Lavrov, Mirzoyan confirm that Armenia will not cede extraterritorial land corridors to Azerbaijan through Syunik

YEREVAN, June 9. /ARKA/. Russian and Armenian Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Ararat Mirzoyan praised today the trilateral Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian working group set up to deal with practical modalities of opening transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is chaired by the deputy prime ministers of the three countries.

"The outcome of the June 3 meeting of the group is positive and I would not say that the break (between the meetings) is too long (the previous one was held 6 months ago); the group is working rhythmically and the co-chairs met in Moscow prepared to solve the issues, which still remain to be resolved," Lavrov said at a joint press conference today in Yerevan.

He said the sides have already agreed upon the rail route, and now they are finalizing the automobile route and the regime that will be established on them (both are to stretch across southern Armenian region of Syunik to connect Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhichevan).

"The regime will be simplified, but it will absolutely be based on the recognition of the sovereignty of Armenian territory. There can be no ambiguities here. These are things that have to do with practical actions on the ground, creating infrastructure for many years. Therefore, it is better to weigh everything up 10 times before cutting corners. We have a full sense that both Azerbaijani and Armenian colleagues proceed from that," Lavrov said.

Mirzoyan, in turn, said that there is a common understanding that all roads to be opened will be under the sovereignty of the countries through which they pass. According to him, there are details on which the parties have different understandings, ‘but the work continues, and hopefully, mutually acceptable solutions will be found."

Armenian authorities, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, have denied earlier Azerbaijani and Turkish allegations that Armenia would cede extraterritorial land corridors to Azerbaijan through its south-eastern province of Syunik which would connect Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhichevan by rail and motor roads.

According to Pashinyan, the common understanding is that the road and the railway must be under Armenia’s control and operate under Armenian legislation. -0-