We Highly Appreciate Iran's Clear Position on Armenia's Sovereignty Over Infrastructure - Mirzoyan

Our discussion today focused on issues related to regional security and stability. We particularly emphasized the necessity of establishing peace, security, and stability in the South Caucasus. This was stated today, on July 24, in Tehran by Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during a press statement with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

He also noted, “I presented to my counterpart the progress of the negotiations aimed at resolving the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As we have repeatedly stated, in the context of normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is crucial for us to reaffirm clear borders based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, ensure demarcation and guarantees of border security, as well as establish a stable international mechanism for discussions between Stepanakert and Baku to address the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

However, I regret to state that instead of engaging in dialogue with the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan is currently pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing, a blatant manifestation of which is the illegal blockade of the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to the outside world, the Lachin Corridor, which has been ongoing for more than seven months. Since June 15, the supply of food and medicine to Nagorno-Karabakh has been completely halted, and the transfer of patients with serious health issues to Armenia is obstructed.

Today, we are witnessing what we warned about seven months ago: a significant, tangible humanitarian crisis has already emerged in Nagorno-Karabakh. This is occurring in gross violation of international humanitarian norms, despite the provisions enshrined in the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, the numerous calls and resolutions of the international community, and the legally binding decision of the International Court of Justice on February 22, which was reaffirmed on July 6.

I must emphasize that Armenia expects effective efforts from actors interested in real peace in the South Caucasus to prevent a new humanitarian disaster in the 21st century before our very eyes.

The Republic of Armenia is greatly interested in the unblocking of regional economic and transport infrastructures based on the sovereignty and territorial authority of countries, as well as the principles of equality and reciprocity. In this context, our state border with the Islamic Republic of Iran, regarding which the positions of the Armenian and Iranian sides are clear and have been expressed multiple times, is indisputable for us. In this regard, as we have repeatedly noted, we highly appreciate the principled and clear position of our neighboring and friendly Iran regarding the sovereignty over the territorial integrity and alleged infrastructures of the Republic of Armenia.