Armenian PM offers Azerbaijan simplified regime of communication with Nakhchivan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has offered Azerbaijan a simplified regime of transport communication with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Pashinyan made this statement during the plenary session of the 16th BRICS summit in an outreach format in Kazan, Russia, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Pashinyan emphasized that the Armenian government’s proposed project, "Crossroads of Peace," aligns perfectly with the summit's theme—"BRICS and the Global South: Building a Better World Together."

According to him, the essence of the project is that Armenia is ready and interested in organizing the passage of vehicles, goods, and passengers through its territory, as well as the transit of pipelines and cable routes. This route represents the shortest path between the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf through the territories of Iran, Armenia, and Georgia, as well as the shortest route between the Caspian and the Marmara Seas through Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Türkiye.

"This route can also be used for transport and communication links between Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. In this regard, we have proposed to Azerbaijan mechanisms for simplified border and customs control procedures, as well as additional security measures while fully respecting the jurisdiction and sovereignty of both countries," Pashinyan stated.

He also emphasized that Armenia is capable of ensuring the safety of the passage of goods, resources, vehicles, and people across its territory, denying rumors that the security of communications would be guaranteed by a third party.

To recall, point 9 of the trilateral statement signed by the president of Azerbaijan, the prime minister of Armenia, and the president of Russia dated November 10, 2020, states: "All economic and transport connections in the region will be unblocked. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the safety of transport communications between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to ensure the uninterrupted movement of citizens, vehicles, and goods in both directions. The control of transport communications will be carried out by the border service of the FSB of Russia."

This point of the statement implies the absence of any inspections, rather than their simplification.

By Khagan Isayev