Armenia tense as Turkey and Azerbaijan renew ‘Zangezur corridor’ discussions

Emil Lazarian
Jan 10 2024
 

ByIsmi AghayevandArshaluys Barseghyan

After Azerbaijan and Turkey resumed discussions of the ‘Zangezur corridor’, Armenian officials have expressed their opposition to the proposal.

The corridor is proposed to connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan through Armenian territory, with Azerbaijan demanding that such transport be exempted from any customs checks. It has been a consistent point of disagreement in Armenia–Azerbaijan peace negotiations. 

While it appeared in late 2023 that discussions of the corridor had been put on hold after the agreement to construct an alternative route to Nakhchivan through Iran, since early January, Azerbaijani officials have resumed its discussion.

[Read more: Azerbaijan begins construction of corridor to Nakhchivan through Iran]

On 2 January, Elchin Amirbayov, an Azerbaijani presidential envoy for special assignments, told Estonian Public Broadcasting that restoring transport links was ‘an integral part of the peace process’. 

‘We started talking with the Armenian side about restoring the so-called “Zangezur corridor” so that Azerbaijani citizens living in Nakhchivan, or the main part of Azerbaijan, had an unhindered passage of this territory’, said the official. 

Amirbayov added that the 42-kilometre railway would be ensured by Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) forces, as per the trilateral agreement signed on 9 November 2020 that ended the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. 

Two days later, Hikmat Hajiyev, the advisor to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, told Berliner Zeitung that Azerbaijan expected cargo to be exempted from customs and border control when transported through Armenia between Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan’s main territory. He added that were goods being transported to a third country, customs and border control would be provided by Armenia. 

On 7 January, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Turkey’s transport minister, said that they expected the Zangezur Corridor would be ‘implemented’ by 2029. He added that Turkey considered the corridor ‘irreplaceable’ despite previously endorsing propositions to route the corridor through Iran. 

Armenian officials have consistently opposed the proposition, with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stating on 23 September 2023 that Azerbaijan was attempting to ‘forcefully impose’ an extraterritorial corridor on Armenia that would pass through Armenia’s territory but be out of Armenian control, with the aim of creating a new target. 

‘This is unacceptable for us and should be unacceptable for the international community’, said Mirzoyan, speaking at the UN General Assembly. 

Sargis Khandanyan, the chair of Armenia’s Foreign Relations Committee, told RFE/RL on 8 January that while Yerevan was willing to discuss simplified customs and border regimes and unblocking regional transport, ‘unhindered crossing’ would not be accepted by Armenia.

‘It again assumes extraterritoriality […] which is a violation of our sovereignty’, said Khandanyan. 

The previous week, Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, told News.am that discussions regarding unblocking transport between the countries could take place after Azerbaijan had publicly confirmed that the principles of sovereignty, preservation of jurisdiction, reciprocity, and equality would form the basis of the discussions. 

‘We have heard agreement from Azerbaijan on these principles; we expect that they will announce [it] publicly as well, and we will continue to work on clarifying the next steps,’ said Grigoryan.

Azerbaijan has, since the end of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, increasingly sought to establish a corridor to connect the exclave of Nakhchivan to the rest of the country.

However, in October 2023, Azerbaijan’s Presidential Advisor Hikmat Hajiyev told Reuters that the construction of a route through Armenia had ‘lost its attractiveness’ for Azerbaijan after the two countries failed to agree on its opening. 

The construction of an alternative route through Iran began the same month. On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani stated that developing regional transport cooperation could not be ‘a basis for geopolitical changes and violation of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of countries’.

The idea of a corridor through Armenia’s territory has resurfaced in statements by Azerbaijani officials since the beginning of 2024.

Azerbaijani political commentator Zardusht Alizade told RFE/RL that while Azerbaijan wanted goods to travel to Nakhchivan without passing border or customs checks, the country did not seek to control the corridor.

‘There is such an example in international practice: the corridor that connects the Kaliningrad region with Russia. Trains from Russia on that corridor pass through the territory of Lithuania to Kaliningrad without obstacles and are not checked by customs officers or border guards. This regime can also be applied to the 42 kilometres passing through Armenia’, said Alizade.

While there were hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan could be signed by the end of 2023, this failed to take place. 

On 8 January, Armen Grigoryan stated that Armenia had responded to Azerbaijan’s most recent proposals regarding a peace treaty the previous week, adding that the two countries’ demarcation commissions would meet at the end of January. 

