FM Mirzoyan Denies Clause on ‘Corridor’ Through Syunik in Armenia-Azerbaijan Agreement
Armenia and Azerbaijan have finalized the text of their long-negotiated peace agreement. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan confirmed this development on Friday while addressing the National Assembly of Armenia. He reiterated that this agreement marks a crucial milestone in the normalization of relations between the two neighboring countries.
One of the key takeaways from Mirzoyan's statement is the absence of any provision regarding a so-called 'corridor' in the agreement. Concerns had been raised in both countries and among international observers regarding potential clauses related to transport routes that could compromise national sovereignty. However, Mirzoyan assured that there are no such provisions in the finalized text.
"There is no provision about a so-called 'corridor' in the text of the agreed agreement. There is nothing about de-blockage mechanisms in general in the text of the agreement. There is a bilateral willingness to cooperate in various domains, including transport, transit, and economic issues," Mirzoyan stated.
Following the agreement’s completion, Armenia has proposed immediate consultations with Azerbaijan to determine the venue, time, and other logistical details for the signing ceremony. This step is expected to formalize the commitments made in the document and outline a roadmap for future cooperation.
While the agreement does not include specific clauses on de-blocking transportation routes, Armenia has reiterated its commitment to regional connectivity. Mirzoyan clarified that Armenia supports the reopening of railways and the facilitation of smoother cargo movement while ensuring that all transport infrastructure remains under national jurisdiction.
"Our approach to unblocking [regional communications] is very well known, public, and has not undergone changes. We have presented to the public that we have presented a very constructive, in our conviction, mutually acceptable proposal to the Azerbaijani side on this matter," he stated. The proposed plan focuses on allowing both countries to use each other’s railway networks while simplifying border crossing processes to improve the flow of trade and commerce.
Mirzoyan said that Armenia’s railways, roads, and infrastructure will remain fully under the country’s sovereignty and operate according to national legislation. He dismissed the need for third-party oversight of these infrastructures, instead advocating for internationally recognized mechanisms to ensure the security of cargo transportation.
"We also believe that, as we have previously been convinced, there is no need for the overseeing of these infrastructures by any third forces. For example, various mechanisms known to the civilized world can be used to ensure the security of cargo," he added.\
However, just yesterday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that Armenia will provide Azerbaijan with a road through Syunik as part of the "Crossroads of Peace" initiative. He stated that this decision has been formally included in the peace agreement and will soon be implemented.
"Yes, there is an intention to provide a road to Azerbaijan,” Pashinyan said. “The details have been agreed upon in the final article, and now that the agreement is signed, we are ready to proceed immediately."
The absence of a 'corridor' provision in the agreement may ease concerns about sovereignty, but practical cooperation on trade and transportation will require further negotiations and commitments from both sides.
