Attempt by Armenia to Revitalize Negotiations with Azerbaijan Underway
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signaled a renewed emphasis on peace talks with Azerbaijan, particularly concerning the delicate issue of the Zangezur corridor. This potential route, which could link Azerbaijan proper with the Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory, has been a sticking point in the peace process.
In the past, both sides have agreed to put the matter aside, but their negotiations have stalled recently due to unexpected resurgence in discussions about Zangezur. Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev reintroduced the topic just a few weeks ago, dashing hopes for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Azerbaijan seeks extraterritorial rights for the corridor, a demand that Armenia has resisted. However, at a January 31 news conference, Pashinyan suggested a slight adjustment of Armenia's position, indicating a willingness to establish a corridor under the same terms Azerbaijan would enjoy on a proposed railway through Iran. The Iranian route conversations do not include extraterritoriality.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan remained tight-lipped about Armenia's vision for Zangezur, emphasizing Armenia's goal of maintaining full control over the corridor's administration. Mirzoyan maintained that simplified transit procedures could be implemented to benefit both nations once the transportation links are unblocked.
Pashinyan also disclosed that Armenia has proposed resolutions for two unresolved issues in the negotiations, including the possible withdrawal of cases pending in international courts. He also indicated a tentative willingness to explore the disbandment of the OSCE Minsk Group, which has overseen peace negotiations for decades but has seen its influence wane since Azerbaijan's reconquest of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Pashinyan's efforts to reignite talks with Azerbaijan may be fueled by the prospect of increased trade opportunities. On January 30, he expressed Armenia's intention to join a project facilitating the export of electricity from Central Asia across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan and onward to Europe. Azerbaijan's parliament ratified an agreement with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on February 3 to generate "green" electricity and send it westward via a cable beneath the Caspian Sea.
However, the overall status of negotiations regarding the Zangazur corridor remains unclear or stagnant. Reports suggest that there were false claims about China discussing the Zangazur corridor during a visit to Baku, which China has denied. The focus in the region has been on broader economic and strategic partnerships, such as the Middle Corridor and the Belt and Road initiative. The Zangazur corridor could potentially impact Armenia's territorial integrity and its land connections with other countries, raising tensions with both Azerbaijan and Iran. China has reaffirmed its respect for Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Iran and Armenia express concerns about the implications of such a corridor on their regional connections.
- The shifting focus towards peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, specifically concerning the Zangezur corridor, has become a significant topic in the general news.
- Recent developments in the discussions about the Zangezur corridor have been influenced by politics, as leaders of both nations negotiate policy-and-legislation and war-and-conflicts concerning the proposed route.
- The potential creation of the Zangezur corridor, with its implications for territorial integrity and land connections, has sparked interest among regional powers, such as China and Iran, adding a new dimension to the business and strategic landscape of the area.
