Armenia is ready to simplify transit conditions, start delimitation, conclude a peace treaty with Azerbaijan - Pashinyan

Baku/17.10.23/Turan: In case of unblocking of communications in the region, Armenia is ready to simplify transit procedures through its territory, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, stated on Tuesday at a meeting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. 

"If all communications are opened within the framework of the principle of reciprocity and sovereignty of the countries, Armenia is ready to simplify procedures. We are ready to ensure the safety of goods and passengers from Azerbaijan when passing through our territory, hoping for reciprocity," Pashinyan said.

Armenia has never made promises or agreed to open any extraterritorial corridors, he continued. Yerevan is ready to restore the Meghri railway, which will connect not only Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also the southern regions of Armenia with the north-western regions, the south-western regions of Azerbaijan with the Nakhichevan autonomy, and in the future – both Armenia and Turkey, and Azerbaijan with Turkey.

"In Armenia, this project is called the "Armenian Crossroads", but it's time to call it the "Crossroads of the World". This is extremely important for the real world," the prime minister said. According to the same logic, Armenia is ready to open highways and provide international transit transportation, pipelines, and power lines on its territory.

Pashinyan also did not rule out that Yerevan and Baku will sign a peace agreement before the end of the year.  Armenia is ready to withdraw troops from the  border established in 1991 on a reciprocal basis. Yerevan is also ready to discuss the issue of "enclaves". "We are ready to sign an agreement on peace and settlement of relations with Azerbaijan by the end of the year," Pashinyan said.

The refusal of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to participate in the meeting in Granada did not facilitate the process. On the other hand, there is an agreement to hold talks with Aliyev through the mediation of the Chairman of the European Council Charles Michel.

"If the above principles are confirmed, the signing  an agreement on peace and settlement of relations by the end of the year will become extremely realistic," Pashinyan said.

Yerevan is also ready to cooperate with Baku on the issue of clarifying the fate of the missing. Armenia also agrees to the return of prisoners, detained and arrested persons on the principle of "all for all".

According to Pashinyan, the Armenian authorities are also ready to cooperate on the issue of mine clearance. In 2021 Yerevan received from Nagorno-Karabakh and handed over to Azerbaijan all the maps of the mines of the Armenian side as a "gesture of goodwill".

But Azerbaijan perceived this not as a step towards peace, but as an excuse to intensify aggressive rhetoric against Armenia. "However, despite everything, we must move towards peace. This requires political will. I, the government, and the parliamentary majority have it," Pashinyan said.

On the other hand, according to him, the international community, the EU, the countries of the region should help in achieving this goal. Touching upon the issue of borders, Pashinyan said that he expects Azerbaijan to agree to start delimitation based on the latest maps of the Soviet General Staff.

He called it an urgent need to start work on delimitation. The maps of the Soviet General Staff should also become the basis for the mutual withdrawal of troops, the final agreement of the peace treaty and the resolution of all other issues.

The Prime Minister noted that he has repeatedly declared recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within 86.6 thousand square kilometers, while the leader of Azerbaijan is in no hurry to do so. Although Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has recently spoken about recognizing the territorial integrity of Armenia, he did not name any figures, Pashinyan noted. ---02D---