During a panel titled “At the Crossroads of Leadership” at the 8th Paris Peace Forum, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, regional developments, and efforts to reopen communication routes.
He declared that peace is now established between Armenia and Azerbaijan, describing it as a historic transformation not only in bilateral relations but for the entire region.
“We now have peace, and it is a reality. This is a historic shift not only in our bilateral relations with Azerbaijan but also for our region as a whole. For the first time, we have a real opportunity to enter a phase of economic cooperation in the South Caucasus and build not just a peaceful but also a prosperous region. Notably, under the Washington Declaration, we agreed to open regional connections based on principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity. There is also the principle of the inviolability of internationally recognized borders,” Pashinyan said.
He then dwelled on the TRIPP initiative (Trump Route to International Peace and Prosperity), emphasizing its significance for both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“Regional connectivity means that both Armenia and Azerbaijan will be able to use each other’s territory for internal, bilateral, and international transit. This would open a new route for international transit through our region. Given the ongoing global supply chain crisis, this could be a game-changing factor for international trade and for our region. We are talking about open routes from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the Black Sea, and a new link between the Caspian and Mediterranean Seas. This would open up new opportunities for Armenia,” the Prime Minister noted.
Speaking about Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, Pashinyan described them as a crucial political event for the peace process, and for continued prosperity and stability.
“I am confident that the people of Armenia will support what we have achieved so far. I have no doubt they will support the peace agenda and the peace process,” he said.
The Prime Minister also commented on normalization efforts with Turkey, expressing hope for positive developments in the near future.
He concluded with remarks on the future of Armenia-EU cooperation.
On August 8, a trilateral meeting took place at the White House between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. A joint declaration was signed. During the same event, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, in the presence of the three leaders, preliminarily signed an agreement titled “On the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
