Aliyev Tries to Make Statements Outside of Negotiations: Armen Grigoryan

The Secretary of the Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, gave an interview to the Iranian news agency "Tasnim."

"Tasnim": I suggest that during this interview we discuss the developments in the South Caucasus and our bilateral relations. Let's start with Armenian-Iranian relations, as they are more interesting. Since the formation of the government under Mr. Pashinyan in 2018, our bilateral relations in political, economic, and cultural spheres have been evolving. This development counters conversations, rumors, and false information suggesting that the new government formed in Armenia is pro-Western and that relations between Iran and Armenia will suffer during this administration. In this context, I would like to ask whether the government formed after the elections intends to continue the cooperation results achieved and ongoing programs established until 2020.

Armen Grigoryan: Regarding these questions, I want to note that various accusations have been leveled at us regarding some external direction. However, we have stated multiple times that we are pro-Armenian forces and that we pursue and protect the interests of the Republic of Armenia. In this context, I want to emphasize that it is in the interest of the Republic of Armenia to have close, positive, and fraternal relations with our neighbor Iran. That is also why since 2018, we have been developing our relations with Iran in economic, security, cultural, and many other areas. Taking all these factors into account, immediately after the elections on June 20, 2020, Prime Minister Pashinyan announced the start of a strategic dialogue with Iran. This announcement also confirms the dynamics of the development of relations between Armenia and Iran. The announcement received flesh and blood in the logic of high-level meetings between the two countries. That is, the last two meetings between Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Raeisi confirmed the nature of our relations. In August, Pashinyan met with President Raeisi in Tehran, and then a second meeting took place in Dushanbe. It is significant that two meetings occurred in a short period, demonstrating the dynamics of the development of Armenian-Iranian relations, which indicates that all these claims do not correspond to reality.

"Tasnim": What goals and programs do the Armenian authorities have regarding economic and political relations?

Armen Grigoryan: In terms of economics, one of the priority sectors is energy cooperation. You know that Iran and Armenia cooperate intensively in this sector. We are expecting officials from Iran's energy sector in Yerevan to discuss more intensively not only the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Araks River at the border of Armenia and Iran but also the possibility of other infrastructure projects. We have been working intensively on these matters. As I mentioned, the agendas of the recent two meetings between Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Raeisi also included economic issues, and it has been discussed to establish working groups to enhance the development of economic relations.

"Tasnim": It has been about two weeks since the one-year anniversary of the war, which turned the entire region upside down. After that war, various crises and issues arose. One of the issues raised by this crisis relates to the signing of a statement on establishing a ceasefire among the leadership of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, which caused disagreements. Another question that has prompted various discussions relates to the unblocking process and the road connecting Nakhichevan to Meghri and the Lachin corridor, which connects Armenia to Artsakh. These issues, especially the Caucasus region, are of great importance to Iran. I would ask you to clarify these matters.

Armen Grigoryan: Indeed, after the trilateral statement, there have been various discussions on different topics, and differing approaches have been presented. Not only November 9 but also the war has become an occasion for numerous discussions. The war had a tremendous impact on the region, opening the field for terrorists and the armed forces of other states to be present in our region. As a result, instability has been created in the entire region. We have repeatedly warned everyone about this, but those warnings have not helped us prevent this process. Regarding the unblocking, I want to note that this is specifically mentioned in both the statements of November 9 and January 11. I want to clearly specify that there is no mention of a corridor there. Despite this, Azerbaijan has repeatedly claimed that there is a discussion regarding a corridor. I want to make it clear that Armenia has never discussed, is not discussing, and will not discuss any issue in a corridor logic. We have conveyed this stance not only to our partners but have also regularly stated it publicly. Moreover, during the pre-election period, in the city of Kapan, Prime Minister Pashinyan declared that there has never been, is not, and will not be a corridor. You know that during these elections we received absolute support from the public, which means that the public also supports us in the issue of not providing a corridor. This is also a public perception that a corridor should not exist. Armenia is ready to provide access, open the roads, in other words, provide all existing roads so that both Azerbaijan and Turkey can utilize these routes. But all these roads will remain under the sovereign control of Armenia, and in this regard, we have spoken publicly and conveyed this to our partners.

"Tasnim": Recently, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister stated that in the past nine months, there has been no discussion of any corridor in the working group at the vice-premiers' level, there is no issue of a corridor. Against this declaration, Ilham Aliyev claims that the corridor will be opened, whether through negotiations or force. Is Aliyev's statement a threat, or is he trying to present it as a display of strength?

