Azerbaijan's President Aliyev expresses continued desire for the 'Zangezur corridor', asserting it would bring mutual benefits to Armenia as well.
Azerbaijan's President Aliyev Discusses Zangezur Corridor and Regional Cooperation
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev discussed the progress of the Zangezur corridor and regional cooperation during an interview with AlArabiya on Saturday.
Aliyev expressed optimism that the corridor, which aims to connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakchivan, will benefit the entire region and no one will lose. He also mentioned that the corridor is part of the Trump's International Peace and Prosperity Route (TRIPP).
The President claimed that over the last five years, Armenia 'did not demonstrate a constructive approach with respect to our demands or legitimate requests'. However, he stated that Azerbaijan has been working on an alternative corridor, called the "Araz corridor", through Iranian territory due to Armenia's blockade.
Aliyev stressed that the route 'must have strong security guarantees' and that the American investors could potentially be involved in the project, but the main focus is on the road's construction and international security guarantees. He also mentioned the possibility of building a railway on the Iranian side of the Araz corridor.
The highway projects and railway connecting to Nakhchivan are expected to be ready, possibly next year. The construction of the railway for the Zangezur corridor is expected to take less time due to its short distance (42 kilometers).
Aliyev stated that the Zangezur corridor will serve as a North-South transport corridor in addition to an East-West one. He also assured that the corridor is not a threat to Iran.
In addition, Aliyev spoke about progress on the peace deal with Armenia, alleging that the formal document had not been signed because of a provision in the Armenian constitution. He and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had previously nominated Trump's candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The government commissioner involved in coordinating the construction of the bridge over the Araz River for the Araz Corridor in Iran is Zahra Ahmadipour. Aliyev expressed confidence that the Zangezur corridor project will be completed 'very soon'. He also stressed that there could be 'no interference in the [peace] process'.
After the opening of the TRIPP, Azerbaijan will have two roads leading to Nakchivan: one from Armenia, another from Iran. The Trump administration recognized the need for strong security guarantees for the route, leading to the creation of TRIPP. Aliyev stated that US President Donald Trump 'really deserves' the Nobel Peace Prize.
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