Washington: The recent meeting of leaders from Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United States in Washington, along with the signing of several agreements, is being hailed as a significant turning point for the South Caucasus region. Armenian political analyst Areg Kochinyan expressed his views in an interview with Vesti.az, highlighting the potential impact of this diplomatic engagement.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Kochinyan emphasized that this event marks a historic moment, contributing to progress in Azerbaijan-US and Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. He noted that there has been noticeable advancement on various long-standing issues.
Kochinyan elaborated on the ‘Trump Route’ project, which is set to be managed by an Armenian-American consortium. This project extends beyond a simple roadway to include a broader network of infrastructure such as railways, highways, gas pipelines, and power transmission lines. The management of this comprehensive infrastructure will be a joint effort by the consortium.
The analyst also commented on the strategic partnership forged between Azerbaijan and the US, underscoring its significance. He pointed out that this partnership aligns with Armenia’s long-standing strategic ties with the US. Kochinyan believes that increased common partners between Armenia and Azerbaijan could facilitate the normalization process between the two nations. He also noted that a stronger Western presence could counter Russian influence, potentially leading to more robust and sustainable relations.
Despite potential negative reactions from Tehran and Moscow, Kochinyan noted that Iran’s response has been relatively restrained, with only concerns being expressed. He drew parallels to Iran’s reaction to the European Union Monitoring Mission’s deployment along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, suggesting that similar diplomatic engagement could alleviate current concerns.
In conclusion, Kochinyan stressed the importance of Armenia and Azerbaijan seeking peace and maintaining their independence. He warned that Russia might attempt to hinder these efforts and advised finding ways to coexist with the former metropolis while cultivating peaceful relations with neighboring countries.