Armenia, Azerbaijan to preserve peace and cooperation, says FM

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) will allow Armenia and Azerbaijan not only to become a transit hub but also to transform the entire South Caucasus into a transit region, ensuring the movement of both people and goods, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at the plenary session of PACE.

He made the remarks when asked by an EPP delegate about Armenia’s commitments to maintaining lasting peace with Azerbaijan.

"At this moment, peace has truly been established between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since peace requires continuous care, we are confident that we can nurture and maintain it. We are certain that, in the future, Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue to preserve peace and cooperation. Following the agreements and the Declaration of August 8, numerous developments have already taken place in our region. Azerbaijan has lifted the ban on imports of goods coming from Armenia, and we have begun bilateral trade. The relevant authorities are currently discussing additional opportunities for bilateral trade and goods transit. This is already a significant milestone and a major achievement," said the Armenian Foreign Minister.

FM Mirzoyan recalled that a very important event took place at the Washington Peace Summit, where the leaders agreed on the principles for the complete unblocking of the region’s transport and communication routes.

"The leaders established fundamental principles, such as territorial integrity, sovereignty, and jurisdiction. During years of negotiations, there have been various interpretations regarding what constitutes national jurisdiction. These fundamental principles have been fully accepted, signed, and published. Recently, another important provision was reaffirmed. On January 14, together with our American partners, we reached an agreement on principles relating to infrastructure. During the Washington Peace Summit, we agreed to establish TRIPP, which will operate on Armenian sovereign territory and be implemented under our national legislation and jurisdiction," Mirzoyan said, adding that TRIPP will become a factor for peace and cooperation.

"There are different components to peace, including the initialed agreement, which we hope will be signed and ratified in the coming months. Another component is the unblocking of communication and transport routes. Indeed, we are moving forward with appropriate actions, making every possible effort to ensure this leads us toward a brighter future," Mirzoyan said.