Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the opening of railway transit routes through Azerbaijan has helped shield Armenia’s economy from the wider impact of regional instability linked to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking on regional developments, Pashinyan said that without access to Azerbaijani rail infrastructure, Armenian consumers would have faced significantly higher inflation and more severe disruptions to fuel supplies amid ongoing geopolitical pressures.
He described the reopening of transport links as part of a broader shift in regional dynamics, arguing that the emerging peace framework now rests on what he called a “solid legal foundation”.
He pointed to border delimitation arrangements as the first bilateral international agreement signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan during this phase of normalisation.
The prime minister cited the village of Kirants as an example of the new realities on the ground, saying that local schoolchildren now attend classes and play football close to the border without security incidents.
Pashinyan also said that the absence of ceasefire violations for more than two years has fundamentally changed the security environment, shifting priorities towards regional economic integration.
He added that the permanent reopening of transport and transit routes is a central component of the TRIPP project, which he said is intended to ensure Armenia is no longer “landlocked in a functional sense” through expanded regional connectivity.
His remarks come as regional rail transit has expanded significantly following the reopening of cross-border logistics routes.
A freight train carrying more than 1,000 tonnes of Russian grain has recently travelled to Armenia via Azerbaijan, underscoring the practical implementation of renewed transport links.
The shipment consisted of 11 wagons carrying 1,023 tonnes of agricultural goods.
It began its journey at the Azerbaijani-operated Bilajari railway station and moved towards Boyuk Kasik railway station near the Georgian border, before continuing through Georgia en route to Armenia.
The latest delivery followed a similar grain shipment earlier in the week, when a seven-wagon train carrying 488 tonnes of Russian grain was transported along the same route.
Official transport data show that more than 22,000 tonnes of grain and around 610 tonnes of fertiliser have now been moved from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan, reflecting the steady expansion of the corridor for essential goods.
Alongside agricultural shipments, petroleum products have also begun moving through the same regional transit network.
A recent consignment included 39 rail tank cars carrying around 4,500 tonnes of diesel fuel, which departed from Guzdek station and travelled through Georgia en route to Armenia.
The combined flows of grain, fertiliser and fuel now form part of an expanding South Caucasus transit network linking Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, reflecting the gradual normalisation of regional logistics and the reopening of key cross-border transport routes.
The United Arab Emirate said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second day in...
A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed dozens of people and inj...
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s planned visits to Yerevan and Baku framed the 8th European Political Community summit on 4 May, as Euro...
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has warned that global energy supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict are likely ...
One of the region’s largest defence and aerospace exhibitions has opened in Istanbul, bringing together companies, officials and industry exp...
A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed dozens of people and injured more than 60, prompting President Xi Jinping to call for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has warned that global energy supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict are likely to persist.
One of the region’s largest defence and aerospace exhibitions has opened in Istanbul, bringing together companies, officials and industry experts from around the world.
The eighth European Political Community summit brought dozens of world leaders to Yerevan, signalling Europe’s deepening interest in the South Caucasus.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it had launched a mission to try and reopen the sea passage. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister said there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict.
The United Arab Emirate said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second day in a row on Tuesday (5 May), despite denials from authorities in Tehran who threatened a "crushing response" if the UAE retaliated.
Medics are working to evacuate two people with symptoms of the deadly respiratory illness, hantavirus, from a luxury cruise ship being held off West Africa, after three people died and several others fell ill, officials have said.
The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were transformed once again into the world's most prestigious runway for the 2026 Met Gala. This year’s theme, 'Costume Art,' invited guests to explore the intersection of nature, history, and the surreal under the official dress code 'Fashion Is Art'.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s planned visits to Yerevan and Baku framed the 8th European Political Community summit on 4 May, as European leaders focused on fragile South Caucasus peace efforts and rising geopolitical tensions.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has warned that global energy supply disruptions caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict are likely to persist.
One of the region’s largest defence and aerospace exhibitions has opened in Istanbul, bringing together companies, officials and industry experts from around the world.
Energy transition, private sector development and regional cooperation are in focus at the Asian Development Bank’s 59th Annual Meeting in Samarkand, highlighting Central Asia’s growing role in regional and global economic dynamics.
The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has adopted a report warning of democratic backsliding in Georgia and raising the possibility of suspending visa-free travel if the government fails to change course.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment