Armenia opposition faction to vote against TRIPP ratification

The opposition Armenia (Hayastan) faction in the Armenian parliament said it would vote against the bill to ratify the Framework Agreement between Armenia and the United States on Strategic Cooperation concerning TRIPP.

Faction leader MP Anna Grigoryan announced the decision during parliamentary debates on TRIPP ratification.

Grigoryan presented the faction’s concerns regarding the agreement, addressing the expected economic benefits for Armenia, the opening of communications, and the application of the principle of reciprocity.

In her assessment, although the agreement is bilateral between Armenia and the United States, its content also reflects Azerbaijan’s interests.

“On paper, it is considered a bilateral agreement, meaning that the two parties to the agreement are the Republic of Armenia and the United States. But in its essence, in its content, there is a third party, namely Azerbaijan. Moreover, Azerbaijan’s interests are reflected more directly in this document than the interests of the Republic of Armenia could be,” Grigoryan stated.

The faction leader noted that through the project, the United States gains a presence in the region, on the border with Iran, while Azerbaijan gains a connection between its main territory and Nakhchivan. She questioned what equivalent opportunities Armenia would receive under these circumstances.

Grigoryan raised questions about the organization of border and customs procedures, particularly asking whether equivalent conditions would apply to people and cargo passing through the territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

She also noted that clear calculations are needed regarding the revenues Armenia expects to generate from the project.