Turkey's Reference to the 'Zangezur Corridor' Disrupts Processes, Says Pashinyan

Turkish statements that are not particularly helpful have frequently been made regarding the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. The reference to the 'Zangezur Corridor' from Turkey also hinders the processes, but the Armenian side sees a possibility for normalizing relations and is sincerely committed to doing everything necessary in that direction. This was stated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a broadcast on Public TV.

In response to the question of whether there are possibilities for the final normalization of relations with Turkey, the Prime Minister replied, 'If I say now that there is no possibility, a question will arise as to why we are negotiating. If we are negotiating, it means that there is at least some understanding that it is possible to achieve this, maybe step by step, moving forward with small steps.' He noted that while they often say the discussions are not effective and have not yet yielded results, on the other hand, they see that direct flights, for example, have been restored.

However, he also acknowledged that previously, direct flights had been operated between Yerevan and Istanbul. 'And now we are trying to move forward with small steps,' he added.

The Prime Minister refrained from making premature statements, even if there are some vague signs that it might be possible to move forward gradually.

'Previously, a paper was signed, high-level mutual visits and communications took place, but in the end, the issue was not resolved. The fundamental reason it was not resolved back then was that despite the initial signed document not having any connection to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue or Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, during the ratification phase, Turkey linked it to the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the change in the status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, and so on,' said Pashinyan.