Armenia's "Crossroads of Peace": Infrastructure as a foundation for peace?

Interview with Viktor Yengibaryan, Armenian Ambassador to Germany In the fall of 2023, the Armenian government presented its ambitious "Crossroads of Peace" project. The aim is to create sustainable peace in the South Caucasus through infrastructure, economic integration and open borders. But how realistic is this project and what role does Europe play in it? Prien: What goals is the Armenian government pursuing with the "Crossroads of Peace" project? The most important goal of our government is peace in our region. And we can already say that we have basically achieved this goal. Of course, it takes time to institutionalize peace. We are conducting a constructive dialog with Turkey and hope to establish diplomatic relations soon. There has also been progress with Azerbaijan, as we have already initialed a peace treaty, supported by US President Donald Trump, among others. A key step now is to open the borders. This is precisely where the "Crossroads of Peace" concept comes in: it aims to create regional connections, promote economic dependencies and stabilize peace. Prien: Is this primarily about infrastructure? Exactly. It is based on clear principles: Sovereignty, territorial integrity, respect for the national jurisdiction of the respective states and mutual equality. Specifically, this involves the revival of transport routes, especially 19th-century rail links, which have ceased to function since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The plans include A rail link from Baku via Armenian territory to Nakhichevan Further routes within Armenia via Nakhichevan and towards Georgia and Turkey Prospective connection from Central Asia to Europe Highways, energy infrastructure, pipelines and power grids A multimodal dry port in Gyumri Prien: When could these projects become reality? We assume that the most important rail links can be completed within three years. A company has already been founded together with American partners and a feasibility study is currently underway. The main focus is on renovation and selective new construction. Prien: What role does the energy infrastructure play? A very big one. We want to connect our electricity grid with the European frequencies. With the support of Germany and KfW, a corresponding transmission grid is already being created. In addition, we are planning stronger networking with Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, the expansion of solar energy (already over 20% of the energy mix) and the production of green hydrogen. Armenia can thus not only be a transit country from Central Asia to Europe, but also an energy producer itself. Prien: How do infrastructure projects actually promote trust? We focus on economic interdependence. The first steps are already visible. Armenia has imported oil and petrol from Azerbaijan for the first time. Grain also entered the country via Azerbaijani territory. This will make trade more diversified and cheaper. We have also offered to allow Turkey and Azerbaijan to use our territory for transportation. There has also been social progress: Delegations from civil society visit each other. This strengthens trust in the long term. Prien: What are the biggest challenges? We first have to learn peace. That may sound strange here in Europe, but an entire generation has suffered from the conflict since our independence. That is why it is important to establish peace not only politically, but also socially. Prien: What are the economic prospects for Armenia? Our closed borders have long led to an isolated economic structure, with a strong focus on IT, for example. New opportunities are now emerging in production and trade. Initial investments show the potential. NVIDIA is planning investments of over four billion US dollars. A further five billion could follow in the energy sector. Armenia is currently an attractive investment location. Tourism is of course also a very important part. Most European tourists come from Germany. Prien: What does the opening of the transport routes mean for the South Caucasus? It is not a zero-sum game. All countries benefit from the opening, including Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey. Falling political risks encourage investment. We had 7.5% growth last year thanks to reforms in the area of the rule of law and democracy. This shows how strong the peace signals are. Prien: What role do Germany and the EU play? Armenia is aiming to integrate into the European Union in the long term. Germany is a key player in this as Armenia's most important economic partner in the EU. We see great potential for joint projects, particularly in the areas of hydrogen, energy and infrastructure. Prien: What role can Armenia play geopolitically in the future? As part of the so-called "Middle Corridor", we can make trade between Europe and Asia more efficient. Current flight routes also already show that the South Caucasus is increasingly becoming the central axis between the two regions. Prien: Is this a snapshot or a long-term trend? Above all, it shows how important our region is as an alternative route. Of course, we would like our neighbors to live in peace. With the further expansion of infrastructure, this role will become even more important. Peace is the decisive basis for this. Attachments The "Crossroads of Peace" are intended to improve trade throughout the region and thus strengthen security and trust. (Source: Armenian government) Air travel on March 27, 2026: The South Caucasus has become the central axis of air traffic (source: Flightradar) The post Armenia's "Crossroads of Peace": Infrastructure as a foundation for peace? appeared first on ostwirtschaft.de.