The plan to establish three new checkpoints on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border has been circulated: “From the Sotk community of Gegharkunik Province to the M11 highway at the state border, from the Azerbaijani side toward Kelbajar, in the Yeraskh community of Ararat Province toward Sadarak, and approximately 7.5 km south of the Karahunj community of Syunik on the M2 highway, toward Qubadli,” the draft has been circulated on e-draft.am.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had instructed the Director of the National Security Service (NSS) and the Chairman of the State Revenue Committee to ensure the unhindered passage of the Azerbaijani side through Armenian territory to Nakhichevan, emphasizing that this would be carried out in accordance with the procedures established by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia.
Two weeks after Pashinyan’s announcement, the draft is already circulating on the unified website for draft legal acts. All three are to be highway checkpoints.
If the decision is adopted at a government meeting, the NSS Director must also ensure the adoption of a legal act within two weeks that will guarantee the security related to the movement of people, goods, and vehicles through these new checkpoints. But the draft does not clarify what customs regulations will apply.
The trilateral Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian commission on unblocking road communications has made no public statement indicating that a final agreement has been reached on the opening of roads.
It should be noted that the final point of the November 9 statement states that Armenia guarantees the security of road communication links between Azerbaijan’s western regions and Nakhichevan, in order to organize the unhindered movement of citizens, vehicles, and goods. The Azerbaijani side insists that unhindered movement means that the Armenian side must not exercise any control.
