"Indeed, such an idea has been voiced": Mirzoyan on establishing checkpoints on Armenia's border

Regulations for the Lachin corridor have been negotiated and reflected in the November 9 document. Re-negotiating the arrangements for the corridor, especially as a result of the use of force or with threats of new force, cannot be an acceptable solution for the Armenian side, stated the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, during a joint press conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg. This was in response to the Azerbaijani President's statement after the Munich meeting, suggesting that the Armenian side was offered to establish checkpoints at the beginning and end of the Zangezur corridor, as well as between Lachin and Armenia.

“Indeed, such an idea has been voiced about setting up checkpoints at the Armenian border and the area where the Lachin corridor begins. However, our answer is unequivocal and quite public. Right after the blocking of the Lachin corridor, this position was voiced, and it remains the same: the arrangements for the Lachin corridor have been negotiated and signed, including by the President of Azerbaijan; I am referring to the November 9 document. Re-negotiating the arrangements for the Lachin corridor, especially under the threat of new force, is evidently unacceptable and cannot be a solution for us,” said Mirzoyan.

Responding to the observation that Azerbaijan demands the so-called "Zangezur corridor" in exchange for opening Lachin, the Foreign Minister added that in analyzing this, one can see the Azerbaijani expectation of opening the Lachin corridor in exchange for receiving another equivalent corridor. This narrative is not new, and the Armenian side's position regarding it is also not newly stated.

“We have the Lachin corridor, which, by the way, has been highlighted as a humanitarian corridor throughout the negotiation process even before the last war, considering that the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh is completely blockaded by Azerbaijan, and the only road connecting them to the world and Armenia is the Lachin corridor. Thus, the existence of the corridor has been emphasized from the outset. Everyone, including Azerbaijan, has accepted this, and this is also reflected in the November 9 document, where the Lachin corridor is clearly affirmed,” said Mirzoyan.

Regarding the unblocking of other infrastructures in the region, for which agreements exist in both the November 9 document and the January 11, 2021 document, the Armenian side's position remains the same and is very constructive. “We can proceed with the unblocking of these roads at any moment, starting from the point where we recognize that all these unblockable roads, including the railway, must operate under the sovereignty and legislation of the countries through which they pass. This, I believe, is a very justified, constructive, and transparent approach; it is our proposal and readiness,” said the Foreign Minister.

The Armenian side rejects and does not welcome the aggressive policy of changing agreements under the threat of the use of new force or extorting concessions at the expense of one side’s interests, which is also expressed in statements from the Azerbaijani side.