Pashinyan states readiness to open transport from Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan within the framework of the 'Crossroads of Peace'

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the possibility of opening transport routes between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. In his statement, Pashinyan said that the roads could be reopened within the framework of the 'Crossroads of Peace' project.

Prime Minister Pashinyan made the remarks at the 'Yerevan Dialogue 2024' forum, which was held in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on September 9-11 and broadcast on YouTube.

Noting that peace and stability in the South Caucasus region have become realistic, Pashinyan stated that a consensus has largely been reached on the peace treaty to be signed with Azerbaijan and that Armenia is ready to sign a peace treaty with the agreed-upon text.

ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN PEACE TREATY COULD BE SIGNED

Pashinyan stated that full agreement has been reached on the introduction and 13 articles of the draft treaty, and partial agreement on 3 articles, adding the following:

'One of the agreed-upon articles of the peace treaty includes a mechanism that will allow both sides to continue negotiations through a joint mechanism. Moreover, the agreed-upon part of the peace treaty also includes a provision regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Therefore, we can move toward such solutions. We have made this proposal publicly and officially. I express my readiness to sign the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Relations with the agreed-upon text as soon as possible.'

Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that if a peace treaty is signed with Azerbaijan and ratified by the National Assembly, the articles of the peace treaty would be valid in accordance with the article in the Armenian Constitution stating that 'in case of a contradiction between international agreements ratified by the Republic of Armenia and (domestic) legal norms, the provisions of the international agreements shall apply.'

The Armenian Prime Minister also stated that there have been positive developments regarding border demarcation with Azerbaijan, that the regulation for the work of the commissions working on this issue has been signed by both countries, and that the regulation is in the internal approval process of his country.

Pashinyan noted that the regulation in question includes the provision that the work be carried out on the basis of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, and emphasized that the countries that signed the declaration, including Armenia and Azerbaijan, recognize each other's territorial integrity and the inviolability of their borders.

CAN THE CROSSROADS OF PEACE PROJECT ENSURE LASTING PEACE IN THE CAUCASUS?

Referring to Armenia's 'Crossroads of Peace' project for the opening of regional transport routes, Pashinyan stated that the implementation of the project envisages the opening of electricity, natural gas, and other transmission lines, as well as railways and highways. Pashinyan stated that with the project, railway transport could become possible not only between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also between Turkey, Iran, Russia, and Europe.

Prime Minister Pashinyan said, 'Of course, Azerbaijan also has the opportunity to have a railway connection with Turkey and Iran through Armenian territory; furthermore, the establishment of a road and railway connection between Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan through Armenian territory is also important. We are ready to provide this communication, but we must also state that Nakhchivan is not deprived of transport connections today. Because Nakhchivan has the opportunity to establish a connection with the outside world through the territories of Iran and Turkey.'

Referring to the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, Pashinyan noted that they are ready to reopen transport routes between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan within the framework of the "Crossroads of Peace" project, as envisaged by Article 9 of the statement, but that they are against the security of these roads being provided by third parties or third countries.

Pashinyan argued that the security and guarantee of the Armenian territory through which the roads pass were given to Armenia by the November 9 trilateral statement.