Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian said that many destabilizing factors, such as political instability in the countries, conflicts, as well as economic difficulties affect the South Caucasian states.

Conflicts are the main destabilizing elements in South Caucasus, Kirakossian told Yerevan-hosted international conference, titled: “CSTO and South Caucasus: Prospects of Peace and Security in the Region.”

According to him, Armenia’s double blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan is among basic hindrances for the country’s integration into regional and international trade projects, while the blockade was aimed at suppressing Armenia after its independence and cause energy and transport crisis.

However, Kirakossian noted that the blockade has not worked. “Today, the blockade is aimed at keeping the economic space of South Caucasus fragmented, it prevents the needed regional integration and inflow of international capital to the region. Unfortunately, today Azerbaijan and Turkey are not ready for cooperation with us in the matter,” he concluded.