Armenian PM denies Turkish president's statements on so-called "Zangezur corridor"

YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan denied allegations that he had promised extraterritorial corridor to Azerbaijan to get connected to its exclave Nakhichevan through Armenia's southern province of Syunik.

Pashinyan's comment came in response to Turkish President Recep Erdogan's call on Armenia to be rational and constructive, open the "Zangezur corridor" to enable Turkey to start gradually normalizing elations with Armenia.

In a televised interview with Armenia's Public Television Pashinyan said Armenia has never given an excuse to both Turkey and Azerbaijan to use the 'Zangezur corridor' terminolog.

"In Armenia, this is perceived as territorial claims and a demand for an extraterritorial corridor. We have not made any promises to anyone according to this terminology. There is no such thing in the 2020 trilateral statement, (as alleged by Azerbaijan and Turkey) " Pashinyan said.

He noted that the word "corridor" is used in the world as a term for communication routes. The trilateral statement referred to the Lachin corridor (linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia), which was controlled by a third force.

"We say that the Republic of Armenia is ready and interested in opening regional communications. Are we ready to open our roads to Azerbaijan and Turkey? Yes, we are ready. This should happen under the jurisdiction of Armenia on the principles of equality and reciprocity. No third force should control Armenia's territories, when crossing the border, the Armenian Customs and Border Guard Services should exercise control," Pashinyan said. -0-