Armen Grigoryan: You pointed out correctly that the Russian Deputy Prime Minister stated that there has been no discussion of any corridor, and no issue has been discussed in the working group established at the vice-premiers' level. This again confirms that Armenia and Russia have a unified approach on this issue. Regarding Aliyev's statements, he is attempting to make announcements outside of negotiations, which in no way contributes to a positive advancement of the negotiation process.

"Tasnim": So, are his statements outside the framework of ongoing negotiations?

Armen Grigoryan: Yes! As for the display of strength, I want to note that the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia are ready to exert their full potential to protect Armenia's territorial integrity. Armenia will not allow any changes to the borders in the region. On this matter, we can say that there is a consensus in the international community.

"Tasnim": Iran has stated that the inviolability of borders is its red line and will not allow geopolitical changes to occur in the Caucasus. However, beyond those assurances, there are also whispers and opinions suggesting that an agreement might be reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding a territorial exchange, whereby Armenia would provide a corridor to Azerbaijan in the south in exchange for territory from Azerbaijan in the north. In other words, Syunik would be given to Azerbaijan, and Armenia would receive a portion of northern Azerbaijan in return. These viewpoints are so widespread in Iran that there is concern among Iranian society, the population, and governmental circles that there may be shadow agreements behind the curtains. In this regard, we ask you to send a clear and precise message regarding these rumors and concerns.

Armen Grigoryan: Indeed, those are rumors, and moreover, they are false rumors. Since there is an opportunity to speak publicly with the Iranian public and officials, I want to clearly indicate that the Government of the Republic of Armenia has never, I repeat, never negotiated regarding the sovereign territory of Armenia. We have not conducted negotiations, are not conducting negotiations, and will not conduct negotiations regarding the sovereign territory of Armenia. You yourself mentioned that the Russian Deputy Prime Minister stated that there are no discussions concerning a corridor. We ourselves have stated that we have not conducted and will not conduct such negotiations. In general, the topic of corridors is being attempted to be interconnected with the Lachin corridor. By the way, those negotiations have always been public, and everyone knew that we are negotiating regarding the Lachin corridor within the OSCE Minsk Group framework. And when Azerbaijan begins to speak about having a corridor in Armenia, it completely violates the logic of the Lachin corridor. Nakhichevan is part of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and interlinking it with a corridor appears to recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Armenia. And indeed, returning to the topic of rumors or territorial exchanges, I want to make it clear that no such issue has ever been discussed and will not be discussed. It may only be discussed within the logic of unblocking, as mentioned in the statements of November 9 and January 11. Within the logic of the November 9 and January 11 statements, Armenia will get the opportunity to utilize the territory of Azerbaijan to connect with Asian countries as well as with Russia. In other words, we will get the chance to utilize Azerbaijan's road and rail infrastructures. Azerbaijan, in turn, will have the opportunity to use Armenia's roads to connect with Nakhichevan. In the broad context of unblocking infrastructures, there is a more important direction. It is possible that through railway infrastructures, Yerevan could reach Nakhichevan through Julfa (Iran), from there to the Persian Gulf and Chabahar port; all infrastructures are opening up for us. Iran is also getting the opportunity to connect with Yerevan and Tbilisi, as well as to export goods and services to Europe. This is how we view the unblocking.

"Tasnim": You spoke about the unblocking of roads; in this context, I would like to touch upon the road connecting the north to the south within Armenian territory, which Iranian trucks are transiting. There have been some issues, and we also know that Armenia is constructing an alternative road. Please clarify this issue.

Armen Grigoryan: You are correct; indeed, certain issues have arisen with the Armenia-Iran road connection, but the Armenian government is working intensively to have the first alternative road ready by the end of the year. It can be said that this is generally a short-term issue. But there is a more significant project. At the end of September, the Armenian government approved the North-South road project from Sisian to the Iranian border. This project costs over 1 billion dollars and will completely change the region's infrastructures. The implementation of this project includes the idea of becoming an important infrastructural hub that connects Chabahar port to the Black Sea. In this regard, we can say that the project will greatly enhance trade between Armenia and Iran. If currently the trade volume between Armenia and Iran is in the hundreds of millions of dollars, we believe that it should soon exceed the billion-dollar mark. This also provides an opportunity to increase trade to several billion in the future. We can briefly say that Armenia and Iran now have a broad framework of a positive agenda in bilateral relations.