Crossroads of Peace

Crossroads of Peace
Overview
Status	Proposed
Locale	Armenia  Azerbaijan  Georgia  Iran  Turkey

The Crossroads of Peace[a] is a transportation project, proposed by the Armenian government in October 2023, which seeks to improve Armenia's links to neighboring Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey,[1][2][3] and to restore cooperation in the region and promote mutual understanding among nations.[4]

The project has been positioned as complementary to the International North–South Transport Corridor.[5]

Main principles

	Principles of the Crossroads of Peace[6][1]
Principle #1	All infrastructures, including roads, railways, airways, pipelines, cables, and electricity lines, operate under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries through which they pass.
Principle #2	Each country, through its state institutions, in its territory ensures border, customs control and security of all the infrastructures, including the passage through its territory of vehicles, cargo, and people.
Principle #3	These infrastructures can be used for both international and domestic transportation.
Principle #4	All countries use all the infrastructures on the basis of reciprocity and equality.

Projects

Rail

Armenia's rail system

Yeraskh-Julfa-Meghri-Horadiz railway

Armenia plans to restore the Soviet-era Yeraskh-Julfa-Meghri-Horadiz rail route, which would not only connect Armenia and Azerbaijan, but would also restore Armenia's railway connection with Iran and Russia.[7] With this project, Armenia could offer new logistic pathways linking the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean and Black seas through Armenian territory.[8]

Trade

Gyumri dry port

Armenian plans to establish a dry port and free-trade zone in Gyumri, featuring multi-modal air, rail and trucking facilities connected to warehouses and industrial parks.[9] Plans include a direct connection to rail transport and to the Gyumri Shirak International Airport.[10]

References

Notes

1. Armenian: «Խաղաղության խաչմերուկ»; Georgian: მშვიდობის გზაჯვარედინი; Russian: «Перекресток мира»; Azerbaijani: Sülhün kəsişməsi; Turkish: Barış Kavşağı

Citations

1. Ghazanchyan, Siranush (18 November 2023). "Armenian Government presents Crossroads of Peace project". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
2. Krivosheev, Kirill (30 October 2023). "Перекресток или тупик: станут ли Армения и Азербайджан экономическими партнерами". Forbes (Russia) (in Russian). Retrieved 24 February 2024.
3. "Crossroads of Peace project designed to connect Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Mediterranean Sea". Armenpress. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
4. Vahagn Khachaturyan (January 14, 2024). "Crossroads of Peace: Armenia's call for global cooperation in an evolving world". Retrieved December 23, 2024.
5. "India, Iran, and Armenia Reaffirm Commitment to Key Transport Projectdate=December 13, 2024". Asbarez. 13 December 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
6. "The Crossroads of Peace" (PDF). Government of the Republic of Armenia. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
7. "Armenia to begin work on reconstruction of the railway connection with Azerbaijandate=January 17, 2022". JAMnews. 17 January 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
8. Sheila Paylan (August 7, 2024). "How Armenia's 'Crossroads for Peace' plan could transform the South Caucasus". Retrieved December 23, 2024.
9. Brawley Benson (March 13, 2024). "Armenia: Pressing ahead with a dry port concept". Eurasianet. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
10. Shushan Stepanyan (October 23, 2024). "Armenia's Gyumri dry port project in limbo as negotiations continue". CivilNet. Retrieved December 23, 2024.