Karapetyan at OSCE PA: Hopeful for Normalization with Turkey

A delegation from the National Assembly, led by Sargis Khandanyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and head of the delegation, is participating in the 23rd Autumn Session of the OSCE PA in Istanbul. During the session, Maria Karapetyan, a member of the NA delegation, delivered a speech.

"Thank you, Madam President, dear colleagues,

On August 8 in Washington, Armenia and Azerbaijan took a historic step by initialing the peace agreement and reaffirming their commitment to reopening all communications based on full respect for sovereignty and jurisdiction. Armenia and the United States have also agreed to work with each other and with mutually agreed-upon other partners on the 'Trump's Route for International Peace and Prosperity' project.

This is a large-scale infrastructure project for the construction of new railways, gas and oil pipelines, electricity and internet cables throughout Armenia.

In this regard, dear colleagues, when speaking about infrastructure projects in the South Caucasus, it is extremely important to use legitimate terminology that is mutually agreed upon and respects the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty.

This October, Azerbaijan announced that it was lifting all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia through its territory, and President Aliyev considered this a clear sign that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia exists not only on paper but also in practice. Armenia has expressed its gratitude in this regard and has shown its readiness to provide transit from Turkey to Azerbaijan, as well as between the two parts of Azerbaijan, through the roads that exist in our territory today.

The transportation of grain from Kazakhstan and Russia to Armenia through the territories of Azerbaijan and Georgia shows that the wider region is accepting the fact of peace and is already reaping the benefits of the unblocking of communications.

In the South Caucasus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia can strengthen each other, as well as the role of the region as a crucial transit hub connecting Europe, the Black Sea, Turkey, the Caspian Sea, and Central Asia.

We hope that very soon we will also have an open land border and diplomatic relations with our neighbor Turkey.

In summary, this new regional environment opens up real opportunities for the European Union's Global Gateway strategy and the Middle Corridor.

Thank you," said Maria Karapetyan.