Pashinyan: Armenia Ready to Restore Railway Communication with Azerbaijan
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an announcement during the Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries in Yerevan. In his opening address on Thursday, Pashinyan extended a significant offer of readiness to restore railway communication between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Pashinyan highlighted the evolving role of transport communications, stressing their significance not just for movement of goods and people but also for regional stability, security, and peace. He emphasized the crucial link between peace and the establishment of economic, cultural, and political ties among nations, asserting that these connections are impossible without robust transport communications.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the closure of borders between Armenia and both Turkey and Azerbaijan for nearly three decades, highlighting the importance of discussions centered around opening regional communications. He expressed Armenia's eagerness to take tangible steps towards fostering communication within the region.
"Armenia expresses readiness to establish railway communication between Armenia and Azerbaijan through pre-existing routes, the northern and southern ones," Pashinyan said. "This includes connections between Azerbaijani regions and the Armenian Tavush Province, as well as linking western regions of Azerbaijan with Nakhijevan through the northern route."
Furthermore, he highlighted plans for motorways across various routes, envisioning expanded opportunities for the region. Pashinyan outlined the potential impact of these initiatives on international economic relations, cultural exchanges, political ties, and global security.
Presenting the foundational principles of the Crossroads of Peace project, Pashinyan highlighted the importance of these communications operating under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the countries involved. He emphasized the role of each nation in ensuring border security, customs control, and infrastructure safety along these communication lines.
Pashinyan's proposal outlined that these communications should be open for both domestic and international cargo transportation, fostering a spirit of equality and reciprocity among participating countries. Simplifications in procedures were also mentioned, based on mutual equality and reciprocity.
The Armenian PM expressed hope that this initiative would create opportunities for both Armenia and Azerbaijan to access the sea, facilitating broader prospects for multimodal cargo transportation. However, he stressed that the realization of these ambitions hinged upon establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In concluding remarks, Pashinyan reiterated the principles set forth by Armenia as the foundation for a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, emphasizing the need for peace and outlining the framework within which it should be achieved.
