PM: Armenia cannot imagine why its proposal to Azerbaijan to establish rail link with Nakhichevan via Meghri could be rejected

YEREVAN, January 31. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at a press conference that Armenia, as part of the process of unblocking regional communications, has proposed establishing a railway connection between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan for cargo transportation via Armenia's Meghri.

"We will start with cargo transportation because, when the situation becomes more favorable, we will consider passenger transportation as well. We made this proposal and expect a positive response," he said, adding that he could not understand why the proposal should be rejected.

According to him, Armenia's proposal addresses the issues raised by Azerbaijan. "We are not opposed to unimpeded communication, but unimpeded does not mean bypassing Armenia's jurisdiction," he added.

About the railway restoration project

Earlier, it was reported that the Armenian government plans to restore 45 km of the Yeraskh-Sadarak-Julfa-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway section, with the cost of this work estimated at approximately $200 million.

This railway will provide Armenia with access to Iran and Russia, while Azerbaijan will gain a rail connection to Nakhichevan (an Azerbaijani exclave).

In early December last year, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed that Armenia is ready and interested in implementing this project, but noted that no specific results have been achieved yet.

Yeraskh is a settlement on the outskirts of Armenia’s Ararat region, adjacent to Yerevan. Meghri is a city in Syunik (southern Armenia), which borders both Iran and Azerbaijan. The other settlements listed — Sadarak, Julfa, Ordubad, and Horadiz — are cities in Azerbaijan.