Aliyev Unveils Zengezur Corridor Plan: It's More Than Just a Road

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced the expansion of the Zengezur Corridor project, which will connect Nakhchivan with Azerbaijan. The developments in the project are not limited to enhancing transportation between the Azerbaijani mainland and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.The project will also include fiber optic lines, electricity, and energy transmission lines. Aliyev stated that connecting Nakhchivan, an integral part of Azerbaijan, has been a long-standing goal. He recalled that this provision was included in the declaration signed after the Second Karabakh War, but the Armenian side did not take practical steps for 5 years.Aliyev mentioned that the construction of the railway on the Azerbaijani side is progressing rapidly, and the lines are expected to reach the Armenian border next year. He emphasized that they aim to transport at least 15 million tons of cargo annually through the Zengezur Corridor.Aliyev noted that the project is not just a logistics route but will also become the digital and energy backbone of the region. The Zengezur Corridor has transformed into a multi-layered infrastructure project, with plans to lay fiber optic cables, electricity lines, and potentially oil and natural gas pipelines along the route.