Armenia hopes to join soon Persian Gulf-Black Sea transport corridor
Posted on October. 15. 2021
YEREVAN, /ARKA/. Armenia hopes to join soon the Persian Gulf – Black Sea transport corridor, which is actively promoted by Iran and India, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said today at a joint press conference with visiting Indian counterpart Subramanjam Jaishankar.
“We had discussed the Persian Gulf – Black Sea initiative yesterday with our Iranian counterparts. I can say that developments around this initiative are progressing quite dynamically and I hope that soon we will sign an agreement to join it,” Mirzoyan said…
He said Armenia believes that participation in the Persian Gulf – Black Sea project, in addition to the North-South corridor, will allow it to diversify cargo transportation routes, use ports in Iran and become an important transit hub.
“Minister Jaishankar said that both India and Armenia are interested in this initiative. We also discussed the issue of establishing a direct connection between Armenia and India, the issue of transit traffic from Armenia through Georgia to the north to Russia and further to Europe,” Mirzoyan said.
In turn, Jaishankar, presenting the position of India, stressed that the development of seaports and the North-South corridor will allow laying new trade routes, including sea ones, improving opportunities, and increasing competition in terms of cargo transportation.
“On the one hand, this opens the way for us to the Caucasus and further to Central Asia. This is part of the initiative on which we are working,” he said.
In his words, in the context of the importance of the development of transport communications against the background of the emergence of new production centers in the world, India appreciates the participation and interest of Armenia in this initiative.
Jaishankar called the lack of communication between Armenia and India – both sea and land – an obstacle to trade and economic exchange and people-to-people contacts. He pointed out that both India and Armenia are members of the international transport corridor North-South, which is important for the development of communications in the future.
“Taking into account the interest shown by Armenia, we proposed using the seaport of Jawahar in Iran as a junction for the transport corridor. We also discussed the possibility of resuming flights between the two countries,” the Indian minister said.
In his words, during the conversation with the Armenian counterpart, important and comprehensive issues were discussed and agreements were reached on cooperation at different levels.
Jaishankar indicated that a new economic agreement between India and the EEU is in the process of discussion. He said India may benefit from Armenia’s membership in this organization.