The operation of the “Zangezur corridor” can increase cargo transportation through the Middle Corridor by 5-8 million tons per year. As Interfax reported, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov stated this in an interview to Azertac news agency and Magyar Demokrata Hungarian newspaper, within the framework of his official visit to Hungary.
“The Zangezur corridor is one of the elements of the East-West transport route. Experts have estimated that the Zangezur corridor can add an additional 5-8 million tons of cargo transportation [(annually)] to the Middle Corridor. This is a great benefit not only for Azerbaijan and Armenia, but also for other countries,” Bayramov said.
The Azerbaijani FM stated that the opening of the “Zangezur corridor,” i.e. unhindered communication between the main part of Azerbaijan and its exclave of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, is part of the tripartite statement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia on November 9, 2020.
At the same time, the Azerbaijani FM noted that Armenia has taken a “non-constructive position” regarding the opening of the “Zangezur corridor.”
“Azerbaijan will continue the work in this regard, keeping in mind plan B. And for us, the project will be implemented even without the participation of Armenia; but in that case, it [(Armenia)] will simply remain out of the number of beneficiaries,” the Azerbaijani FM said.
Interfax noted that Azerbaijan plans to complete all work in its territory by 2024 for the launch of the “Zangezur corridor.”
Armenia is not against the opening of regional transport communications, but asserts the jurisdiction of the countries through whose territory these communications will pass.
