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JAMnews
a day ago
- Politics
- JAMnews
‘No third-party control' – Armenian foreign minister on the 'Trump Route' programme
Armenian foreign minister on the Washington declaration 'The operation of infrastructure – including that to be built in Armenia under the US partnership – will take place within the territorial integrity, sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries involved, and will ensure mutual benefit. Whatever the technical solutions, still to be discussed, they cannot go beyond these principles,' Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan said, speaking about the 'Trump Route' programme. The Trump Route (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity – TRIPP) is a planned road linking mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan. Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to reopen it with the participation of an Armenian–US consortium. Mirzoyan stressed that the Washington declaration does not envisage any third-party control over the road. He was responding to the Armenian parliamentary opposition and some experts who use the term 'corridor', amid claims that Armenia had supposedly agreed to grant Azerbaijan an extraterritorial road. 'With the persistence of a mule, some 'independent experts' or 'dependent party figures' keep spreading terms that have always been unacceptable to Yerevan and are absent from the Washington declaration,' he said. In an interview with Armenpress, Mirzoyan said such interpretations were 'either a product of their imagination or an attempt to mislead people'. Details – what the declaration says, and Mirzoyan's comments. The provisions of the declaration on the 'reciprocity' of benefits in reopening transport links The Washington declaration, signed on 8 August following the Trump–Pashinyan–Aliyev meeting, contains seven points. It covers: the initialling of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan the affirmation of the inviolability of international borders the inadmissibility of using force to seize territory the rejection of any acts of retaliation now or in the future the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group and related structures On the 'Trump Route' programme, the declaration states: 'Armenia will work with the United States and mutually agreed third parties to define the framework for implementing the programme on Armenian territory.' After the signing, Armenia's prime minister told reporters that the US intends to be the main investor in the Trump Route, but that Armenia is also ready to work with third parties, including other investors. Pashinyan thanked the US president for showing flexibility on the issue. 'Our goal is for this project to bring involvement, and to attract other partners wherever possible, rather than creating tension or confrontation. No one should think that the Trump Route project is aimed against them, because it truly is not,' he said. The declaration says the sides confirmed the importance of reopening transport links between the two countries for domestic, bilateral and international traffic, while stressing respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and jurisdiction of states: 'These efforts will include unimpeded communications between the main part of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of the Republic of Armenia, with mutual benefits for Armenia from international and domestic communications.' At the press conference following the Washington meeting, journalists asked the prime minister whether this reference to mutual benefits also meant unimpeded communications for Armenia. '[The document] sets out one benefit, and says that Armenia should have the same benefit. Reciprocity means that if roads are opened for Azerbaijan, they are opened for Armenia too. If they are not opened for Azerbaijan, they are not opened for Armenia either. Although that option is no longer on the table now,' he replied. Armenia gains access to Azerbaijan's railway infrastructure Armenia's foreign minister said that with the agreement on reopening transport links, a 'very important and decisive' stage had been completed – talks on the general principles for operating the infrastructure. 'But this is only one stage. Now we face huge work to clarify and agree on more specific conditions and technical solutions,' he said. Ararat Mirzoyan stressed that, under the Washington declaration, a major development was taking place – Armenia's transport links are being reopened. 'This is what Armenia has been striving for over the past 35 years. From now on, Armenia gains access to, and can use, Azerbaijan's railway infrastructure for international trade. […] The agreements in the Washington declaration clearly carry even more weight thanks to the participation of the US side and the US president's signature as a witness.' Yerevan to begin talks on Trump Route details Foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan said the US president had signed an order to set up a working group to implement the 'Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity' programme. 