Former Prime Minister of Armenia Khosrov Harutyunyan has stated that discussing the issue of the so-called “corridor” through Syunik is unacceptable. He addressed the authorities, particularly Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with a demand for clear explanations:
“I demand explanations from the current leadership: why, despite the fact that the Lachin Corridor has effectively ceased functioning due to Azerbaijan’s unilateral actions, does the Armenian side continue to discuss the possibility of providing a railway through Meghri? This issue should not even be on the agenda, especially in the context of any ‘outsourcing’ models.”
Harutyunyan emphasized that the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, pertained solely to the cessation of hostilities, including the clause on unblocking economic and transport communications, which was intended to foster trust in the region. “The unblocking of communications was envisioned as a step toward de-escalation and strengthening the ceasefire. However, the 42-kilometer road segment through Meghri does not address this goal. In fact, its implementation serves only the interests of convenient transport links between Turkey and Azerbaijan. For Armenia, it brings no economic benefits and may, on the contrary, exacerbate the blockade.”
The former prime minister noted that, within the framework of the Trilateral Statement, the Armenian side should have consistently advocated for the full and mutually beneficial unblocking of borders, including railway connections along the Baku–Ghazakh–Ijevan–Dilijan–Yerevan route. “Such an approach would not only align with the spirit and letter of the Trilateral Statement but also allow Armenia to integrate into regional transit corridors, including the so-called ‘Middle Corridor’ actively promoted by Turkey,” he stressed.
