az
ANALYTICS 12 August 2022 - 13:01
Vadim Mansurov Caliber.Az |
The urgency of launching transport communications via Azerbaijan to Iran and Türkiye has reached a certain breaking point. There are cargos in the world that are extremely difficult to transport by plane and container trucks, while the railroad is the most reliable option in this case. Meanwhile, almost two years of waiting for the main players in the region to unblock communications has been almost in vain. The meeting of representatives of Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia is expected to help move the matter forward. It's time to finally dot the i's and cross the t's - who wants to act and who is stalling?
The agenda of the trilateral meeting includes the discussion of new projects along the International North-South Transport Corridor, as well as the diversification of routes of this route.
Seyed Abbas Mousavi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran in Azerbaijan, told the media that the delegations of Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia will discuss transit and customs issues, diversification of routes of the North-South transport corridor, as well as the current status of the railway terminal and projects of new border bridges.
This suggests that the agreements between Putin and Raisi, concluded in Tehran and agreed in parallel with Baku, are entering a new phase of implementation. The North-South project was planned long ago and was gradually implemented year by year, but now its full-scale activation is more than urgent for all the regional players, especially for Russia. So the need to intensify work in this direction is extremely high, literally, every day counts.
Will the trilateral consultations touch upon the creation of the Zangazur corridor itself and the likelihood of launching an alternative route via Iran, upon which Baku and Tehran have agreed?
Undoubtedly, Armenia plays a certain role in the issue of launching the Zangazur corridor, but it uses the issue of Zangezur to bargain for some preferences. However, the Zangazur corridor became a symbol of Armenia's failed ambitions, a clear symbol of its surrender. It could have been the most important link in its integration into the region, promising the country fabulous profits.
Armenia, with its revanchist aspirations, is simply not ready to fully realize this fact and needs to be pushed and guided. Perhaps the meeting of representatives of Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia will be such a stimulating moment, a tool to put pressure on Armenia, if, of course, all the participants in the event agree on a common position. However, there are disagreements, as happens with all major projects.
"The key topic of the meeting is the North-South transport corridor and the completion of the Resht-Astara railroad, but it is more than likely that two options of Zangazur will also be considered - through the territory of Armenia and through the territory of Iran," Rasim Musabekov, a well-known political analyst and member of the Milli Majlis, told Caliber.Az.
According to the political scientist, the length of the section is not so great, but it runs through difficult mountainous terrain, which requires the construction of tunnels and bridges.
"It is important that both Russia and Azerbaijan are ready to participate," Musabekov stressed.
In his opinion, the forthcoming meeting will determine whether or not the railroad will be completed in the next year or two.
"If Russia and Azerbaijan feel that Iran is dragging in this issue, the relevance of the Zangazur corridor as a railway connection of Russia through Azerbaijan with Iran, Türkiye, and Armenia for Moscow will certainly increase," the political scientist noted.
Thus, according to Musabekov, the meeting on North-South in any form will be projected one way or another on how quickly the Zangazur corridor will be implemented.
"The project of Zangazur corridor is quite simple, including the economic costs. Besides, Azerbaijan carries out all the basic work to restore the railway communications on its territory on its own, without needing any financial support from Russia or Iran. The only task is for Russian Railways to quickly restore the Armenian 44-kilometer section through Meghri," Musabekov explained.
As for Iran's position on the launch of Zangazur, which some analysts consider ambiguous, according to the deputy, there are no major disagreements here. Iran fully accepts the creation of the Zangazur transport corridor and even agrees on the creation of a duplicate section of Meghri on its own bank of the Araz.
"If we touch upon the threatening statements of Iran regarding this issue, they are mainly connected with fears that in response to Armenian claims over Karabakh, Azerbaijan may establish its own control over Zangazur, and in this way, Iran will be deprived of the joint border with Armenia," the MP said.