'In the near future, we expect high-level discussions in Yerevan on this issue. We should use this important moment to leave future generations a more connected South Caucasus,' he said. He described his visit to Washington as important also for advancing the Armenia–US strategic partnership agenda. Following bilateral talks, the two sides signed three memorandums: Memorandum on Armenia's 'Crossroads of Peace' regional reopening project: The US expressed support for the 'Crossroads of Peace' project, emphasising Armenia's role as a regional transport hub. It highlighted the need to ensure Armenia's infrastructure and border security, including with the participation of private investors. Memorandum on artificial intelligence and semiconductor innovation: Aimed at deepening cooperation in high-tech, with a focus on developing a semiconductor ecosystem and applying artificial intelligence. Memorandum on energy security: Intended to support Armenia's energy resilience and modernisation of its energy system, encourage private investment, and develop civilian nuclear power. According to Mirzoyan, there is an agreement with US secretary of state Marco Rubio to step up joint work on implementing the components of the strategic partnership. Initialling of peace treaty a 'historic event' The Armenian foreign minister called the initialling of the peace agreement at the White House a 'historic event.' 'It has become a major milestone in the process of resolving Armenian–Azerbaijani relations. The initialling and the subsequent public statements showed that peace – in the sense of no escalation on the border – has already been established. In essence, a stage of institutionalising peace is now beginning,' he said. Mirzoyan also addressed the text of the peace treaty itself, saying he was convinced that once it is published, 'with a rational approach, all speculation will stop from that moment.' Armenian foreign minister on the Washington declaration
OC Media
2 days ago
- Politics
- OC Media
‘A blow to Armenia's sovereignty': reactions to the signed declaration in Washington
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article The Caucasus is changing — so are we. The future of journalism in the region is grim. Independent voices are under threat — and we're responding by building a newsroom powered by our readers. Join our community and help push back against the hardliners. Become a member Armenia's opposition has criticised the announcement made in Washington on 8 August, which included a plan to create a route connecting Azerbaijan and its exclave Nakhchivan through Armenian territory, with concerns over Armenia's sovereignty. The unprecedented meeting in Washington, which brought together Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and US President Donald Trump, resulted in a joint seven-point declaration between the three leaders outlining what had been agreed upon. It also disclosed the US involvement in the unblocking of the route through Armenia, named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). While in Washington, the sides also initialed the peace treaty they agreed on in March. The document was published on Monday. The outcomes of the Washington meeting received a frosty reception from the Armenian opposition, which urged that the groups work together to prevent Pashinyan from holding on to his position of prime minister. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) called the outcome of the Washington meeting a 'blow to Armenia's sovereignty'. 'By its very nature, the anti-state statement has one objective — the reproduction of Armenia's ruling administration, which serves foreign interests at the expense of Armenia's rights, thereby turning Armenia into a stage for geopolitical power struggles', read the statement. Advertisement Ishkhan Saghatelyan, an ARF member and an MP from the opposition Armenia Alliance faction, noted that the documents signed in the US 'do not have final legal force'. 'By preventing Pashinyan's reproduction and not allowing the amendment of the constitution of the Republic of Armenia, we can avoid the impending disaster. Therefore, this must become the main agenda of the national forces in the near future', Saghatelyan wrote. Azerbaijan has demanded that Armenia change its constitution as part of the peace process between them, claiming that it contains territorial claims against it. In turn, another opposition MP, Tigran Abrahamyan from the I Have Honour faction, wrote on Facebook that 'geopolitical centres are solving their own issues, a new redistribution of roles is taking place in the region, while the Armenian authorities are merely waiting to understand what will be done with them'. The outcome was also criticised by Ara Abrahamyan, President of the Union of Armenians of Russia, who recently expressed his readiness to help unite Armenian opposition forces ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections. In an interview with Russian state-run media TASS, Abrahamyan called the meeting a 'summit of two winners and one loser'. On Monday, the Pan-Armenian Diplomatic Council, which consists of Armenian former diplomats, criticised the TRIPP initiative, saying that it 'contains provisions that seriously endanger Armenia's strategic autonomy by placing vital infrastructure and transit routes under the influence of foreign actors'. Aside from the criticism, the deal was praised by the ruling party and its allies, as well as some other political forces in Armenia. Pashinyan's ally and head of pro-western Hanrapetutyun party, Aram Sargsyan, celebrated the US involvement in the deal, noting that 'no one will try to open the Syunik corridor by force anymore'. The statement is an apparent reference to the threat of Aliyev back in 2021 to establish a route by force. 'Therefore, there will be no more Armenian–Azerbaijani war, which I have always insisted on, and thank God', Sargsyan concluded. The deterrence of war was also highlighted by another opposition force. Yerevan's former mayor and a former ally of Pashinyan, Hayk Marutyan's New Force political party, insisted that 'at this moment it would be difficult to imagine a more favourable solution for us than what was achieved thanks to the participation of Western partners'. The party also highlighted that it prevented the possibility of another war 'at least in the medium term', and gave the opportunity to 'achieve economic development'.
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Historic Joint Declaration Signals a New Era for Azerbaijan-Armenia Relations
On Friday, President Trump facilitated at the White House a historic meeting that concluded with the signing of the Joint Declaration, a historic agreement that is set to bring peace, stability, and prosperity to the region after more than three decades. The landmark document signaled that the Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Agreement is near completion, and announced the creation of a new regional corridor – the 'Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).' The parties initialed the text of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, confirming that they had agreed upon it. Although initialing is not the same as signing, it is nonetheless a significant step toward peace. It means that Azerbaijan and Armenia are now very close to achieving a final, sustainable peace. This Trump-brokered agreement holds significant potential to move beyond symbolism and become a genuine foundation for sustainable peace. Its strength lies in its ability to address the underlying political, economic, and connectivity issues that have fueled tensions for decades. Why this time is different Past efforts often focused narrowly on halting hostilities without addressing underlying political issues. This time, there is a stronger support by President Donald Trump on integrating peace with development and regional infrastructure, which makes it more comprehensive. The Joint Declaration signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia confirms that the two countries will jointly appeal to the OSCE Secretary General for the dissolution of the Minsk Group which was established in 90s to solve the conflict but played no role in both ending occupation and getting peace. At the same time, it recognizes the necessity of 'taking further steps to achieve the signing and ratification of the agreement' once the remaining term is done. In other words, Friday's meeting confirmed one of the main prerequisites for signing the final peace agreement – the necessity of amending the Armenian constitution. Azerbaijan–U.S. relations have generally developed in a positive and constructive manner, grounded in mutual respect and trust. Officially established on February 28, 1992, these ties – especially through the invaluable efforts of National Leader Heydar Aliyev – were built on shared interests, with energy cooperation serving as a cornerstone. More than 80 state-level agreements have been signed over the years, clearly reflecting the current high level of partnership between the two countries. The re-election of Donald Trump as U.S. President in 2024 gave a fresh impetus to bilateral relations. The two leaders exchanged phone calls and letters, with President Ilham Aliyev speaking favorably of Donald Trump in several speeches – particularly noting that no new wars began under his presidency and commending his commitment to family and traditional values. President Aliyev's significant diplomatic success Against this backdrop, President Ilham Aliyev's working visit to Washington, at President Trump's invitation, marked a turning point. The trip signaled not only a new phase in bilateral relations but also progress toward lasting peace in the South Caucasus and the creation of new investment opportunities for multiple countries. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to establish a Strategic Working Group for further development of the 'Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States of America.' This agreement is pivotal for advancing cooperation in regional connectivity (energy, trade, transit), economic investment (including artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure), defense, arms sales, and counterterrorism. It also paves the way for increased U.S. technological and financial involvement in Azerbaijan. Additionally, the Trump administration signed a document suspending the application of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act – a congressional amendment from 1992 that unjustly restricted direct U.S. aid to Azerbaijan until it was repealed during Trump's presidency. And so, President Ilham Aliyev's Washington visit has been a significant diplomatic success. It has elevated Azerbaijan–U.S. relations to a strategic partnership while advancing the cause of peace, security, and stability in the region. Under President Aliyev's leadership, Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its international standing while ensuring sustainable national development. Tags: ArmeniaazerbaijanUnited States president Donald Trump
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Donald Trump brokers a peace plan in the Caucasus
THE SOUTH CAUCASUS is a mosaic of warring rivals and closed borders. Lookout posts and bunkers dot its frontiers. On August 8th Donald Trump met Armenia's prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, and Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, in an effort to end the conflict between their two countries. At the White House the trio signed a peace declaration and agreements on trade and security. Crucially, Armenia agreed to open an American-operated transport route across its territory, linking Azerbaijan to its exclave, Nakhchivan (see map). The corridor will be called the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). 'A great honour for me,' said America's president. Mr Aliyev and Mr Pashinyan vowed to nominate him for a Nobel peace prize. The deal will diminish Russia, which has long meddled in the conflict, as well as Iran. It is not a formal peace treaty. But it paves the way to a bigger prize: an end to one of the world's most intractable conflicts and a regional detente, including the normalisation of Armenia's relations with Turkey, Azerbaijan's ally. Whether that happens will be a test of American diplomacy and of Armenia and Azerbaijan themselves. Russia could still sow trouble. Map Armenia and Azerbaijan have been fighting for more than 35 years. In the late 1980s, as the Soviet Union disintegrated, Armenian-backed separatists seized Nagorno-Karabakh, a region within Azerbaijan, and later built a buffer zone. For years the conflict was frozen. Azerbaijan, whose oil-and-gas industry boomed, built a formidable army equipped with Turkish and Israeli drones and missiles. In 2020 it recaptured the area around Nagorno-Karabakh. In 2023 it took back the territory itself; some 100,000 Armenians fled. Russia, which had supported Armenia during the 1990s, stood back. It did so partly to punish Mr Pashinyan, a democrat, who rose to power in 2018 in a peaceful revolution that swept Armenia's Kremlin-backed rulers from office. Since early 2024 