Unblocking of regional communications should be done in accordance  with principles of equality and reciprocity – Armenian FM

ArmInfo.On March 2, at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan  participated in the panel discussion entitled "International Trade, Connectivity and Interdependence". 

Minister Mirzoyan delivered remarks in which he particularly  emphasized:

"Whatever we say about interconnectivity, about making efforts to  increase international trade, transit, the understanding that it will  also bring more people to people contacts, increasing the  interconnectivity and interdependence will be beneficial from the  economic aspect. In Armenia, which is a landlocked country, we  understand the importance of international trade and connectivity  probably more than others. We are not only a landlocked country, we  have four neighbors with only two open borders: our borders with the  other two neighbors are closed and have been closed for already three  decades, but this is a topic probably for another discussion. For  this discussion, I think it would be enough to mention that we are  engaged in negotiations with both neighbors to make it possible to  open the borders and establish normal relations.

I said that there are two aspects of the issue: economic benefits,  but also a political aspect. We believe that increasing  interconnectivity is beneficial not only from the economic aspect of  the issue but also brings more, as I said, interdependence and thus  also becoming a significant factor for peace as well. 

Developing the topic about regional connectivity, Minister Mirzoyan  added:

"We believe that's the case at least in our region, so to prove and  show our interest and readiness to be engaged in regional transit  routes, making efforts to increase trade, etc. we came up with the  initiative the "Crossroads of Peace". In this title, you can see that  we developed this project not only as an economic but also, as I  said, a factor of potential peace in the region. So, according to  this initiative, we suggest unlocking all the transit routes, and all  the transport infrastructure in the region. We see basically four  conditions for an environment in which these infrastructures could be  unblocked, and I will share these principles which are fair enough to  be the basis for regional projects.

So the first principle is that the infrastructure that is going to be  unlocked should remain under the sovereignty of the countries on the  territories of which they exist. This could seem natural, but when it  comes to our region details are very important. 

The second principle is that all infrastructure should function  according to the national legislation of the countries. Also I would  like to mention the possible simplification of procedures: we live in  the 21st century, we need to simplify procedures. There are modern  solutions, there are technologies. So if there is a political will,  we can always find solutions."

Concluding his remarks, Ararat Mirzoyan added: "The unblocking of  regional communications should be done in accordance with the  principles of equality and reciprocity. I can not demand my Iraqi  colleague to grant me access to use their railways while denying them  reciprocity. So there are details on which we can work together if  there is a political will and we, Armenia, are more than ready to do  it."