Giving up the Zangazur corridor? – 24 hours

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Azerbaijan and Iran in Baku yesterday. This document includes the establishment of a new communication link between the East Zangazur economic region and Nakhchivan AR, passing through the territory of Iran. The purpose of the memorandum is a new railway with the autonomous republic and car way connections, as well as communication and is the creation of power supply lines. Two on the Araz River to achieve this goal car (with pedestrian crossing) and two irons way including a total of four bridges, as well as communications and construction of energy supply infrastructure is planned. First, let’s look at some details of the document:

– Connecting the Eastern Zangazur economic region with Iran car bridge, as well as communication and preparation and construction of project documents for power lines and all costs for construction supervision will be covered by Azerbaijan;

– Preparation and construction of project documents for the road bridge connecting Iran with Ordubad district of Nakhchivan AR and all construction supervision costs are borne by the Iranian side;

– Design of bridges and A joint working group consisting of representatives of the relevant agencies of the parties will be established for the construction;

– Car way Necessary construction and expansion of highways in the territory of the Parties until the completion of the construction of bridges and provides reconstruction works, at the same time carries out construction of access roads to the bridge;

– Financing of the railway to be built parallel to the highway and Proposals for payment have been prepared for 6 months and will be submitted to the governments of the parties and s.

Thus, after 44 days of war, Azerbaijan withdrew from the issue of building a corridor through Armenia to Nakhchivan and from there to Turkey and decided to implement this strategic issue through Iran. Recall that, 10 There is a separate clause in the November trilateral statement in this regard. It states:

“All the economic in the region and transport connections are unblocked. Armenia guarantees transport links between the western regions of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Traffic control Russia The federation is implemented by the Border Service of the Federal Security Service.

During the period since the end of the war, Armenia has violated this clause execution did not agree to be. The Pashtun government moved from the country to Nakhchivan by corridor logic and Highway to Turkey and stated that the construction of the railway was unacceptable.

Thus, a completely new situation has arisen in the region and wordless that, The effects of Russia’s war in Ukraine are palpable. because 10 of the Zangazur corridor in the November statement Russia It was agreed that it would be under the control of special services. But now it seems that giving such a role to Moscow is not in anyone’s interest in the region. Two days ago, during a four-hour discussion with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev did not rule out joint decisions.

New realities in the region and In this context, several important issues are expected to be addressed:

Closure of Lachin corridor and taking control of the state border;

Signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia (Baku has already sent a 5-point document);

Disarmament of Armenian armed forces in Karabakh and Establishment of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty;

Increasing the role of Azerbaijan in the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations;

Of Armenia Russia and Blocking access to the Iranian railway network and s.

What do experts say about this?

Deputy Tahir Mirkishili believes that, With this agreement, in fact, Azerbaijan expanded the Zangazur corridor to the south. According to him according toThis new communication route, which will complement and, if necessary, replace the northern direction of the Zangazur corridor, which will pass through the territory of Armenia, and will significantly expand the capabilities of its partners, eliminate the monopoly position of any state:

“With this agreement, Azerbaijan and Armenia are out of place and unstable political turned their accounts upside down. Armenia, which planned to use the Zangazur corridor as a tool of pressure on Azerbaijan, eventually came under pressure. Now Armenia has new conditions for the opening of the North Zangazur corridor with Azerbaijan and will have to discuss the circumstances. This corridor will also be opened. And or he will continue to live in isolation, if he can… ”

Political scientist Farhad Mammadov says that, Occupation of Eastern Zangazur free from the regions to Iran, and from there to Nakhchivan and Iran on the construction of transport infrastructure to Turkey and The Memorandum signed between Azerbaijan is an indicator of Azerbaijan’s realization of its interests in the region. According to him according toFor this, Baku has both financial and organizational resources, as well as its own national It is important to emphasize the ability to reconcile the interests of neighboring countries with the interests of:

“President Ilham Aliyev pragmatism in the region and snowcreates an environment of activity based on mutual benefit. Azerbaijan is a year and a half that, is patiently waiting for a response to its proposals to open communications to Armenia. But Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on behalf of the Zangazur corridor yapIt raises the emotional mood in the Armenian society. Then the railway and made various maneuvers on highways. Finally, ignoring the tripartite intergovernmental commission, it set up a commission to build the railway unilaterally. As a result, Azerbaijan has solved a fundamental issue for itself: Nakhchivan without the obligation to open communications to Armenia and then Turkey got a way out by land. This is a very important element, because the opening of communications meant the opening of all roads for Armenia. But now Baku has no such obligation and Yerevan from Baku to Iran with its territory and It will have to ask Russia to open railway lines. It will also want to use the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

Farhad Mammadov draws attention to another important point: “At the same time, Azerbaijan and Turkish Presidents have agreed in Ankara to speed up the construction of the Nakhchivan-Kars railway. This means that Armenia’s exit from Gyumri to Kars is meaningless for Turkey and is secondary. Thus, the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations is on the agenda. This issue will depend on Armenia’s quick consent to Azerbaijan’s demands. If earlier the opening of all communications for Armenia was in exchange for the opening of the Zangazur corridor, now the conditions will be different. Of course that, Recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, peace agreement to be a priority “.

The political scientist recalls that, Armenia’s stubbornness has put Russia in a difficult position: “In ensuring the security of the Zangazur corridor and Russia’s participation in the international railway network in the region was envisaged. It turns out that, Russia 10 November failed to ensure implementation of tripartite statement.

According to F. Mammadov according toAs the need for the Zangazur corridor is eliminated, the issue of the Lachin corridor is being renewed. The expert noted that, this issue is very likely that, will soon be resolved in the Azerbaijani-Russian format:

“Azerbaijan is demonstrating this that, not going to wait long. The whims of Yerevan and perseverance cost Armenia dearly. In the current difficult situation, Baku will hurry to make decisions, and Yerevan must act politely. Otherwise, communication and As with the border issue, Azerbaijan will take unilateral steps in accordance with its views.

Economist, deputy Vüsnow Bayramov says that, The commissioning of this transport line will also turn Azerbaijan into a transport hub in the region: “It simply came to our notice then snowAgainst the background of sanctions, it is expected that there will be an increase in the volume of international cargo transported through the region. And this tells him that, With the new agreement, Azerbaijan will be able to further strengthen its geopolitical position in the region. I have to admit that, This project is an important victory of Azerbaijani diplomacy and will make a special contribution to the economic development of our country “.

Political scientist Elxan Shahinoglu reports that, The memorandum signed by Azerbaijan with Iran will create a new order in the region: “Iran creates opportunities for Azerbaijan that, Let Baku put Armenia out of the game again and prevent it from joining the communication line. The fault lies with the Armenian government, and Yerevan, relying on Moscow, has delayed the opening of the Western Zangazur corridor. Azerbaijan creates opportunities for Iran that, role in the region through the new corridor and increase incomes, become part of big artery ”.

The expert notes that, however, to the West’s nuclear issue according to Sanctions against Iran continue. “It simply came to our notice then and The expansion of cooperation between the West and Tehran is already in the interests of Azerbaijan. In fact, Washington against the background of Russia’s occupation of Ukraine and Brussels seems eager to reach an agreement with Iran. If sanctions are imposed on Tehran, Iran Europe more oil to market and gas can export that, can save this old continent from Russia’s energy dependence “.

Turqut