Euronest plenary session: Speaker praises peace process with Azerbaijan but notes unresolved issue of POWs

At the 12th plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly held in Yerevan, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan addressed the process of establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the joint declaration signed in Washington, as well as new initiatives for regional cooperation.

The Speaker of the National Assembly noted that significant progress has been made toward establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as evidenced by the joint declaration signed in Washington on August 8, 2025, by the leaders of the two countries with the participation of the U.S. President. On the same day, the foreign ministers of both countries also initialed the peace treaty.

“The signing of the declaration and the initialing of the peace agreement signify that peace has already been established. Nevertheless, a number of unresolved humanitarian issues remain. The issue of individuals held in Azerbaijan—prisoners of war—continues to be a serious problem that must be addressed. Another important humanitarian priority is clarifying the fate of the many missing persons,” Simonyan stated.

He also spoke about the TRIPP project. 

“The TRIPP project stems from Armenia’s vision to ensure uninterrupted regional connectivity through its ‘Crossroads of Peace’ initiative. It envisions not only the development of railways but also the construction of highways, pipelines, power transmission lines, and communication cables between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and neighboring countries,” said Simonyan.

The Speaker of Parliament also noted that Armenia welcomes the European Union’s new strategic approach toward the Black Sea region, which, he said, could serve as a new impetus for regional stability and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, creating long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment and enhancing regional connectivity. TRIPP is part of the Crossroads of Peace project.