Unblocking transport links - key point of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalisation Statement by Russian MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova has said that unblocking transport communications in the South Caucasus is a key element of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalisation.

"Unblocking transport communications in the South Caucasus is a key element of Armenian-Azerbaijani normalisation, which is being built based on a set of trilateral agreements at the highest level in 2020-2022,” Zakharova told Trend.

“The Trilateral Working Group [TWG], co-chaired by the deputy prime ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, has been tasked to deal with this issue. To date, 12 TWG meetings have been held [the last one was held on 2 June], and a package of prospective railway and road routes has been considered in detail," she said when asked about the advantages of the Zangezur corridor project.

She mentioned that as a result of the 12th meeting of the TWG progress was registered in agreeing on modalities of unblocking transport communications between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"A common understanding was reached regarding the implementation of concrete steps to restore and organise railway communication along the route Yeraskh [Arazdayan] - Julfa - Meghri - Horadiz. In our work, we proceed from the need to observe the principles of reciprocity, respect for the sovereignty and jurisdiction of both countries," Maria Zakharova added.

She also emphasised that success in the track of unblocking communications would give additional impetus to other areas of trilateral work. This includes the elaboration of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the launch of a dialogue between public figures and parliamentarians.

For the record, the Zangezur corridor project proposed by Azerbaijan is aimed at establishing a transport link between the main territory of Azerbaijan and its exclave, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, passing through the territory of Armenia. This project emerged in the course of the agreements set out in the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia on the results of the Second Karabakh War in 2020.

One of the clauses of the agreement outlined Armenia's commitment to secure transport links to Nakhchivan, facilitating the unrestricted movement of people, vehicles and goods in both directions.

This route has great potential and could become one of the extensions of the One Belt, One Road project, as well as part of the North-South corridor.