‘There are issues on which we reached an agreement during the verbal negotiations, but we have seen certain setbacks in the text of the peace agreement’, said Grigoryan. He also affirmed that there could be no question of a corridor in the peace agreement. 

Mediation of the negotiations also remains a point of contention. Azerbaijan has been pushing for bilateral negotiations amidst a reported refusal to engage in US-mediated talks. 

Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated in December that it was ‘extremely dangerous’ for Armenia and Azerbaijan to pursue peace negotiations without taking into account tripartite Russia-mediated agreements made in 2020, 2021, and 2022. 

‘Unlike Russia, the United States and the European Union are not trying to bring peace and stability to Armenia and other states of the South Caucasus’, said Zakharova, while calling for the countries to return to Russia-mediated negotiations. 

Speaking to Berliner Zeitung, Hikmat Hajiyev stated that while ‘all formats’ of negotiations had advantages and Azerbaijan was grateful to ‘all mediators’, the country’s goal was ‘result-oriented negotiations’. 

He added that while Azerbaijan was ‘not against honest mediation’, it preferred direct discussions. 

‘Accordingly, the text of the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan will be prepared directly and bilaterally’, said Hajiyev.

Azerbaijan has also repeatedly proposed separating the border delimitation and demarcation process from the agreement of a peace treaty, which Armenian officials have suggested might be acceptable. 

On Wednesday, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated that the peace treaty should include ‘clear foundations’ for the demarcation process, even if demarcation itself took significantly longer. 

‘I want to emphasise that these two issues — territorial integrity and inviolability of borders and also the further delimitation of borders — are issues where the Republic of Armenia cannot see and cannot allow any uncertainty’, said Mirzoyan. ‘Any uncertainty is a great basis and fertile ground for further aggressions and further escalations.’


Greek FM visits Armenia

Arbi Tashjian

Greece – Jan 10 2024
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis (4th from the right) meets with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (3rd from the right) in Yerevan on Wednesday. During a press conference, Gerapetritis, who is on an official visit to the Armenian capital, conveyed Greece’s endorsement for the “Crossroads for Peace” project, emphasizing its potential to address issues in the South Caucasus region, local media reported. The project envisions enhancing connectivity between Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran through the development of land roads, railroads, cables, pipelines, and power lines. [EPA]

https://www.ekathimerini.com/multimedia/images/1228900/greek-fm-visits-armenia/

"Armenia’s prosperity is possible only with Europe" – Greek Foreign Minister

Emil Lazarian
Jan 10 2024
  • JAMnews
  • Yerevan

Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece

“Greece contributes to the strengthening of Armenia-EU relations and supports the EU presence in Armenia in the form of an observation mission [refers to EU civilian observers who patrol on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border],” Greek Foreign Minister Yorgos Gerapetritis said in Yerevan today.

He vowed that Greece, as one of the first states to become a member of the European Union, will work to strengthen the “institutional dialogue” between the EU and Armenia.

During the joint press conference, the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Armenia also answered journalists’ questions regarding the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and the possible signing of a peace agreement.

  • “I don’t expect an invasion, but strong pressure on Armenia” – Tom de Waal on Baku’s plans
  • “The past year has resulted in losses and brought Armenia back to square one.” Opinion
  • “Iran welcomes Crossroads of Peace project” – Abdollahian in Yerevan

Greek Foreign Minister Yorgos Gerapetritis said that his country can do a lot for the strengthening and development of Armenia-EU relations. He believes that the presence of the EU civilian observer mission on Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan is certainly an important factor for the establishment of stability in the region, but other tools should also be used.

“It is very important to constantly emphasize Armenia’s European orientation. This is necessary not only for the sake of Armenia’s future, not only to contribute to the growth and stability of the people’s welfare, but also for the sake of Europe. Armenia is an important part of Europe.”

According to Gerapetritis, the well-being and prosperity of the Armenian people is possible only with Europe.

The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the country still has a long way to go to deepen relations with the EU. Concrete steps are already being discussed with the EU, including cooperation beyond the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.

“Despite all challenges, Armenia is actively pursuing democratic reforms. We are convinced that they, in turn, bring Armenia closer to the EU. This is a path on which we should take larger and more intensive steps. And, of course, with the assistance of Greece. Yerevan is really ready to develop these ties based on the protection of democracy and human rights,” Ararat Mirzoyan said.

Responding to the question of whether peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is possible, the Greek Foreign Minister said:

“My country believes that only three words are needed to solve any conflict: democracy, diplomacy and dialogue. And the use of force and aggression should be excluded.”

According to Gerapetritis, Armenia is taking necessary steps to achieve lasting peace.

