Armenia can be Iran’s bridge to the Eurasian market/ any extraterritorial corridor is unacceptable

Arsen Avakian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia in Iran In an interview with ISNA about bilateral relations and cooperation between Tehran and Yerevan, he said: warm relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are based on good neighborliness. For Armenia, strengthening and deepening relations with Iran is of particular importance. This issue is also mentioned in the 2021-2026 four-year plan of the government of the Republic of Armenia. We can say with confidence that there is the necessary political will and preparation between both sides to deepen relations as much as possible.

He added: The presence of the Armenian government at the highest level in the farewell ceremony for the late Iranian president Mr. Seyed Ebrahim Raeesi and his companions, as well as the presence in the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected president Masoud Mezikian, shows the importance of relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the context of these trips, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, in his meetings with the high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially in his meeting with the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, discussed the existing interactions between Armenia and Iran and the prospects of cooperation in The future has been discussed and discussed. Yerevan believes that with the cooperation of the 14th government, new and more ambitious programs can be planned in parallel with the implementation of previous agreements.

This Armenian diplomat also noted: In relation to the bilateral economic cooperation between Armenia and Iran, it is definitely necessary to mention that despite the fact that countless programs are currently being implemented, the cooperation capacities of the two countries are much greater than that in If they are realized, significant results can be achieved.

Armenia is Iran’s natural bridge to the market of the Eurasian Economic Union

Strong bilateral economic cooperation is an important driver for multilateral interactions, and Iran and Armenia have close cooperation in energy, infrastructure, and transportation sectors.Avakian further stated: Armenia and Iran actively cooperate with each other in the infrastructure sector. In the framework of this cooperation, the construction of the 32-kilometer Kajaran-Agarak road in Armenia, located on the route of the North-South road transport project, is being carried out with the participation of Iranian companies. In addition to the infrastructural importance, this project also has a lot of meaning in terms of strategy, economy, civilization and culture. This point will become one of the important crossing points in the north-south transportation route and the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea.

He stated: The next step in the development of bilateral economic relations is to increase the transport capacity and use the large transit capacities of the two countries. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to implement practical measures to ensure the free movement of passenger and cargo vehicles to Armenia and Iran, as well as the renovation of the Moghri border crossing, which has been entrusted to an Iranian company.

Armenia’s ambassador in Tehran stated that close cooperation between the two countries is also ongoing in the energy sector and said: One of the important achievements of the bilateral cooperation of the two countries was the extension of the “Gas for Electricity” contract that was signed last year. According to this agreement, it will be possible to increase the amount of electricity sent from Armenia to Iran and, in parallel, to receive more gas from Iran. Also, regarding cooperation in the energy sector, I cannot fail to mention one of the most important bilateral economic projects, namely the construction of the third line of the Iran-Armenia high voltage transmission line. We are happy that our friendly country Iran is taking practical steps to complete this project.

He also emphasized: It is a fact that strong bilateral economic cooperation is an important driver for multilateral interactions. The geographical position of Armenia and the capacities that exist due to this position make it possible for our country to be Iran’s natural bridge to the Eurasian Economic Union market. Our government welcomes the signing of the free trade agreement between the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran.

Any transportation route must be under the jurisdiction of the country in question

In response to a question about the creation of the corridor claimed by the Republic of Azerbaijan, this Armenian diplomat said: One of the important guarantees of establishing peace and stability in the region is the removal of blockages in transportation and economic infrastructure, which is considered one of the priorities of the Armenian government. . The view and mindset of the Armenian government regarding this issue is reflected in detail in the plan “Crossroads of Peace” proposed by the Prime Minister of Armenia.

He stated: In our opinion, the existence of any extraterritorial corridor is unacceptable and we emphasize that any transportation route should be under the jurisdiction and jurisdiction of the country in question and based on the principles of mutual and equal action. This point is exactly the position reflected in the “Crossroads of Peace” plan. It is important for us that these views of Armenia are not only fully understood in Iran, but the position statements regarding the necessity of unconditional respect for the territorial integrity of Armenia and the inviolability of the borders of this country continue at the highest level from Tehran.

The Republic of Armenia is ready to fully guarantee the security of the passage of goods, vehicles and people on its territory

The Ambassador of Armenia in Tehran emphasized: The Republic of Armenia is ready to fully guarantee the security of the passage of goods, vehicles and people in its territory. Yerevan has repeatedly announced that it is ready to implement the connection between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan exactly according to the same conditions as provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Let me mention here the speech of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly; In his speech, he emphasized that all the claims that somewhere and according to a document, Armenia has agreed that the security of the communication lines in its territory will be provided by third forces, is just a different way of presenting the reality. Armenia’s commitment in this regard is clear, guaranteeing the safety of goods, vehicles and people on its territory, and we guarantee it.

The most effective mechanism for removing blockages in the economic infrastructure of the region is the implementation of the “Crossroads of Peace” plan

This senior Armenian diplomat also talked about the proposal to replace the “Zangzor Corridor” with the “Ares Communication Road”, does the Armenian government have any other suggestions and solutions in this regard? He said: To answer this question of yours, I must again refer to the “Four Ways of Peace” plan presented by the government of the Republic of Armenia. The aim of this project is to remove blockages of economic transportation routes, increase the transit potential of the countries in the region, as well as create new connections and establish stable and long-term peace.

He clarified that the “Four Ways of Peace” plan implies the relaunch and development of regional communications through the reconstruction, construction and operation of roads, railway lines, pipelines, cables and power lines. Of course, the “Four Ways of Peace” plan is also important for us from the point of view that if this plan is implemented, the possibility of rail communication with the friendly country of the Islamic Republic of Iran will also be provided for us. What is important for us is that a number of countries have officially declared their support for this project, including Iran, which we hope will participate in the implementation of this project. In a conclusion, I should mention that the most effective and beneficial mechanism to remove the blockade of the economic infrastructure of the region is the implementation of the “Crossroads of Peace” plan, which includes mutual benefits.

As a result of the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, many agreements have been reached

The Ambassador of Armenia in Tehran also responded to the question that “Although the authorities of Yerevan and Baku announce the achievement of lasting peace, it seems that there are differences between the two countries that prevent the achievement of peace, and stated: Establishing lasting peace in the region The most important priority is the Republic of Armenia. Armenia is well aware of the value of regional peace and stability and does not spare any effort to achieve it. We believe that regional peace requires collective responsibility, we have assumed our responsibility and we ask other interested actors in this issue to assume their share of responsibility and with a sense of commitment towards the category of peace, a more constructive position towards the processes Adopt a region.

Arsen Avakian noted: As a result of the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan for the past 2 years, many agreements have been reached regarding the agreement “Establishment of peace and intergovernmental relations”. Our suggestion is that the draft of this document and the items agreed upon in the draft should be signed as soon as possible, diplomatic relations should be established, and discussions and investigations should continue to resolve all issues that are of mutual importance to the parties. to be

Armenia is well aware of the value of regional peace and stability and spares no effort to achieve it.

Tehran and Paris have similar positions on Armenia

This Armenian diplomat further said about the French Foreign Minister’s visit to Armenia and also the role of countries like France in the developments in the region: The Republic of Armenia has close and friendly relations with many countries, including France. Our government welcomes the participation of all actors who take a constructive position to establish security and stability in the region. In this context, I must emphasize that Tehran and Paris have positions that match each other, and this point is very important in keeping the region away from catastrophic developments.

He also added: I feel it necessary to remind this point; In the trip you mentioned, France reaffirmed its support for the “Four Ways of Peace” initiative, which is a good opportunity to develop multilateral economic cooperation.

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