Azerbaijan Aims to Make Aghdam-Askeran Road a Launching Point for Integration, Says Hajiyev

Baku wants the Aghdam-Stepanakert road to serve as a starting point for the integration of Armenians. This was announced by Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, during a conversation with journalists.

“This road will significantly reduce transportation costs, making it possible to deliver everything necessary to the Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh. They will also have the opportunity to use this road to market their products in Azerbaijani markets. However, instead of benefiting from this road, barriers are being erected. Azerbaijan's proposal is to make this road a starting point for the reintegration of Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh,” he stated.

Hajiyev also mentioned that the Azerbaijani authorities had offered the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh not only the Aghdam road but also the Fizuli-Shushi road. According to Hajiyev, this proposal was intended for discussions with Stepanakert in Yevlakh.

“On August 5, it was agreed that the ICRC would deliver humanitarian aid to Khankendi (Stepanakert - ed.) via this Fizuli-Shushi road. Following this, we agreed that 24 hours later, in accordance with Azerbaijan's border and customs regulations, the Lachin-Khankendi road would be opened. As an integral part of this agreement, a meeting was planned in the city of Yevlakh between a representative of Azerbaijan and a representative of the Armenians living in Karabakh, where we were ready to discuss all reintegration projects, as well as social infrastructures,” the assistant to the President of Azerbaijan recounted.

However, Hajiyev did not clarify with whom the