Erdogan: Zangezur corridor to boost Turkish-Azerbaijani ties

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said establishing direct links with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and other regions of Azerbaijan through land and railway lines will strengthen bilateral relations.

Erdogan made the remarks while answering questions from journalists onboard the plane after his visit to Nakhchivan, where he met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, according to Turkiye Gazetesi.

Recalling Iran's opposition to the Zangezur corridor, which would create a land link between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, the president stated in response to a journalist's query about what would happen after Azerbaijan’s local anti-terrorist measures in Garabagh:

"Establishing direct links with Nakhchivan and other regions of Azerbaijan through land and railway lines will strengthen our relations. Thanks to this strong connection, we will cover the distance many times faster than we do now,” the president said.

“For this reason, we will do our best to open this corridor as soon as possible. The fulfilment of this corridor, which is very important for Türkiye and Azerbaijan, is a strategic issue and must be completed. When this corridor is opened, a car or train leaving Baku will be able to arrive directly to Kars. Turkish-Azerbaijani brotherhood will become much stronger. It is good to see positive signals from Iran on this issue,” he added.

Talking about the status of the Turan road project, linked to the Zangezur corridor, Erdogan said: “We want to open up these places, turning them into peaceful corridors. It is impossible to imagine a corridor in which the war is still taking place. Because if we want to consider the Zangezur and Lachin corridors as corridors of peace, we need to resolve this issue without any conflicts.

“Especially considering that the train along the railway tracks coming from Türkiye will pass through Nakhchivan, Armenia and head to Azerbaijan. Regarding travel through Armenia. If Armenia prevents the opening of the road, how will it go? It will pass through Iran. Currently, Iran has a positive attitude towards this issue; it will be possible to build a road from Iran to Azerbaijan,” he noted.

“On the other hand, our visit is another declaration to the world of the Turkish-Azerbaijani brotherhood and the spirit of two states, one nation. As we declared it from the UN tribune, and declared it in Azerbaijan's native land of Shusha, we have demonstrated it everywhere in word and deed," the Turkish leader said.