Russian Deputy PM: Armenia beyond North-South project

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk has said that the Zangezur section as part of the North-South International Transport Corridor project is not being considered due to the lack of Armenia’s final position.

Overchuk was commenting on Armenia’s participation in the North-South project through the construction of a road through Meghri, Caliber.Az reports citing the Russian media.

“Armenia is not part of the North-South corridor. So far, Armenia does not have a final position regarding the road that was planned to stretch through Meghri,” he told reporters.

The deputy prime minister noted that normal interaction is being built within the North-South project.

“Moreover, you know that Azerbaijan and Iran have actually begun to construct a highway that will stretch along the southern bank of the Araz River, bypassing Armenia, and have actually signed a memorandum on the construction of a railway through Iranian territory, bypassing Armenia. It will stretch on the other side of the river, the track 1520,” Overchuk added.

The deputy prime minister stressed that the option of building a road bypassing Armenia through Iran to Nakhchivan with a route to the border with Türkiye slightly differs in length from the road through Zangezur.

“It was estimated that the railway through Armenian territory will be 42 kilometres, as far as I know, the railway through Iranian territory is approximately 50 kilometres, that’s the whole difference - two bridges and eight kilometres, track 1520 both here and there,” he said.