Armenia is ready and interested in organizing the passage of vehicles, cargo, passengers, pipelines, cables connections through its territory, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the BRICS+ summit in Kazan.
He said the shortest route between the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf is through the territories of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Armenia and Georgia (north-south direction), and the shortest route between the Caspian and Marmara Seas lies through the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia and Turkey (east-west direction).
“The east-west direction, of course, can also be used for transport and communication links between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Taking this approach into account, we have offered Azerbaijan mechanisms to simplify border and customs control procedures, as well as additional security measures, taking into account the full respect for the jurisdiction and sovereignty of both countries,” the Prime Minister said.
He reiterated that the Republic of Armenia is able to ensure and will fully ensure the safety of the passage of goods, resources, vehicles and people through its territory. “This is our desire, our obligation, and we guarantee it and will always guarantee it.”
He denied all reports claiming that Armenia has agreed to the participation of a third country in ensuring the security of communications in its sovereign territory, or that it is stipulated by any document.
PM Pashinyan noted that on Wednesday, the Republic of Armenia ratified the “Regulation on the Joint Activities of the Commission for Demarcation of the State Border and Border Security between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Commission for the Demarcation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia.”
“After the entry into force of the mentioned document in both countries, we will be able to intensify the process of demarcation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on the fundamental principles of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration,” the Prime Minister said. He emphasized that the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia regarding this legal document finally dispelled all concerns and eliminated all arguments regarding the existence of alleged territorial claims on neighboring countries in the Constitution of Armenia, stating that such interpretations are groundless and illegitimate.
“Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have repeatedly announced in recent months that the draft agreement “On the establishment of peace and interstate relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan” has been agreed upon by at least 80-90 percent. Formulations regarding mutual recognition of each other’s territorial integrity, absence of mutual territorial claims and the obligation not to pose such claims in the future, observance of the principle of non-use of force and threat of force, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, establishment of diplomatic relations and creation of bilateral mechanisms for the fulfillment of obligations assumed by the parties to the peace treaty have already been fully agreed upon,” the Armenian Prime Minister noted.
“Our assessment is as follows. As of today, the draft agreement formulates, addresses and resolves all the fundamental issues that are necessary to create a solid foundation for peace and regulate relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and we suggest that Azerbaijan already sign this agreement,” Nikol Pashinyan concluded.
