PanARMENIAN.Net - President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has claimed that the early opening of the "Zangezur corridor" is one of the fundamental elements of future peace in the South Caucasus.

The Azerbaijani side has on multiple occasions spoken about a so-called "corridor" through the southern Armenian province of Syunik that would connect Nakhijevan to the rest of Azerbaijan. The Armenian side, however, has repeatedly denied being involved in negotiations for the provision of a corridor to Azerbaijan, stressing that they have only agreed to unblock transport communications in the region.

"If we are not given this permission, it will be difficult to talk about peace, and all the efforts of Azerbaijan aimed at establishing normal coexistence and neighborly relations with Armenia will fail," Aliyev said.

He maintained that Azerbaijan has the right to demand the corridor, since Armenia has signed a "corresponding statement".

A statement signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia to end the war in Nagorno-Karabakh doesn't mention any "corridor" that Armenia must provide to Azerbaijan. It says: "All economic and transport links in the region shall be unblocked. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the safety of transport links between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic with a view to organizing the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions."