Armenia should provide unimpeded passage through Zangezur - I. Aliyev

Baku/11.01.01.24/Turan: The "Peaceful Crossroads" transport project is a PR action. President Ilham Aliyev said this in an interview with local TV channels on 10 January.

"Armenia has put forward this idea as an alternative to the 'Zangezur Corridor' and it is actually a PR action," Aliyev said.

He said Armenia "should give us unimpeded passage from Zangilan to Ordubad and this is their obligation."

"People, cargo and transport travelling from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan should not be subjected to any customs check. As for cargoes from other countries, naturally they are subject to customs duties. This also applies to cargoes from Azerbaijan to Turkey," Aliyev said.

Armenia's guarantees on these issues alone are "not enough". According to a November 10 statement, Russian border guards should ensure security on this route, Aliyev said.

He denied claims that Azerbaijan intends to open the Zangezur corridor by force.

"Seeing that Armenia does not want this, we decided to build a road to Nakhchivan through Iranian territory," Aliyev continued.
He further angered that the US condemned Baku's decision to build a road through Iran.

"First ensure that the road goes through Armenia, then there will be no need to go another way," Aliyev said, referring to Washington.

"What does America's statement mean: we will not allow this? Are they going to introduce troops into Zangezur or Iran?"," he continued.

In the event that the Zangezur corridor is not opened, "Armenia will forever remain a dead end, and we will not open our borders with Armenia anywhere," Aliyev noted. -0-