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Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he attaches “great importance” to the establishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus and called for the signing of the Armenian-Azeri peace treaty at the earliest time, according to local media.
"We welcome the steps taken by Azerbaijan and Armenia. We value the agreement on the peace deal as a very important development for the establishment of stability. We wish that this process will be accomplished at the earliest time," Erdoğan told reporters on his return from Azerbaijan, according to Hurriyet.
“We don’t want more conflict in South Caucasus, we want peace and calm,” TRT Haber quoted him as saying.
"We are very happy to see looming peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. At the same time, we offer our contribution, too," he said, according to Hurriyet. "Peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia will also be to the benefit of Turkiye.”
Turkiye and Armenia are also pursuing a "careful" normalization process, President Erdogan stated, underlining that all the countries in the region will benefit from normalization and peace.
Speaking about the unblocking of regional connections, Erdogan used the “Zangezur crossing” term, which is similar to the "Zangezur corridor" narrative used by Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev implying an extraterritorial corridor through Armenia, something Yerevan has categorically rejected citing international law.
Erdogan said the unblocking of that road would strengthen transport and energy infrastructures in the region.
“The opening of this crossing in a short period of time will strengthen the transportation and energy infrastructure of the Caucasus. We expect our neighbor Iran to support these steps devoted to serve for peace, development and comfort in our region. We want for them to also enjoy this ‘win-win’ environment,” he said.
Erdogan said the road “will not only bridge Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan autonomous region but also will serve as a line to integrate the Turkic world.”
Armenia has expressed readiness to open regional connections and establish connectivity based on international law, reciprocity and territorial integrity. Armenia has warned that the Azeri narrative of “Zangezur corridor” is considered as a territorial claim.
While rejecting any extraterritoriality and the term “Zangezur corridor”, Armenia has announced readiness for the establishment of a land transportation line from Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through its territory under its control and authority based on international law.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan published an article on the matter, presenting his vision for unblocking.
Earlier in March, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to the terms of the peace treaty. Armenia announced readiness to sign the peace agreement as soon as possible, but Azerbaijan has been stalling the process ever since.