ArmInfo.Armenia is very concerned with unblocking transport links with Azerbaijan and hopes the issue will be settled with Moscow's help, Armenia's Premier Nikol Pashinyan stated at a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum.
In the present situation, logistic networks are "dramatically changing," opening up new opportunities for Armenia. "Despite everything, the movement of goods from the east to the west and vice versa, from the south to the north and vice versa has not stopped. If we look at the map, Armenia is obviously at the crossroads, and we think we really have opportunities we could take," Armenia's premier said. In this context, Mr Pashinyan reminded the participants of the North-South investment project, which will provide access to the Black Sea and European countries via Armenia and Georgia.
Recalling the trilateral statement by the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders of November 9, 2020, and the document on the establishment of a trilateral work group for unblocking transport links, Armenia's premier said:
"The idea of the project is that Armenia will have access to transport links via Azerbaijan and vice versa. Globally, it is an opportunity to open new international trade routes. We are very concerned with it and hope we can settle the issue with Russia's help," Mr Pashinyan said.
Despite some progress in the commission's work, "not all issues are settled." "We have to settle legal issues of how the road will operate. The position is clear: the roads must operate under full sovereignty of the countries they traverse. We hope we an implement the 'Armenian crossroads' project following this principle," Armenia's premier said.
He hopes the South-North and West-East highways will run through Armenia.
"I think the project is most important not only for the regional countries, but also for Russia, African and eastern states," he said.