Zangazur corridor an ‘irreversible reality’ in South Caucasus

Klochkov believes that economic projects and proper diplomacy are now key in ensuring regional stability

The Zangazur corridor is now an irreversible reality in the South Caucasus after Azerbaijan created a new regional status quo on the ground following the Second Karabakh War, Russian political analyst Pavel Klochkov told Turkic World on Sunday.

“What has been achieved should be preserved and further developed. Of course, the Zangazur corridor has great potential; and it is precisely the efforts of a diplomatic nature, the development of new economic projects that can largely ensure security in the region. The more parties that benefit from this, including economic ones, the less temptation there will be to subject the stability of this region to some kind of test,” he said.

Zangezur was part of Azerbaijan, but in the 1920s, the Soviets handed over the region to Armenia. After this move, Azerbaijan lost its link with Nakhchivan.

One of the most prominent results of Azerbaijan’s historic victory in the 44-day Second Karabakh war is the opening of the Zangazur corridor, one of the results of the tripartite statement signed in Moscow on November 10, 2020.

Azerbaijan has since focused on projects along the Zangezur corridor, including motorways and rail lines.

Today, the Zangazur corridor is an irreversible reality of the South Caucasus region. With its launch, the world’s largest trade corridor could be created, which will start in China, pass through the Caspian region all the way to Turkey, and from there to the Eastern Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

Klochkov believes that economic projects and proper diplomacy are now key in ensuring regional stability.

“Agreements at a high level, real economic projects – this is what will now make the situation largely irreversible. I know that quite a lot is being done in this direction,” he added.

According to Koltashov, opening the Zangazur corridor should be a no-brainer.

“Armenia must understand that the opening of this corridor is an important part of building local economic ties, without the restoration of which economic growth is also impossible, including in Armenia. The Zangazur corridor is needed, and it will be created,” concluded Koltashov.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Clashes erupted in September 2020, and during the six-week war, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages.