The Armenian government, at its Cabinet meeting Thursday, approved Armenia’s joining the agreement—i.e. the Ashgabat Agreement—on the establishment of an international transport and transit corridor between Iran, Oman, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The explanation of this decision states that joining the Ashgabat Agreement will contribute to the creation of reliable conditions for the transportation and transit of cargo and passengers through the territory of the member states, the facilitation of multimodal transportation, the optimization of transport costs, the enhancement of the transit role of Armenia, the enhancement of transport safety, and the creation of a level playing field for the transport organizations of the member states.
Also, joining the Ashgabat Agreement will ensure Armenia’s access to international markets through this transport corridor, harmonization of transit documents necessary for international transportation, facilitation of customs procedures, and non-discriminatory use of the transport infrastructure of the member states.
In addition, the Ashgabat Agreement will provide Armenia an opportunity to regulate the implementing of logistics transportation by various modes of transport between the countries that are parties to this agreement, as well as contribute to the promotion of mutually beneficial economic and business ties between these countries, the expansion of cooperation, and the enhancement of Armenia’s transit role.
As per the aforesaid explanation, the Ashgabat Agreement is consistent with the main principles of Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace project and will contribute to the deepening of transport ties and economic cooperation in the region.