Khudatyan Responds to Turkish Minister's Statement on So-Called 'Zangezur Corridor'

The Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, Davit Khudatyan, has responded to the statement made by the Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure regarding the so-called 'Zangezur Corridor,' claiming it will strengthen the economic cooperation between Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Khudatyan addressed the issue while answering a question from 'Armenpress'. He emphasized that only infrastructure projects proposed, approved, or confirmed by the Government of the Republic of Armenia can operate and be implemented within the territory of the Republic of Armenia. Examples of such projects include 'North-South,' 'Peace Avenue,' and the TRIPP program.

Any infrastructure that does not meet this criterion will not operate within the territory of the Republic of Armenia. Regarding economic cooperation between Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia is ready and interested in this. The transportation component of this cooperation is manifested in the 'Peace Avenue' project, from which the TRIPP project—'Trump Road for International Peace and Prosperity'—also stems.

We are actively preparing for the launch of the implementation of this project and the opening of transport communications with Azerbaijan in accordance with the Declaration adopted on August 8 in Washington, which was signed by the Prime Ministers of Armenia, the President of Azerbaijan, and the President of the USA. I also wish to note that we have publicly expressed our willingness to restore the railway connection between Gyumri and Kars, which will further strengthen regional connectivity.

Additionally, it should be noted that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kars-Igdir-Aralik-Dilucu railway, which is part of the so-called 'Zangezur Corridor,' is taking place in the Turkish city of Igdir. The Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, stated, 'The Kars-Igdir-Aralik-Dilucu railway will become the key to the Zangezur Corridor.'