Pashinyan and Overchuk discussed reopening of transport links between Azerbaijan and Armenia
YEREVAN, April 2. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk discussed on April 1 in Yerevan the activity of a working group set up by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia to deal with the practical modalities of unblocking transport links in the region. The group is chaired by the deputy prime ministers of the three countries.
Pashinyan's press service said both men stressed the importance of fulfilling the humanitarian agreements and the need to strengthen stability in the region. They also exchanged views on the Armenian-Russian economic cooperation.
On January 11, 2021, the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement in Moscow aimed at developing the region and unblocking all transport communications.
The working group is chaired by Mher Grigoryan (Armenia), Alexey Overchuk (Russia) and Shahin Mustafayev (Azerbaijan). It has already had several meetings. One of its tasks is to take stock of international treaties concluded within the CIS and with third countries on the implementation of transportation in the region and ensuring appropriate control.
The rail and road links between Azerbaijan's exclave Nakhichevan and the rest of Azerbaijan are to pass through southeastern Armenian province of Syunik. Armenia is supposed for its part to use Azerbaijani territory as a transit route for cargo shipments to and from Russia.
On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijani armed forces, backed by Turkey and foreign mercenaries and terrorists, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh along the entire front line using rocket and artillery weapons, heavy armored vehicles, military aircraft and prohibited types of weapons such as cluster bombs and phosphorus weapons.
After 44 days of the war, on November 9, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities. According to the document, the parties stopped at where they were at that time. The town of Shushi, the districts of Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin were handed over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of a 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. Internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to Karabakh and adjacent regions, prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons and bodies of the dead are being exchanged.--0-
