How will the checkpoint on the Lachin road affect the peace process?

Baku/25.04.23/Turan:  Azerbaijan's recent establishment of a checkpoint on the Lachin-Khankendi road, which will involve checking not only cargo but also passports, is expected to have far-reaching consequences for the peace process in the region. The move has been interpreted by the Armenian newspaper Hraparak as an attempt to force the Armenian population of Karabakh to either leave or accept the demands of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani government, on the other hand, claims that the checkpoint is necessary to prevent the illegal transportation of manpower, ammunition, mines, and other military equipment from Armenia to illegal Armenian armed formations in Karabakh. In addition, Baku asserts that if Armenia intends to establish control on the highway connecting mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan, then Azerbaijan should take control of the Lachin road.

Political commentator Nasimi Mammadli believes that the establishment of a checkpoint on the Lachin-Khankendi road will have a positive impact on the establishment of peace in the region. He asserts that if the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia is not resolved within the framework of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty, it could lead to a large-scale and protracted war in the region involving Turkey, Iran, Russia, and other interested forces. Mammadli believes that the international community is aware of this and understands that peace in the South Caucasus is impossible without resolving the issue.

Mammadli notes that Azerbaijan has a strong army and international law on its side, and that the Azerbaijani government and society  categorically reject the possibility of creating another Armenian state on its lands. He also believes that any new government on the topic of Karabakh may be even tougher than the current one, and therefore, statements by international organizations and foreign countries should not bother Azerbaijan.

The establishment of the checkpoint on the Lachin-Khankendi road highlights the ongoing tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and underscores the challenges facing the peace process in the region. The move is expected to have a significant impact on the future of the conflict, and will likely be closely watched by regional and international actors alike.