YEREVAN. – I consider it very important to keep the topic of opening the communications in the center of our attention. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday stated this at the National Assembly of Armenia while presenting the report on the implementation and results of the government program for 2020.

"Because, unfortunately, I have suspicions that Azerbaijan is doing everything to torpedo this process and keep Armenia under blockade. I want for us to record that we will consistently implement the statement signed in Moscow on January 11 because it is a strategic task for us to establish a railway connection with Russia, Iran as soon as possible. This will mean that we [Armenia] are able become a transport, transit route from the Persian Gulf to the Pacific Ocean. [But] Azerbaijan will most likely do everything possible to prevent the opening of communications," he said.

According to Pashinyan, oil and natural gas have played a great role in the economic strengthening of Azerbaijan. "But Armenia possesses huge ‘oil’ reserves—conditionally speaking—of the 21st century: one is copper, the other—water. We must be able to make Armenia not a metal, but a finished metal product exporter; this is directly related to the opening of communications, as the existence of a railway connection is essential for investments. Yes, we have vast reserves of copper and water. Seven billion cubic meters of water is formed annually in Armenia, but we are able to accumulate a small part of it," he said.