Former minister: There are no Azerbaijani territories in Armenia

Former Armenian Minister of Transport and Communication Henrik Kochinyan does not accept that the part of the Goris-Kapan highway, now under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces, belongs to Azerbaijan.

Speaking to journalists in the National Assembly, he presented the history of that road section.

“When the Council of Ministers of Armenia decided to build the Goris-Kapan highway in the early 1960s, did the leaders of that time not know the location of the Armenian border? They knew for sure, because a stupid person could not be a minister. They knew why they were building and why in that area. Azerbaijan was trying to build a highway along the entire left bank of the Araks river. By building the Goris-Kapan, they actually derailed Azerbaijan’s aspirations,” Kochinyan said.

“Now they say the 22 km section of Goris-Kapan passes through the territory of Azerbaijan, but here a question arises: when we were “occupying the territory” of Azerbaijan by building the Goris-Kapan road, did the Azerbaijani authorities not see it?” he asked. Kochinyan noted that the territory could not have any economic significance for Azerbaijan, as they had neither a village nor an industry in that area, they had nothing. He added that those roads were built in the forests through deforestation.

“Did Azerbaijan agree to cut down trees in their territory? When we concede 22 kilometers, it means we have nothing to do in the future,” Kochinyan said, emphasizing that there are no Azerbaijani territories in Armenia.