the two sides have been inching towards a peace treaty. In previous negotiations they have relied on intermediaries such as Russia, Turkey or the Minsk Group, a multilateral forum set up in the 1990s to deal with the conflict. But recently they have been speaking directly. In March they agreed on a draft treaty. Two obstacles remained. The first was Azerbaijan's insistence that Armenia remove references to Nagorno-Karabakh from its constitution, which will require a referendum. The second was Azerbaijan's demand for a transport corridor to Nakhchivan. In 2020, as part of a ceasefire deal, Mr Aliyev and Mr Pashinyan agreed to open a route supervised by Russian officials. Both men later resiled from the idea that Russia should be involved, but could not agree on an alternative. Mr Trump provided a partial solution. For months, American negotiators have been shuttling back and forth to the region to thrash it out. Armenia will lease the land for 99 years to America, which will hire contractors to run the route. The TRIPP gives America a long-term stake in the region's security. Russia is furious. America has offered Armenia and Azerbaijan sweeteners, too. The boss of SOCAR, Azerbaijan's state energy firm, visited Washington with Mr Aliyev to sign a deal with ExxonMobil, an American oil giant. Armenia, which lacks Azerbaijan's natural resources, has less to offer America's mercantile president, but will get some support on artificial intelligence and semiconductors. Mr Trump also waived sanctions, introduced in 1992, that have prohibited military co-operation with Azerbaijan. He announced a 'strategic partnership' with Azerbaijan, which is a staunch ally of Israel. The peace deal could also pave the way for Turkey and Armenia to bury the hatchet. The standoff with Armenia has been 'Turkey's Achilles heel, in terms of its regional influence', says Nigar Goksel of the International Crisis Group, a global think-tank. Rapprochement between the two began in 2008, but stalled. To accommodate Mr Aliyev, Turkey had made normalisation with Armenia conditional on a peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia. That obstacle now appears to be gone. Turkey may decide to open its border with Armenia, which it shut in solidarity with Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 1993. 'Things will start moving fast,' Ms Goksel predicts. Yet amid the Trumpian pomp, the deal leaves much to be done. In Washington Messrs Aliyev and Pashinyan put their initials on a formal peace treaty, but did not sign it. Azerbaijan's demand for Armenia to change its constitution is unmet. The TRIPP's benefits will be concentrated in Nakhchivan and Syunik, the sparsely populated Armenian region it will cross. But the hope is that it could unlock more dealmaking. Azerbaijan and Armenia could start talking about opening other parts of their fortified border. There are reasons to be cautious. Mr Pashinyan is unpopular: just 13% of Armenians say they trust him. Nationalist hardliners, including Robert Kocharyan, a former president, accuse him of compromising Armenian sovereignty. (Mr Kocharyan, for his part, sold Armenian assets to Russia in exchange for debt relief during the 2000s.) Holding the referendum that Azerbaijan demands will be divisive, and an election next year will give Russia a chance to interfere. In June Armenia's government said it had foiled a coup planned for September. Azerbaijan could also disrupt the peace process. Mr Aliyev, an autocrat who succeeded his father in 2003, had previously threatened to seize a transport corridor by force. He has indulged in irredentist fantasies such as calling Armenia 'West Azerbaijan'. Laurence Broers of Chatham House, a British think-tank, says such talk will be 'kryptonite' for peace if it continues. Azerbaijan's military dominance only makes it harder for Armenia to trust it. Another risk is that America loses interest. Historically, peace in the south Caucasus has often been brought by outside powers. 'It was Russia and Turkey in 2020, it was the Minsk Group in the 1990s, it was the Bolsheviks in the 1920s,' says Mr Broers. Mr Trump has positioned America as the latest peace broker in a tough neighbourhood. Whether it lasts will not be in his control.
India.com
2 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
‘Graveyard For Trump's Mercenaries': Iran Reacts Angrily To Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal, Know India's Response
Baku: A historic peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan has raised hopes of ending decades of conflict. The agreement, signed in Washington on Friday, aims to bring lasting peace to the troubled region. However, reactions from regional powers have created uncertainty about the deal's future. Russia responded cautiously, while Iran rejected the U.S.-proposed transit corridor. India also shared its views on the agreement. The accord focuses on resolving the long-standing conflict and includes a transit corridor connecting Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory. Baku has long sought this corridor. The route has been named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). Under the deal, the United States gains rights to develop this strategic and resource-rich corridor, signalling a decline in Russia's traditional influence in the region. Iran strongly opposed the corridor. According to Tasnim news agency, Akbar Velayati, advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called the plan a conspiracy that threatens security in the South Caucasus. He described it as an 'impossible idea' and warned it would become a 'graveyard for Trump's mercenaries'. Russia expressed concerns as well. Moscow stated it would analyse the corridor's provisions carefully. The Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, reminded that Moscow still guards Armenia's borders with Iran. Russia's long-standing trilateral agreements with Armenia and Azerbaijan remain in place, with no party withdrawing so far. Moscow was once Armenia's supporter and still maintains a military base there. But its focus on the Ukraine conflict since 2022 limited its involvement in the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes. This has caused tensions in Russia-Armenia relations and pushed Yerevan closer to the West. India welcomed the peace agreement and called it a significant achievement in dialogue and diplomacy. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and congratulated him on the Washington peace summit outcome. He posted on X, 'Good to speak with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. Congratulated him on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement in Washington DC. This is an important step for dialogue and diplomacy, which India supports.'
