Communication with Nakhchivan via Armenia may become branch of North-South corridor

The topics discussed between Azerbaijan and Russia within the post-conflict settlement are also relevant to the North-South project, since the opening of communications between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the establishment of transport links with Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of Armenia can become a branch of this vertical corridor, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said following a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Report informs.

“When we are talking about the opening of communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan, when we are talking about a new transport route, the restoration of railway communication between the western districts of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of Armenia, I would like to remind that this road existed back in Soviet times,” Bayramov said, adding that this railway in the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has a connection with Iran through Julfa.

According to the minister, if this route is successfully promoted, that is, the transport connection to Nakhchivan through Armenia, this can be another branch of the North-South project.

“This is another confirmation that not only Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also all regional countries can benefit from progress on various aspects of the post-conflict settlement. Azerbaijan is aimed at constructively promoting this issue, and within the framework of the tripartite commission, which is headed by deputy prime ministers, this topic is being discussed,” Bayramov said and expressed hope that the Armenian side would show a constructive approach and there would be an opportunity to move the issue from the dead point.

The Azerbaijani foreign minister said that this project is already being implemented on the territory of Azerbaijan, the railway track and the entire infrastructure are being built. “In 2023, this project will be completed on our territory up to the border with the territory of Armenia. Further, how the process will continue will depend on how constructive the position of the Armenian side is,” Bayramov noted.

In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the international North-South transport corridor is constantly being discussed at the level of the presidents of the two countries, the heads of government [of Russia and Azerbaijan].

“Discussions are going on at all levels. Recently, these discussions have intensified, given the emergence of clear assessments not only for our countries, but also for Iran, which is participating in this project. This is a significant benefit for carriers in Asia and Europe and saves both time and on financial costs. The work is going on very intensively,” the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said, stressing that “there is an interest of all the parties involved.”

Bayramov confirmed Lavrov’s words about the importance of the North-South project. He said that its relevance has grown even more.

“When we say a transnational transport project, we mean a wider geography that affects not only our country. There is a discussion in order to expand opportunities. This corridor is transporting goods on multimodal schemes, now the processes are developing more dynamically on the territory of Iran, where there is a missing section of Rasht-Astara,” Bayramov said.