“What is happening between Armenia and Azerbaijan — the Crossroads of Peace project and the TRIPP project — places the Central Asian countries among the primary beneficiaries of these initiatives”, said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during the Orbeli Forum 2025, responding to a journalist’s question.
“Let me give you an example that, I think, will provide a more complete picture of our vision. Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan are all member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which is based on the free movement of goods, services, labor, and capital. However, when we look at our mutual trade turnover, it’s clear that it does not reflect the essence of the EAEU’s logic, since the volume of trade remains quite low. Why? Among other reasons — due to the absence of fast and affordable communication routes. It’s not that such routes don’t exist, but they are long and expensive.
In recent days, thanks to the new agreements, grain is being transported from Kazakhstan to Armenia by rail through Azerbaijan’s territory, following the recent statement by President Aliyev that Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on transit through its territory toward Armenia. I highly appreciate that statement, and I have expressed this on international platforms as well. The first beneficiaries of this step are the Central Asian countries — and, of course, Armenia itself”, the Prime Minister said.
He emphasized that some claim these processes contradict the interests of the EAEU. “But look — what was impossible between two EAEU member states before these agreements has become possible as a result of the Washington agreements. This is a clear example of the potential benefits”, Pashinyan stated.
He added that the same applies to Uzbekistan: “We have a strong desire to deepen both political and economic relations with Uzbekistan. That’s a great vision, but it faces logistical challenges in practice. The implementation of these projects will help overcome those challenges, creating new opportunities to expand economic relations between Armenia and the Central Asian countries — and this is something we can already substantiate”.
Pashinyan recalled that after President Aliyev’s statement about lifting transit restrictions, Armenia announced its readiness to facilitate freight transit from Turkey to Azerbaijan and in the opposite direction through Margara and Khndzoresk. “Why do we mention this now? Because at this moment, it is the only route that has fully ready roads and infrastructure”, he said.
“At the political level, we have no problem ensuring a connection between the main part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhijevan Autonomous Republic, including a railway connection. Physically, however, it is not yet possible because the railway must be constructed — and we are actively negotiating this issue with the United States, since, according to the Washington Declaration, it should be implemented within the framework of the TRIPP project. This is part of our bilateral agenda with the U.S., and naturally, other stakeholders include Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Iran, Russia, and the Central Asian countries”, the Prime Minister explained.
As for whether the agreements align with the interests of Iran, Georgia, and Russia, Pashinyan said: “I want to draw attention to the fact that as a result of the implementation of these agreements, the Islamic Republic of Iran will gain a transit route to the Black Sea — and vice versa.
There is much discussion about how this might affect Georgia’s interests. In fact, this project will significantly expand Georgia’s transit potential along the Black Sea–Persian Gulf axis.
Russia, too, will gain a potential railway connection, and it is already being discussed that Russia could carry out railway transport to Armenia through Azerbaijan’s territory.
What is happening now is clearly a factor for long-term peace and stability, as well as for economic cooperation and development — including for the countries of Central Asia”.
