Armenia has never rejected a U.S. proposal—it simply never discussed it, as it contradicts national legislation, said Deputy Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly, Ruben Rubinyan.
“There is no such concept as land leasing under Armenian laws,” he stated, according to Factor.am .
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, recently addressed the topic of unblocking regional communications. He cited the example of a 100-year lease in the U.S. that would allow all sides to use a route. However, he added that cultural differences in the South Caucasus complicate such an approach.
Commenting on the unblocking of regional routes, Rubinyan stressed that Armenia is not only open to it but actively promotes the reopening of all communication channels, including rail, road, cable, and gas infrastructure. He pointed out that this policy is reflected in Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace initiative.
The Deputy Speaker also outlined four core principles guiding Armenia’s approach:
- Territorial integrity – respecting internationally recognized borders.
- Sovereignty – full authority by each country over decisions within its territory.
- Jurisdiction – the use of infrastructure must be subject to the laws of the host country, in this case, Armenia.
- Reciprocity – for instance, if goods or individuals from Azerbaijan pass through Armenia, they must do so under the same conditions as Armenians passing through Azerbaijan.
“We believe Armenians crossing Azerbaijani territory should see Azerbaijanis, and vice versa—Azerbaijanis in Armenia should meet Armenians. This is the whole point of unblocking regional routes: for people to see each other not just as enemies but as human beings,” Rubinyan said.
He added that a special unit has been created within Armenia’s National Security Service with expanded authority to oversee transit routes through the country.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, during a media forum, reiterated his “Zangezur corridor” narrative, saying Azerbaijani cargo and citizens should not encounter Armenian border guards or officials. He framed the route as a seamless and secure connection between parts of Azerbaijan. He also mentioned that the issue was raised during his meeting with Armenia’s prime minister in Abu Dhabi and insisted there would be no operators, lease, or rent involved on their side.
In response, Armenian Prime Minister’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan stated that Armenia has never discussed and will never discuss the terminology and logic presented by President Aliyev. She added that his claim that Azerbaijani citizens should not meet Armenian border guards “is disconnected from the logic of actual negotiations.”
