FM rules out foreign control over unblocked connections

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is ruling out foreign control in its territory as part of the unblocking of regional connections, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

“Anything that implies the creation of a corridor and its control by another party is not under discussion,” Mirzoyan said when asked whether Yerevan intends to involve a private company to carry out security control over connections that are to be unblocked between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “And we have said that for Armenia, the presence of third powers and control by third powers is ruled out, it is unacceptable for us. Nothing has changed in our stance,” Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with his counterpart from Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel.

Mirzoyan elaborated on the topic, explaining, “In order to further increase the sense of security among people, we can involve a private security company, which is licensed in both countries, which can accompany the cargo or passengers inside a train. This is what it is about, and it is just one of the discussed options.”

He ruled out any governmental or private third party presence along the to-be-unblocked infrastructures.