Türkiye continues negotiations with Azerbaijan on Zangezur corridor, minister says

Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu has said that Türkiye continues discussions with Azerbaijan on the Zangezur corridor.

He made the remarks at the conference “Transport Corridors and Transit Transportation in the “Turkish Century” in Ankara, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

He noted that Türkiye seeks to increase the efficiency of the Middle Corridor in every possible way.

According to the minister, one of the promising projects in this direction is the Zangezur corridor.

Notably, the Zangezur Corridor is a proposed 43-kilometre transport route intended to connect mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, by traversing Armenia's Syunik region (Zangezur-ed.). This corridor aims to establish a direct link between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration.

Azerbaijan has been actively constructing its segment of the corridor, with the section from Baku to Horadiz nearing completion.

The corridor is envisioned to integrate with existing transport infrastructure, such as the Horadiz-Aghband highway in Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan-Igdir-Kars railway and highway in Türkiye.

Türkiye has strongly supported the Zangezur Corridor, viewing it as a strategic link to Azerbaijan and the broader Turkic world. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has highlighted the corridor's potential to unite the Turkic states and provide them with a connection to Europe.

The corridor is expected to play a significant role in regional trade, potentially serving as a key segment of the Middle Corridor, which facilitates transportation from China to Europe via Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Türkiye.

By Khagan Isayev