In this regard, the Minister also touched upon the “Crossroads of Peace” project developed by the Armenian government. According to him, it implies “realistic, fair and stable” solutions to unblock regional transport.

“The peace process [between Armenia and Azerbaijan] should include concrete agreements. The delimitation of borders should be clear to avoid further atrocities and aggression,” the Greek foreign minister said.

Yerevan and Baku have been exchanging written proposals on the text of the peace treaty for a long time. On January 4, the Armenian side handed over another document to Azerbaijan and is again waiting for a reaction. The Secretary of the Armenian Security Council said that he sees both regression and progress in the previous Azerbaijani version of the preliminary text of the agreement.

In the opinion of the Armenian Foreign Minister, regardless of progress or regression on individual articles, the final version of the peace agreement should be based on the following principles:

  • mutual recognition of territorial integrity without ambiguities and reticence,
  • establishment of the order on the basis of which delimitation should be carried out in the future,
  • unblocking of transport on the basis of sovereignty, jurisdiction, equality and reciprocity.

“The Republic of Armenia cannot allow any uncertainty on these issues. Any uncertainty is a basis and fertile ground for further aggressions and escalations. The Armenian side strives for a peace that will be as difficult and practically impossible to question and violate as possible.”

Over the past 30 years, Armenia and Greece have developed strong partnership and friendly relations, Mirzoyan said, and now the moment has come to further advance the political dialogue, economic and security cooperation.

The Armenian Minister presented to Gerapetritis the details of the peace process and the new problems and challenges faced by the country, the situation after all Armenians left Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Greek Foreign Minister said that his country intends to provide “financial support to the IDPs so that they can pay their expenses.” He also talked about the preservation and protection of the cultural heritage of MK Armenians. In his opinion, it is necessary to send a UNESCO fact-finding mission to Nagorno-Karabakh, which will “reveal the damage that has been done to Armenian cultural monuments”.

https://jam-news.net/visit-of-the-minister-of-foreign-affairs-of-greece/

Greece Will Give Aid to Nagorno-Karabakh Forcibly Displaced Persons

Emil Lazarian
The National Herald
Greece – Jan 10 2024

ATHENS – Residents of Nagorno-Karabakh who were forced out of the region after Armenia was defeated in a brief war by Azerbaijan after a short war in 2020 will be getting some financial assistance from Greece.

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis made the announcement in Armenia and said Greece “will soon support a program that will fund the forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh, to meet their needs, particularly accommodation. “It will also relate to the preservation of the Christian cultural sites in Nagorno-Karabakh. We are definitely in favor of preserving the Christian sites in Nagorno-Karabakh, and we want the UNESCO fact finding mission to be on the ground to reveal the damages that these sites have suffered or could suffer, ”he said, reported Armen Press.

The region’s Armenian population had to flee the region during the Azeri invasion in what the European Parliament said was an ethnic cleansing but whih Azerbaijan reclaimed property.

Greece supports the strengthening of the Armenia-EU ties and the deployment of the EU monitoring mission in Armenia, Gerapetritis said at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

“Greece has been working to strengthen EU-Armenia institutional dialogue, to offer our expertise acquired over the years as one of the oldest members o fteh EU,” the Greek FM said.

“There is a lot we can do about EU-Armenia relations. Armenia is an important part of Europe, and we will always be there for the Armenian people and the Armenian government,” the Foreign Minister stated.

Greek FM pays tribute to the memory of Armenian Genocide victims

Emil Lazarian
Jan 10 2024

He also laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and paid tribute to the memory of the 1.5 million victims.

The top diplomats of the two countries then held a tête-à-tête meeting at the Foreign Ministry.

George Gerapetritis will also be received by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

https://greekcitytimes.com/2024/01/10/greek-fm-pays-tribute-to-the-memory-of-armenian-genocide-victims/

The Armenian Quarter in occupied Jerusalem: ‘All Christians here are at risk’

Emil Lazarian
Jan 10 2024
The Armenian Quarter in occupied Jerusalem: 'All Christians here are at risk'

Introduction

As the genocide in Gaza persists, Israeli efforts to ethnically cleanse and displace more Palestinians to replace them with settlers continue all over Palestine. One prominent and current example is the Armenian Quarter in occupied Jerusalem.

Jerusalem has the world's oldest Armenian diaspora community, going back 2,000 years. Nowadays, this historic quarter is under threat of demolition and confiscation. The hotel development company Xana Gardens Ltd. is claiming rights over property in the Armenian Quarter to develop a hotel over it. Israel has always been trying to change the demographics of the old city and impose a Jewish supremacy in the Muslim and Christian parts of the city in a variety of ways. The Israeli government relies heavily on settler organizations to take over land and property and on settlers who act as thugs to harass and intimidate residents to get them to leave.

