This was stated during a panel discussion at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum by the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan, Ambassador Elchin Amirbayov, as quoted by “Report”.
Speaking at the session “New Dynamics of Cooperation in Eurasia,” he emphasized that in addition to purely economic benefits, the restoration of transport communication between the countries in a post-conflict setting could also play a role as an important measure to strengthen trust and become an effective tool for peacebuilding.
“A bright example of this is the Zangezur Corridor project, which can not only establish direct transport communication between Armenia and Azerbaijan but also end Armenia’s economic isolation in the region.
Moreover, the implementation of this project will benefit and fully meet the interests of other countries in the region, primarily Turkey, Russia, and Iran.
In addition, the Zangezur Corridor can become an alternative route to the already operating Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), connecting China with Europe through Central Asia and the South Caucasus via the territory of Azerbaijan and Georgia,” the President’s representative emphasized.
“We hope that Yerevan, which has been evading for more than three years the commitment it took and effectively blocking the restoration of transport communication through Zangezur, will finally realize the full benefit of this project for Armenia. Otherwise, the coveted ‘crossroads’ risks remaining a regional dead end,” concluded E. Amirbayov.
