‘Only government-approved infrastructure projects can be launched in Armenia’ – minister reacts to Turkish counterpart
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Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Davit Khudatyan has responded to his Turkish counterpart, who recently said that the ‘Zangezur corridor’ would strengthen the economic cooperation between Turkiye, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Khudatyan commented on the statement in response to a query from Armenpress.
Armenpress: Mr. Khudatyan, the Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructures, during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kars-Dilicu railway, said that the so-called 'Zangezur corridor' would strengthen economic cooperation between Turkiye, Armenia and Azerbaijan. How would you comment on this statement?
Khudatyan: Only the kind of infrastructure projects that have either been proposed, adopted or approved by the Government of the Republic of Armenia can function in the territory of the Republic of Armenia – such as the North-South, the Crossroads of Peace, TRIPP projects. No infrastructure under any name that doesn’t meet the said criteria will function in the territory of the Republic of Armenia. Regarding economic cooperation between Turkiye, Armenia and Azerbaijan – the Republic of Armenia is ready and interested in this. The transport component of cooperation is expressed in the Crossroads of Peace project, from which the TRIPP project – the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity – also derives. We are actively preparing for the launch of this project’s implementation and the opening of transport connections with Azerbaijan, in accordance with the declaration adopted in Washington on August 8, which has been signed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the President of Azerbaijan and the President of the United States. I find it noteworthy that we have publicly expressed readiness to reopen the Gyumri-Kars railway connection between Armenia and Turkiye, which will further strengthen regional interconnectivity.