Watch the report at 

Greek Foreign Minister visits Armenian Genocide memorial in Yerevan

Boshkezenian Garik

 11:15,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece George Gerapetritis visited on Wednesday the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial in Yerevan to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide a day after arriving in Armenia on an official visit.

Photos by Hayk Badalyan

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan accompanied his Greek counterpart at the memorial.

FM Gerapetritis placed a wreath at the memorial and flowers at the Eternal Flame.

[see video]

Armenia expects Greece’s support in strengthening relations with EU

Boris Nahapetian

 11:47,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Greece have a rich bilateral agenda in all sectors, Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis.

Mirzoyan said that Gerapetritis’ visit to Armenia was highly important in this period of time.

“The friendship between the Armenian and Greek peoples stems from the depth of centuries and millennia, the Armenian and Hellenic states closely cooperated in various times throughout history,” Mirzoyan said.

He added that Armenia and Greece built strong, friendly ties over the course of the past thirty years. “Our agenda is very rich in all sectors. Today’s meeting is a very good opportunity to address this agenda, to boost our relations, and advance our intensive political dialogue by covering numerous issues, ranging from the economy, security, defense to culture. We also outlined the actions and roadmap for this year on mutual high-level visits and events in various sectors. The meeting of the intergovernmental commission planned to take place in the first half of the year can have a very big role,” Mirzoyan said.

The Armenian FM thanked his Greek counterpart for supporting the development of Armenia-EU ties.

“We are really set to develop these ties based on the values we share in Armenia, in Greece, and in the EU. I am talking about democracy, human rights and other values. I expect future support from Greece in this process,” the Armenian FM said.

Greece supports stronger Armenia-EU ties

Emil Lazarian

 12:42,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Greece supports the strengthening of the Armenia-EU ties and the deployment of the EU monitoring mission in Armenia, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has said.

“Regarding the Armenia-EU relations, Greece supports strengthening relations with Yerevan and the deployment of the EU monitoring mission in Armenia,” the Greek FM said at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan.

“Greece will work to strengthen institutional dialogue on the level of our expert skills, being one of the oldest EU members,” the Greek FM said.

Thanking Mirzoyan for the warm reception, Gerapetritis added, “I am happy and honored to be in Yerevan for the first time as foreign minister, and to reiterate the excellent level of bilateral ties and our willingness to further deepen our relations. Indeed, Greece and Armenia have strong historical ties, friendly relations that have been built over centuries. And I have also regular contact and cooperation with my good friend and colleague.”

Peace treaty with Azerbaijan should include basis for delimitation – FM

Chakhmakhchian Vatche

 13:49,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 10, ARMENPRESS. Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be anchored on several fundamental principles to prevent escalation or aggression in the future, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Foreign Minister of Greece George Gerapetritis in Yerevan, Mirzoyan said that on January 4 Armenia responded to Azerbaijan’s proposals on a peace treaty which was received in late December 2023.

“I’d say that in terms of content we see certain regress in some parts of the Azerbaijani proposals, but also progress in several other directions. And we’ve worked very constructively on these offers and we’ve sent our proposals, which, I am sure, are very constructive,” Mirzoyan said.

What matters are the principles on which the peace must be based, he added.

“Regardless whether any specific clause of the new offer is regress or progress, the final peace must definitely be anchored on several fundamental principles. The countries must recognize each other’s territorial integrity without any ambiguity. This is a matter that requires maximum clarity, and the final peace treaty must ensure that clarity. Also, understandably, if the delimitation of borders can take a long time, we must at least see in the peace treaty the clear grounds upon which the delimitation process must take place in the future. These are the issues where the Republic of Armenia cannot see or allow any uncertainty. Also because of the reason that uncertainty is grounds for future aggression or escalations. Therefore, if we are establishing peace, we are establishing the kind of peace that would be maximally difficult to doubt or violate,” Mirzoyan said.

The next principle is the unblocking of economic links and infrastructures in the region, based on fair and fundamental principles, Mirzoyan added.

Reiterating Armenia’s interest on opening the links, Mirzoyan said, “Peace isn’t only the absence of gunfire. Peace is open borders and the movement of goods and persons on each other’s territory. It’s difficult to talk about the establishment of peace in South Caucasus when Armenia continues to be blockaded.”