Azerbaijan is creating bridgeheads for pressure on Nagorno-Karabakh and expansion towards Armenia. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Foreign Minister David Babayan told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am, commenting on Azerbaijan's large-scale road construction works around Artsakh.
Babayan noted that Azerbaijan has always had a very well-thought-out transport geopolitics. "Naturally, Azerbaijan tried it in Nagorno-Karabakh. In fact, transport policy was an integral part of administrative-territorial policy. If we look at the former NKAO map, we will see how it happened. Martakert [town], which has historically never been the center of the melikdom, was located on the outskirts of the region; it was very close to the border with the Azerbaijan SSR, becoming a regional center. The same with Martuni, Hadrut, Askeran [towns]. Khojalu [(Khojaly)] was separated from Stepanakert, which [Khojalu] was an Armenian settlement until the [19]60s, then became an Azerbaijani village.
That policy was conducted as follows: To reach Martakert from Stepanakert, you had to cross Aghdam [town]. Aghdam, Martuni, Fizuli also had to be crossed to reach Hadrut from Stepanakert. From Martuni to Martakert—via Aghdam. From Martuni to Hadrut—via Fizuli; that is, thus, they [the Azerbaijanis] were creating bastions, so-called 'geopolitical fortresses.' It was Aghdam, Fizuli, Lachin.
Lachin played a key role in the watershed between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; and if the road were fully operational, it would still be under control, nonetheless; we saw the same in Armenia.
And now we see an obvious expansionist policy. Thus, Azerbaijan strengthens its military presence in the region. We see here a far-reaching transport expansionist policy," the Artsakh Foreign Minister concluded.