ASTANA ( WNAM MONITORING ): Kazakh grain has become the first cargo to transit from Azerbaijan to Armenia, marking a symbolic step in regional relations, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during an Oct. 21 press briefing.
“Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on cargo transit to Armenia that have existed since the occupation. The first such transit cargo was Kazakh grain sent to Armenia. I think this is a good indicator that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia is no longer just on paper, but also in practice,” Aliyev said, reported Akorda on Oct. 21.
Aliyev, who was in Kazakhstan on a state visit on Oct. 20-21, and President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced a new phase of cooperation, pledging to double bilateral trade and strengthen energy and transport links across the Caspian region.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan thanked Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for helping secure an agreement to lift Azerbaijani restrictions on cargo transit.
“Yesterday, Ilham Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan is lifting restrictions on the transit of goods through its territory toward Armenia. This is an extremely important statement, and I want to express my appreciation to the President of Azerbaijan for this step. I would also like to thank the President of Kazakhstan and the Prime Minister of Georgia for their role in reaching this agreement,” Pashinyan said, speaking at the Silk Road Forum in Tbilisi, as quoted by Kazinform news agency.
