Yerevan daily: Azerbaijanis built magnificent road for Karabakh Armenians Armenian journalist’s admiration and envy

A journalist from Armenia’s Hraparak newspaper, Vahe Makaryan, has visited Azerbaijan's Karabakh region.

He drove along an alternative road built by the Azerbaijani government to bypass Lachin city and admired its quality.

The journalist noted that the section of the road, which the Armenians still have to build, is awful.

"It is possible to say that we were among the first passengers who were driving along the new road two days ago. The Russian peacekeeper, who met us at the first checkpoint, as if winking, said that Lachin had already been closed. A new road had been built for you, the Armenians. However, he did not say who built it, who rendered us, Armenians, such a service. After driving a little, we found ourselves on a new road, most of which was built upon Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's instructions. After driving a few kilometres, we stopped at another checkpoint.

'Azerbaijani cars are coming, it will take 15 minutes, we have to wait," Russian peacekeepers said while blocking the road.

A newly built bridge, under which Azerbaijanis are building something, is near the checkpoint,” the journalist said.

"We moved forward and began to admire the quality of the magnificent road built by the Azerbaijanis. Our 'friendly' enemies did a lot of jobs, built tunnels and bridges in a few months, laying a perfect road that meets all international standards, with the necessary high-quality markings, side rails and reflectors. Starting from a certain section, there were also cars with Azerbaijani license plates on the road, and we realised that the Armenians were just guests on this road, this is not our road, this is just a gesture of goodwill by the neighbouring country for Armenians," he said.

"The newly built alternative road ends, and we find ourselves on its Armenian section. Of course, the impressions are different here. The quality of the road could not be compared with the road built by the Azerbaijanis. We were physically well, but morally dreary on that 'Azerbaijani' road while on this Armenian road, our soul sang, but it was physically bad because of the uneven patched asphalt and endless shaking. Of course, for a moment, we remembered that the authorities of Armenia and Karabakh could have built normal roads during these 30 years and we would not be surprised at the work conducted by the Azerbaijanis. However, it makes no sense to remember now, it's too late," Makaryan added.