Azerbaijan discusses with Iran construction of communications to Nakhchivan

Baku/19.05.22/Turan: Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Chairman of the State Commission on Economic, Trade and Humanitarian Affairs between Azerbaijan and Iran Shahin Mustafayev held a meeting with the country's Foreign Minister Husein Amir Abdollahian in Tehran.

The sides emphasized the importance of implementation of agreements to establish new communications between East-Zangezur economic region of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of Iran.

Issues related to the development of relations in economic, trade, transport, humanitarian and other spheres were also discussed.

Mustafayev and Abdollahian exchanged views on issues of regional cooperation of mutual interest.

Earlier, on 11 March, Deputy Prime Minister Mustafayev and Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Rustam Gasimi signed a memorandum of understanding to establish new communication links between the East Zangezur economic region and the NAR.

Note that the document provides for the creation of a new transport artery to connect Azerbaijan with its exclave, Nakhchivan. The corridor through Iran will consist of a railway branch line, a multi-lane highway, power lines, digital communications and other elements.

The communications will run 5 kilometres south of the Iran-Armenia border.

This route would be an alternative to the Zangezur corridor, which would pass through Armenia. However, the Armenian side is dragging its feet on this, and for this reason Azerbaijan has reached an agreement with Iran. -03B06-