Why Azerbaijan Delayed the Construction of the Railway Connecting Armenia to Nakhichevan by 2 Years: Hovhikyan Analyzes

In an interview with ArmDaily.am, media expert and commentator Nayri Hovhikyan addressed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's announcement that the construction of the railway connecting Nakhichevan to Armenia will be postponed by two years, stating that the reason is most likely political.

“To be honest, I can’t say what internal issues have arisen, but the road they are constructing in the southern occupied regions of Artsakh, I mean in the area of Jraqan and further down in the Kovsakan region, has satisfactory relief, and there’s no issue with constructing that road. However, the construction has not been stopped; it has been slowed down. Initially, they intended to put the Horadiz-Midjanavan road into operation by autumn 2021, but now they have suddenly decided to delay this construction, which can even be interpreted as a halt, and they want two years to repair the existing road that stretches for only 14 kilometers in flat terrain, merely needing patching and minor and medium-sized earthworks. This is not a technical issue; it’s a political one, and I cannot specify the reasons. I suspect that the Iranian factor is more significant here, because the Iranians have started to speak quite firmly towards the Azerbaijanis,” Hovhikyan stated.

He noted that they can, of course, construct the road, but ultimately, it will be ours again. However, taking into account the existing problems between Iran and Azerbaijan, naturally, this postponement is only to our benefit.