Discussion on Establishing a Railway from Nakhchivan to Iran: Papikyan

The Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, Suren Papikyan, addressed the issue of Azerbaijan having a connection with Nakhchivan through Armenian territory in an interview with Armenpress.

Referring to the point in the trilateral declaration of November 9 regarding the unblocking of roads, he was asked whether there are any timelines established for launching the road that would allow Azerbaijan to connect with Nakhchivan through Armenian territory:

"There is no timeline. That document includes a point about the unblocking of general roads. We are only looking at this issue partially. There is that point which allows the transition from Nakhchivan to Azerbaijan, but no specific section is mentioned, and there are no agreements, including regarding timelines. This needs to be discussed further so we can understand. No point is primary, and no point is secondary; they are interrelated matters."

He also discussed the issue of unblocking railways, particularly the possibility of establishing a railway from Nakhchivan to Iran:

"If we are talking about unblocking roads, do you think it is logical to close the Sotk-Karabakh road? Will the question of launching this road also arise after regulating the political processes?"

"I cannot make a tentative statement; everything is possible. Because if we are talking about unblocking roads, it implies that the roads connecting with Azerbaijan will work. Now, at what stage, in what atmosphere of public perceptions... and future developments will show everything. The fact is that this declaration exists, and actions should be based on it. There is also a third party that guarantees the implementation of these declarations. Our Russian partners are actively and effectively supporting us to realize that statement in all aspects."