I have already said that Armenia has put forward the Crossroads of Peace initiative, and we are consistent in unblocking of communications—not because someone demands it, but because we, first of all, are interested in it, Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at his press conference Wednesday, as he recapped the results of 2024

"Just as other countries want to use the territory of Armenia for transit, so Armenia will use the territories of neighboring countries for transit," the FM stressed.

Commenting on Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev's statements, Mirzoyan noted that Armenia will not be an obstacle.

"We live in the 21st century, and all countries want to trade and communicate with other countries; it is in their vital interests. We [i.e. Armenia] want to be a bridge between neighbors, we want to be not a wedge, not a divider, but a connecting link. If Armenia's sovereignty is respected toward [its] infrastructure, including the security component, we not only are not against, but also interested. Moreover, we are against the concept that is being used [i.e. the “Zangezur corridor” via Armenia]," added Mirzoyan.

Aliyev on Tuesday said that Armenia should not be a "geographical barrier" between Turkey and Azerbaijan, and again threatened to open the so-called “Zangezur corridor."

"We, Azerbaijan, are not a source of danger for them [i.e. Armenia]. We want peace and cooperation in the South Caucasus, and let them not hinder us. They should not be a geographical barrier between Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Zangezur corridor shall and will be opened. The sooner they realize this, the better," the Azerbaijani leader had said.