VIDEO: Zakharova Says Pashinyan's Proposed 'Peace Crossroads' Project is Not an Alternative to Meghri Route

The Armenian authorities have expressed their willingness to open regional communications based on the principles of sovereignty and competence within the framework of equality and reciprocity, while Azerbaijan has, in effect, not rejected such an approach. This was announced by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, during a weekly briefing.

"This topic has been thoroughly discussed in a trilateral working group format co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Ministers of the Russian Federation, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, this work has now stalled due to the position of our Armenian colleagues. Regarding the statement about the FSBS of Russia's border guard service's control over the Meghri route, it is logical both from the standpoint of optimizing traffic organization and economic considerations. Russian border guards are already deployed in the southern Syunik Province, protecting the border between Armenia and Iran," Zakharova said.

She also stated that the 'peace crossroads' project proposed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is not an alternative to Meghri or other routes. "As for non-regional players, their reluctance to facilitate the unblocking of communications in the South Caucasus is explained solely by the political considerations of the situation. They are not interested in increasing connectivity between Armenia and Azerbaijan or among their neighbors; they aim to fragment the region and impose their interests without thinking about others. Thus, they deepen the contradictions among countries," she added.