Pashinyan Asks, Aliyev Repeats: "Zangezur Corridor" as a New Trigger

According to the "Pahst" newspaper, it has long been noticeable that the only thing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is willing to argue with Baku over is the name of the well-known road passing through the Syunik region, which he intends to open for unobstructed traffic for Azerbaijan. Pashinyan agrees to "modern control methods" and seeks ways to fulfill Baku's demand so that Azerbaijani citizens "do not encounter any Armenians while traveling from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan," and he is even prepared to gradually "sell" the extraterritorial status of that section to the Armenian public.

The only thing he asks Aliyev is to stop using the term "Zangezur Corridor," as it overtly indicates that the issue is related to expansion. After all, Pashinyan argues to his counterpart, it is not so difficult to name the project "Peace Intersection" or at least "Trump Route for International Peace and Welfare," abbreviated as TRIPP. Did we not agree to this? Why can't we use euphemisms to preserve the rating of the government and an already unpopular party?

Recently, in a speech at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Pashinyan reiterated that the term "Zangezur Corridor" does not exist, has never existed, and will not exist in any document agreed upon by Armenia and Azerbaijan. Political commentator Hakob Badalyan drew attention to these words, noting that while Pashinyan promises that the "Zangezur Corridor" will not be in any document, the question remains whether it will actually exist on the ground. Everything may be fine on paper, but what about the reality? He does not clarify. And this is understandable—the main issue here is to achieve formulations that are more suitable for government propaganda.

However, Aliyev is completely ruthless toward Nikol in this matter and sadistically continues to use this unpleasant term for Pashinyan. Speaking in Gabala at the summit of the Turkic States Organization, the President of Azerbaijan once again (as always) spoke about the "Zangezur Corridor," which deeply offended both Pashinyan and his team. The Prime Minister's press secretary, Nazeli Baghdasaryan, expressed dissatisfaction that during the meeting on October 2 in Copenhagen, Pashinyan and Aliyev again discussed the use of the term "Zangezur Corridor," yet Ilham is insulting again...

In general, it is interesting to know what Pashinyan spends his time on during working meetings (which are organized at the expense of the budget). Here he is, sitting around a table with Aliyev. Perhaps he is raising the issue of prisoners or refugees? No, instead, Pashinyan is sitting there humbly begging Aliyev to express himself more carefully so as not to offend the Armenian electorate. And Aliyev continues: "Zangezur Corridor, Zangezur Corridor, Zangezur Corridor..."

Pashinyan and Aliyev are united in the fact that both place great importance on the name of the project. For Aliyev, it is essential to use the term "Zangezur Corridor," and he responds painfully to Pashinyan's proposed term "Peace Intersection." These disagreements seriously complicate the decorative negotiation process that Pashinyan showcases to the Armenian public ahead of the elections.

Opinions about former Armenian President Robert Kocharian may vary, but his approach to such naming (the use of names) seems much more reasonable. In his press conference, discussing the options for revising agreements with the U.S., Kocharian suggested that while there is still time, Armenia should renounce American assistance and oversight regarding the road through Syunik, essentially parting with them, but at the same time say thank you and, importantly, leave the name "Trump Route" along the way. Indeed, what does the name matter; what is important are the real processes taking place on the ground.

And even if Pashinyan manages to convince Aliyev to stop uttering the words "Zangezur Corridor," the project with which our government has currently agreed is indeed that same Aliyev’s "Zangezur Corridor," whether you call it by the name of Tigranes the Great or not. To liberate Armenia from this calamity, it is not the name of the road that needs to change, but the current government.