French geopolitics expert: neither Russia nor Iran will agree to Azerbaijan's occupation of southern Armenia
YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. Neither Russia nor Iran will ever agree to Azerbaijan's occupation of southern Armenian region of Syunik (through whuich passes the so-called Zangezur corridor), says French writer, geopolitics expert and lecturer at the Paris Institute of Political Studies Frederic Encel.
"Iran is indeed a kind of trump card, and Armenian Meghri and Zangezur are of great importance as they form a crucial corridor linking Iran and Russia (through Armenia). Today, Iran and Russia have a great partnership for this very reason," he said during the Amundi-Acba 2024 economic forum.
The expert believes that Iran also seeks to prevent active movement of Turkic populations of Azerbaijan and Turkey in the South Caucasus.
"Iran is not a superpower, but it can harm Azerbaijan, and if it decides to harm the enemy, it will do so," Encel said.
In this context, the French expert also touched upon the issue of guarantees for Armenia.
"Good relations between Russia and Iran can be a good guarantee for Armenia. But if this guarantee will no longer exist? Will the next head of Iran really continue relations in the same manner and style? Will the new Iran continue to be hostile towards Azerbaijan? This is a trump card for Armenia, but a very passive one," Encel said.
Armenian authorities, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, have denied Azerbaijani and Turkish allegations that Armenia would cede extraterritorial land corridor (Zangezur corridor) to Azerbaijan through its southern province of Syunik which would connect Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhichevan by rail and motor roads.
In a last year interview Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan denied allegations that he had promised an extraterritorial corridor to Azerbaijan. Pashinyan said Armenia has never given an excuse to both Turkey and Azerbaijan to use the 'Zangezur corridor' terminology.
"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. -0-