However, Azerbaijan is not planning such escalation, it is imagined by some in Tehran.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Poland suspends military drills following fifth soldier's death
27 March 2024 - 13:41
|
2
|
Syrian scenario for Armenia Russian, Israeli experts’ views for Caliber.Az
26 March 2024 - 17:27
|
3
|
Serbian president warns of difficult days ahead
27 March 2024 - 11:04
|
4
|
Global reactions to UNSC Gaza ceasefire resolution Diverse views, urgent action
27 March 2024 - 18:00
|
5
|
Vucic warns of Serbia's Council of Europe departure amid Kosovo debate Double standards alert
28 March 2024 - 12:13
|
Hamas leader seeks more Iranian support during Tehran's visit
Amidst Gaza conflict29 March 2024 - 14:59
Ministry neutralizes ammunition cache discovered outside Azerbaijani capital
PHOTO/VIDEO29 March 2024 - 14:52
COP29 to help adapt Azerbaijan's agricultural policy to international experience - minister
29 March 2024 - 14:40
BAE displays new armored multipurpose vehicle
PHOTO29 March 2024 - 14:27
Azerbaijan disappointed by biased US stance on peace process
Presidential aide says29 March 2024 - 14:21
Ambassador Ravkov: Azerbaijan and Belarus are strategic partners
29 March 2024 - 14:14
Azerbaijani police seize batch of Armenian weapons in Khankendi
29 March 2024 - 14:10
Azerbaijan attracts $6.7 billion in direct foreign investment in 2023
29 March 2024 - 13:55
Armenian Prosecutor's Office targets family of Dashnak representative
29 March 2024 - 13:43
Azerbaijan asserts right to self-defense amidst calls for regional peace
Hajiyev grants interview to Chinese TV channel Phoenix29 March 2024 - 13:39
Azerbaijan to construct four new renewable energy plants this year – energy minister
29 March 2024 - 13:30
Azerbaijan holds command-staff exercise in one of military units
29 March 2024 - 13:17
Azerbaijan, China strengthen economic ties
From trade to investment29 March 2024 - 13:10
Another suspect detained for alleged complicity in Moscow terrorist attack
29 March 2024 - 13:05
Politico: The European Parliament is once again caught in corruption
29 March 2024 - 12:52
Geopolitical storm brewing beyond Russia's reaction
EU-US-Armenia meeting sparks controversy29 March 2024 - 12:38
Speaker says Armenia doing nothing against Russia
29 March 2024 - 12:24
Armenia conducts house-to-house searches in apartments, offices of nationalists
29 March 2024 - 12:09
Ombudswoman: World community should recognize events of 1918 as genocide of Azerbaijanis
29 March 2024 - 11:57
Global trade at risk as Washington faces policy failure
US-Houthi stalemate continues29 March 2024 - 11:46
Armenia blocks Kremlin propagandist’s talk-show
29 March 2024 - 11:34
Armenian prime minister faces dilemma amid Karabakh junta provocations
How will Pashinyan respond?29 March 2024 - 11:22
Azerbaijan’s ecology minister meets with Saudi energy companies
29 March 2024 - 11:13
Israeli strike kills 36 Syrian soldiers near Aleppo
Unprecedented attack29 March 2024 - 11:02
Poland to deploy troops to ensure security at Paris Olympics amid heightened alert
29 March 2024 - 10:53
European analyst: Armenia unlikely to secure NATO or EU membership
29 March 2024 - 10:42
Top UN court orders Israel to allow food and medical aid into Gaza
29 March 2024 - 10:31
Pundit questions Armenia's dependence on Western protection
29 March 2024 - 10:19
Presidential aide: Azerbaijan very pleased with China in field of global green transformation
29 March 2024 - 10:07
Azerbaijani officials deemed more professional than Armenian counterparts, claims blogger
29 March 2024 - 09:54
Great Return: Azerbaijan resettles 35 more families in Fuzuli amid restoration efforts
PHOTO29 March 2024 - 09:41
Armenian parliament speaker affirms EU membership goal
29 March 2024 - 09:27
Iranian top diplomat opposes military presence of third countries in Caspian Sea
29 March 2024 - 09:14
Azerbaijani, Armenian parliament speakers to meet again in mid-May amid peace talks
29 March 2024 - 09:00
Assault on Yerevan police station underlines risk of violent opposition to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace
Opinion by Commonspace.eu29 March 2024 - 08:45
Estonia must double defence spending to counter Russia - military chief
29 March 2024 - 07:00
Turkmenistan ready to diversify natural gas supplies to ECO countries - president
29 March 2024 - 05:00
Eurasianet: Armenian government grappling with border delimitation dilemma
29 March 2024 - 03:01
Iran displays advanced military might at international exhibition
PHOTO/VIDEO29 March 2024 - 01:00
Armenia’s exports to Russia raise concerns over sanctions circumvention
28 March 2024 - 23:00