Customs problem is a result of fuzzy Yerevan-Baku agreements

Azerbaijan is unilaterally regulating the traffic on the Goris-Kapan highway, since no specific mechanisms of post-war interaction with Armenia have been stipulated, political analysts assert.

The opening of the post is backed by Azerbaijan's fears that Iran might supply military items to Nagorno-Karabakh, Andrias Gukasyan, a political analyst, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on September 9, the Azerbaijani side arranged a police checkpoint on the Azerbaijani section of the road from Goris to Kapan, and it began operating on September 11. The police checkpoint was arranged in violation of international norms, the Ombudsperson of Armenia Arman Tatoyan stated. Several days after the opening of the police checkpoint, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan reported about the detention of two Iranian truck drivers who transported cement.

The problem is that Azerbaijan made a decision to set up a police post unilaterally, Mr Gukasyan has added and explained: "When the decision was made on the functioning of this section of the Goris-Kapan highway, all possible details were not thought out. The November 9, 2020, statement (made by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on end of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, – note of the "Caucasian Knot") failed to stipulate, in particular, mechanisms for maintaining the ceasefire regime, the functioning of corridors and security issues."

The opening by Azerbaijan of a police post on the Goris-Kapan highway is contrary to Iran's interests; and these actions violate the principle of good-neighbourly relations, Saak Shakhmuradyan, an Iranian political observer, believes. "By an order from Russia and Turkey, Azerbaijan is trying to cut off Armenia from Iran and deprive it of the exit, via Armenia and Georgia, to the Black Sea and to Europe. This road is of great importance for Iran, which is striving to break the US blockade," Mr Shakhmuradyan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 16, 2021 at 08:12 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.