If the Armenian authorities had taken timely steps to provide Azerbaijan with transport communication to connect with Nakhchivan, Artsakh could have been preserved, stated Samvel Babayan, former Minister of Defense of Artsakh.
Commenting on the so-called “Trump Route,” Babayan noted: “I spoke about the need to build and open roads five years ago. Pashinyan claimed that the road through Meghri would not be provided, only a railway. I, however, as you may recall, warned that the Armenian authorities would not be able to make decisions independently—they would be forced to open the road. But if the road had been built on time and negotiations for its opening conducted, Artsakh would still be in its place today.” Nevertheless, Artsakh has been lost, and the road is now being provided, Babayan stated, emphasizing that, in his assessment, the “Trump Route” is a corridor.
Babayan also highlighted that due to the stance of the Armenian authorities, it was not possible to establish mutual dependence in matters of security. “I sent several proposals to the Prime Minister regarding this road, the latest one this year. The project envisioned the construction of a road, an oil pipeline, a gas pipeline, a reservoir on the Araks River, the installation of scanners, and other measures to ensure unimpeded passage. At the same time, we would have guaranteed the safety of Azerbaijani citizens, and they would have guaranteed the safety of our citizens. Such an approach would have created interdependence and reduced the risk of incidents to nearly zero. However, by involving a foreign company, Armenia is providing Azerbaijan with unilateral guarantees, while similar guarantees for Armenian citizens are not ensured.”