Interview
The new road does not provide opportunities for Azerbaijan from a logistical perspective. International Expert
The statements of Hikmet Hajiyev, the assistant to the president of Azerbaijan, about the economic and logistical possibilities of the “Zangezur corridor,” are presented as an opportunity to deepen regional cooperation.
Radar Armenia spoke with Sergey Melkonyan, a researcher at the “APRI Armenia” analytical center and an international expert, on the topic.
-What real strategic goals can Baku hide behind this rhetoric?
-From a logistical point of view, it does not give Azerbaijan any new opportunities, since it can already connect with Turkey via the Baku-Tbilisi route. Therefore, the claim that they have no connection with Turkey is wrong. Via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars route, they can reach the Mediterranean Sea, for example, the port of Mersin. There are no precise calculations, but the distance is about 1,600 km. This route is not shortened so much that the logistical costs, even approximately, are halved. There is no such basis.
Therefore, there is no significant change, and this statement can be considered a form of manipulation. It would be a different matter if the Tbilisi-Kars railway were overloaded and an alternative route were needed. In that case, one could talk about economic expediency, but now there is no economic basis. Not all goals are financial; instead, they are often political or geopolitical in nature. This became more visible when Turkey announced that it would soon build the Kars-Nakhichevan railway. Examining the map, it becomes clear that a new form of blockade may emerge.
-The combined statements of Hajiyev and Aliyev create the impression that the corridor agenda is being reactivated and presented not only as a regional, but also as a global economic project. How would you comment on this?
-This is a marketing move. Azerbaijan has been attempting to demonstrate for years that the “Zangezur corridor” will be a vital link for both Eurasia and the world, but in reality, it is not. They attach importance to this idea because they want to create the impression that not only they, but also other countries are interested in the road. According to their presentation, it has three layers: domestic, regional, and interregional.
At the same time, let me remind you that it has already been announced that the Araks corridor will also be ready by 2026, which means that Azerbaijan will have a new connection with Nakhichevan through the territory of Iran. Therefore, the claims that Nakhichevan is isolated and has no connection with Azerbaijan are also false. There are already many options for reaching Turkey.
Lilit Abrahamyan
