Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposed the Margara–Yeghegnadzor–Sisian–Goris route for cargo transportation from Turkey to Azerbaijan.
He stated that if the Turkish and Azerbaijani sides agree, official Yerevan is ready to immediately open this direction for transit. "Our roads to Goris and Kornidzor are in good condition; we can ensure transit,” Pashinyan noted.
However, the attitude towards the route proposed by Pashinyan is not unequivocal.
According to the map, the route presented by Pashinyan starts from the Margara border crossing point on the Turkey-Armenia border. Cargo will first enter Armenia from Iğdır province via the Arpaçay bridge, then pass through the cities of Yeghegnadzor (Vayots Dzor province) and Sisian (Syunik province) to Goris, and from there move towards Kornidzor. Kornidzor village is very close to the Azerbaijani border, i.e., the starting point of the former Lachin corridor. The Azerbaijani side has not yet reacted to the proposal.
In a statement to Modern.az, Rasim Musabayov, a member of the Milli Majlis Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Ties, stated that Azerbaijan does not need this route for its connection with Turkey:
“Our connection with Turkey is established via Georgia. Both a railway and a highway exist. They say that Sisian and Goris are on this route. If so, let them open Sisian and Goris for communication from Nakhchivan. Turkey can also pass through there.”
The parliamentarian emphasized that Armenia cannot remove the Zangezur corridor from the agenda with such proposals:
“Because the railway passes through there. They believe that it should remain for the railway, while the Sisian-Goris road should be used for the highway. First and foremost, we need the opening of a highway connection from Nakhchivan. If the railway is to be provided for the transportation of goods and the passage of people from Nakhchivan, then let them proceed. Armenians cannot pass through our road. Simply put, Kazakh and Russian cargo can enter Armenia via Georgia, passing through Azerbaijan. They also want to open the road only for Turkish vehicles. I do not believe that Turks have such a great interest in this road.”
It should be recalled that during a press statement with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, President Ilham Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan had removed all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia that had existed since the occupation. Pashinyan thanked President Ilham Aliyev for Azerbaijan's removal of all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia.
