Mirzoyan Presents Armenia's Vision in Istanbul

Armenia is genuinely interested in the unblocking of all economic and transport communications in our region.

This statement was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, during his speech at the ministerial meeting of the "3+3" regional consultative platform.

"Armenia places great importance on regional consultations and interactions. Continuous and sincere dialogue, encouraging communication among people, restoring trade and economic ties, as well as ensuring the inclusiveness of regional initiatives and projects are important prerequisites for overcoming existing contradictions and achieving better cooperation, development, and prosperity among our countries.

We are deeply convinced that the responsible approaches and constructive efforts of all regional actors will greatly contribute to establishing peace and stability in the region for the attainment of this goal.

As a long-time advocate for inclusive and non-discriminatory transport connections, Armenia is genuinely interested in unblocking all economic and transport communications in our region.

Our vision for strengthening regional connections is clearly reflected in the "Peace Crossroads" initiative, which the Prime Minister of Armenia presented a year ago. The main objective of this project is to develop communications between all countries of the region and beyond through the reconstruction, construction, and operation of roads, railways, pipelines, cables, and power lines.

Four principles are essential for the implementation of this project: respect for the sovereignty and jurisdiction of all states, as well as equality and reciprocity. If realized, "Peace Crossroads" could become an integral part of global logistics routes, ensuring greater speed and efficiency in the transportation of goods.

I am pleased to emphasize that this initiative has been welcomed by many of our partners, with Iran among the first.

With a mutual commitment to expanding our trade and communication ties, Armenia is taking active practical steps towards the construction of the North-South highway, evaluating the benefits of utilizing the Chabahar Port, as well as working to mutually reduce road fees between our countries.

Further developing our border services and customs control capabilities with neighbors, the Armenian border service will assume full responsibility for the operation of the Armenia-Iran border checkpoint starting January 1, 2025. In this regard, I would like to express my gratitude to the relevant authorities of the Russian Federation for their support and service over these years.