Armen Grigoryan on the Issues of Opening Communication Routes Between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Armen Grigoryan, the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, has addressed the issues of opening communication routes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, responding to questions from Armenpress. Armenpress presents the questions and answers in full, without changes.

Question: The President of the European Council stated in a statement after the meeting with the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan that the parties have reached a fundamental agreement on the management of communication routes between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through Armenian territory, as well as between various parts of Armenia through Azerbaijan. Could you clarify what the discussion about communication through Azerbaijan’s territory for various parts of Armenia is about?

Answer: This is about allowing, for example, Armenian citizens and cargo to reach Meghri via the territory of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic from Yeraskh, and vice versa, under the same principles that Azerbaijani citizens and cargo can reach Nakhichevan from Armenia via Horadiz.

Question: Why should the territory of Nakhichevan be used to move from one part of Armenia to another?

Answer: This could happen because the railway connecting northern and southern Armenia runs through Nakhichevan. Furthermore, the topic under discussion is about the opening of all communications in the region, and the issues regarding the opening and functioning principles of all existing communications need to be resolved. The discussions are taking place within this framework.

Let me remind you that transport connections from the Republic of Armenia to the Islamic Republic of Iran through the territory of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and with the eastern parts of Azerbaijan towards the Russian Federation, and vice versa, are also being discussed in the same context.