Perhaps one of the most important political wishes from Azerbaijan is the establishment of the Zangezur transport corridor. It would grant Azerbaijan unimpeded access to its exclave Nakhchivan through southern Armenia. Armenia has been vehemently opposed to this idea, and is now proposing an alternative solution: rail freight the long way around, most likely also through Georgia.
Armenia does not want to go along with the Zangezur corridor idea, saying that it would violate the country’s sovereignty. What’s more, its beneficiary, Azerbaijan, is not exactly on friendly terms with Armenia after the two fought two recent wars over the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Now, Armenia has come forward with an alternative proposal: The country could let Azerbaijani freight trains towards Nakhchivan enter the exclave from the north, in Yeraskh. It is the only rail connection between the two countries.
That also means that freight trains departing mainland Azerbaijan would have to transit through Georgia before entering Armenia from the north – unless the goods enter Armenia via a different mode of transport first.
Rail freight through Meghri?
Nevertheless, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also proposed rail freight transportation through Meghri, where the Zangezur corridor would be located. “We have made a concrete proposal to Azerbaijan regarding the reopening of communications. It is based on the stance of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Given those stances, we invite Baku to launch rail freight transportation from western Azerbaijani regions to Nakhchivan through the Armenian city of Meghri, and back,” Pashinyan is quoted as saying by Interfax.
It remains unclear how rail freight transportation would be organised through Meghri between the two parts of Azerbaijan, considering that there is no railway that could facilitate such traffic.