Zangezur corridor
Hypothetical geopolitical corridor / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Zangezur corridor[lower-alpha 1] (Armenian: Զանգեզուրի միջանցք, romanized: Zangezuri mijantsk; Azerbaijani: Zəngəzur dəhlizi) is a concept for a transport corridor[9][10] which, if implemented, would give Azerbaijan unimpeded access to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic without Armenian checkpoints[11][12] via Armenia's Syunik Province[13] and, in a broad sense, for the geopolitical corridor[14] that would connect Turkey to the rest of the Turkic world thereby "uniting it".[15][16] The concept was not part of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement but was introduced to geopolitical lexicon later by Ilham Aliyev.[17] It has since been promoted by Azerbaijan and Turkey,[18] while Armenia has steadily objected to it, asserting that "corridor logic" deviates from the ceasefire statement, and that it is a form of propaganda.[19]
The terminology, the potential routes, and the modes of transport connections have since been points of contention between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which are still maintaining a mutual blockade since 1989.[lower-alpha 2] Azerbaijan has initiated construction projects on its territory presenting them as part of the implementation of a so-called "Zangezur corridor" and threatened that should Armenia not want it, Azerbaijan "will decide it by force".[21]
During 2021 trilateral talks, Armenia expressed willingness to participate in rebuilding the Soviet-era railway links historically connecting Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan, which Azerbaijan interpreted as Armenian consent to the "Zangezur corridor". According to Russia, the third party, what is being discussed is unblocking regional communications, and not creating a "corridor".[22][23]
Various international observers have characterized the "Zangezur corridor" as a pan-Turkist agenda, drawing from irredentism, while others have emphasized the solution to the blockade as a key aspect. Certain political analysts have emphasized Russia's interest in its development, given that it would ostensibly be the security guarantor of the route.[24]