Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the discussion titled “Leadership at the Crossroads” within the framework of the 8th Paris Peace Forum.
During the discussion, held in a question-and-answer format, the Prime Minister touched upon the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the situation in the region, and the steps being taken to unblock communication routes.
The Prime Minister noted that peace has already been established between Armenia and Azerbaijan; it is a reality. In this regard, Nikol Pashinyan highly appreciated the personal efforts and contributions of US President Donald Trump. “We have peace, and it is a reality. This is a historic change not only in our bilateral relations with Azerbaijan, but also for our region as a whole. Because I think this is the first time we have a real opportunity to enter the stage of economic cooperation in the South Caucasus and to create not only a peaceful but also a prosperous region. In particular, taking into account that, in the declaration adopted in Washington, we agreed to open regional ties based on the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and bilateralism. There is also another principle – the inviolability of internationally recognized borders,” the head of state emphasized.
Next, the Prime Minister touched on the TRIPP project and emphasized its importance for both Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Regional connectivity means that we will have the opportunity, I mean both Armenia and Azerbaijan, to use each other’s territory for internal, bilateral, and international communication, and this means that a new route for international transit will open through our territory. “Given that the world is currently experiencing a supply chain crisis, this could truly be a game-changer for international trade, but also for our region,” Prime Minister Pashinyan stressed, adding that there will be open communication routes from the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman to the Black Sea, there will be a new connection between the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and new opportunities will be created for Armenia.
Speaking about the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan noted that they are a political event of great importance for the peace process and for future prosperity and stability. “And I am confident that the people of the Republic of Armenia will support what we have achieved so far. I do not doubt that the citizens of Armenia will support the peace agenda and the peace process,” the Prime Minister noted.
Then, the Prime Minister touched on the process of normalizing relations with Turkey, expressing hope that positive developments in that direction will occur in the near future. Nikol Pashinyan also spoke about the prospects for the development of Armenia-European Union cooperation.
