Yerevan: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced at a Cabinet meeting that core issues concerning the reopening of regional transport routes have been resolved under the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) implementation framework agreement. This development is a significant part of the ongoing peace process.
According to Anadolu Agency, the framework, approved on Wednesday, marks the second major milestone following the TRIPP announcement, which was initially agreed upon during a summit at the White House on August 8, 2025, involving Armenia and the US. Pashinyan emphasized that this agreement is a critical step towards reopening transport routes and fostering peace in Armenia and the surrounding region through actionable measures.
Pashinyan highlighted Armenia's long-standing lack of peace, noting that the current process necessitates a new political culture and mindset to actualize peace. He underscored the importance of transforming understandings reached under TRIPP into binding legal agreements. 'We need to start working on draft agreements and legal decisions. In particular, a company called "TRIPP" should be established in the Republic of Armenia. We also need to define the routes, development rights, land use, and construction permits,' he stated.
The Prime Minister confirmed Armenia's readiness to ensure unimpeded transport links between Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, stressing the clear political will to advance. Pashinyan reiterated, 'In line with the principles we have repeatedly stated, including ensuring unimpeded communication between the main part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic within the agreed framework, we are ready, willing, and determined to move forward.'
He warned that progress would not be swift in either Armenia or Azerbaijan due to narratives shaped by years of conflict influencing public discourse in both nations. Addressing fuel imports from Azerbaijan to Armenia, Pashinyan mentioned that similar baseless accusations circulate on both sides, despite having no basis in current realities.
Pashinyan argued that the government must focus on delivering tangible peace benefits rather than engaging in speculative debates or suspicions. The TRIPP initiative, agreed upon at a summit involving Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and US President Donald Trump, seeks to reconnect regional transport links by connecting mainland Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan via Armenia.
Following discussions in Washington between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Armenia and the US released the implementation framework. Azerbaijan welcomed this move as an essential step toward initiating 'practical work' and emphasized that unimpeded connectivity to Nakhchivan is a top priority, considering TRIPP crucial for diversifying regional trade and transport links.