YEREVAN — Armenia must have full control over any road or railway that connects Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Armenian territory, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan insisted on Wednesday.
Pashinyan stated that Armenia is prepared to open such transport links for Nakhichevan “under the same conditions as the Islamic Republic of Iran gives Azerbaijan.”
“Moreover, we do not rule out certain simplifications of [border] procedures,” he said at the Global Armenian Summit held in Yerevan.
The prime minister emphasized that this should not compromise Armenia’s sovereignty or territorial integrity in any way.
Pashinyan referenced the Crossroads of Peace project, which he said demonstrates Armenia’s readiness to open all possible roads passing through its territory.
“We are ready to provide our roads through Syunik, Tavush, Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, and all possible locations. But under what principles? The roads must function without bypassing, undermining, or subordinating the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction of the Republic of Armenia, just as in all countries of the world,” he said.
“When we discussed opening regional connections, Azerbaijan’s reaction was, ‘Alright, if Armenia doesn’t want it, we will implement the project through Iranian territory.’ First, I would like to officially state once again that Armenia wants and is ready to ensure the same passage under the exact same conditions that Iran does. Furthermore, we do not rule out some simplifications of procedures, and we view this in the spirit of reciprocity,” Pashinyan added.
