YEREVAN. – The distance and insufficiency of sea and land roads are an obstacle for contacts and economic and trade cooperation between our countries. This was stated by the visiting Minister of External Affairs of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, at Wednesday’s joint news conference in Yerevan with his Armenian colleague, Ararat Mirzoyan

According to him, the trade agreement with Eurasia is currently being discussed—and also taking into account Armenia's agreement with the European Union.

The Indian FM said Armenia and India are members of the international transport corridor which has prospects in terms of communications, he had discussed with FM Mirzoyan Armenia's interest in using the Chabahar port of Iran, the chances of its use as an international transport hub, they may consider other projects, too, and they discussed the possibility of launching flights between Armenia and India.

The Indian official stressed the importance of communications, adding that his country appreciates Armenia's participation in them, and that this will increase the opportunities of this initiative.

According to Jaishankar, the development of the Chabahar port will contribute to the North-South road corridor being constructed in Armenia, will create new land routes that are more efficient than the existing sea routes, will provide new opportunities for economic progress, this Iranian port—which is being developed by India—opens the way to the Caucasus on the one hand and to Central Asia on the other, and that this is part of an initiative they are working with Russia to implement.