Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the "BRICS+" summit in Kazan, which was also attended by almost four dozen heads of state and representatives, Armenian government press office reports.
Prime Minister Pashinyan made a speech, in which he specifically stated:
"Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,
Dear heads of delegations,
Colleagues,
First of all, I would like to thank you for the invitation to participate in the Outreach/BRICS Plus format meeting and express my gratitude to the President of the Russian Federation for his hospitality and for organizing today's summit at a high level.
The theme of today's meeting is "BRICS and the Global South - let's build a better world together", and the "Crossroads of Peace" transport and communication project announced by the Government of the Republic of Armenia fits best in this context.
The essence of the project is as follows: Armenia is ready and interested in organizing the passage of vehicles, cargo, passengers, pipelines, cable connections through its territory. It is the shortest route between the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf through the territories of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Armenia and Georgia (north-south direction), as well as the shortest route between the Caspian and Marmara Seas through the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia and Turkey (east-west direction).
The east-west direction, naturally, can also be used for transport and communication links between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Taking this approach into account, we have offered Azerbaijan mechanisms to simplify border and customs control procedures, as well as additional security measures, takinbased on the full respect of the jurisdiction and sovereignty of both countries.
I would like to emphasize once again that the Republic of Armenia is capable to ensure and will fully ensure the safety of the passage of goods, resources, vehicles and people through its territory. This is our desire, our obligation, and we guarantee it and will always guarantee it.
All the statements that Armenia has agreed to the participation of a third country in ensuring the security of communications in its sovereign territory, or that this is stipulated by any document, are untrue.
Dear heads and members of delegations,
Yesterday, the parliament of the Republic of Armenia ratified the "Regulation on the Joint Activities of the Commission for Demarcation of the State Border and Border Security between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Commission for the Demarcation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia".
After the entry into force of the mentioned document in both countries, we will be able to activate the process of demarcation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on the fundamental principles of the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. I would like to particularly emphasize that the decision of the Constitutional Court of Armenia regarding this legal document finally dispelled all concerns and eliminated all arguments regarding the existence of alleged territorial claims to neighboring countries in the Constitution of Armenia, stating that such interpretations are groundless and illegitimate.
Dear colleagues,
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have repeatedly announced in recent months that the draft agreement "On the establishment of peace and interstate relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan" has been agreed upon by at least 80-90 percent. Formulations regarding mutual recognition of each other's territorial integrity, absence of territorial claims from one another and the obligation not to bring forward such claims in the future, compliance with the principle of non-use of force and threat of force, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, establishment of diplomatic relations and creation of bilateral mechanisms for the fulfillment of obligations assumed by the Parties to the peace treaty have already been fully agreed upon.
Our assessment is as follows. The content that has been agreed upon by now in the draft agreement formulates, addresses and resolves all the fundamental issues that are necessary to create a solid foundation for peace and regulation of relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and we suggest Azerbaijan to sign this agreement.
Thank you for your attention."
