Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, participated in the 13th meeting of the CIS Security Council Secretaries held in Moscow.
Secretary Grigoryan delivered a speech at the event.
Below is the transcript of his speech published by his office:
“First of all, allow me to thank the Russian side, and in particular Mr. Sergey Kuzhugetovich [Shoigu], for organizing this important meeting at a high level. Its purpose is to discuss fundamental issues related to the security, stability, and future development of our region and of the entire CIS area.
For more than three decades, the Commonwealth of Independent States has served as an important platform for dialogue, cooperation, and mutual assistance among our countries. Over these years, the CIS has played a significant role in strengthening mutual understanding, coordinating efforts in the field of security, and promoting economic and humanitarian cooperation.
In the context of contemporary challenges and a rapidly changing external environment, our regions are facing the need to ensure stability, build trust, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation. In this regard, meetings of the Secretaries of the Security Council of the CIS member states provide an opportunity to develop strategic approaches aimed at protecting the interests of our peoples and ensuring the development of our states.
For Armenia, the dialogue within the CIS framework has special significance as a platform for discussing issues of security, connectivity, and sustainable development. This platform enables us to develop joint mechanisms aimed at strengthening peace and trust, as well as addressing issues that require collective approaches and mutual understanding.
The South Caucasus region is undoubtedly going through a period of significant transformation — at political, infrastructural, and conceptual levels. I would like to particularly highlight the historic event that took place on August 8, 2025, at the White House, where a meeting was held between the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
As a result of the Washington Agreement, peace has been established in the South Caucasus, and we are now working toward the institutionalization of peace with Azerbaijan. One of the key components of this institutionalization is the signing and ratification of a Peace Treaty by the two countries. Another important component is the unblocking of communications, which will create economic interdependence in the region and, in turn, strengthen peace.
The signing of the joint declaration confirming Armenia and Azerbaijan’s commitment to peace and normalization of relations has become a crucial milestone on the path toward our long-awaited peace. We have once again reaffirmed our commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, which is the founding document of the CIS, has also played a pivotal role in shaping the foundations of the current process. On this basis, we continue to build our cooperation. It is important to emphasize that, even in the current context, we must rely on these fundamental principles — just as Armenia and Azerbaijan do today, respecting each other’s territorial integrity on the basis of the Alma-Ata Declaration.
Today, as the South Caucasus gradually frees itself from the heavy legacy of military conflicts and shifts from a logic of confrontation to one of cooperation, new horizons are opening for peaceful and sustainable development.
I would like to particularly highlight the agreement reached within the framework of the Washington Agreement regarding the opening of communications, as well as the TRIPP initiative — Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. Armenia is currently actively discussing the details of the TRIPP program with the United States, and in the near future, we will be able to move toward practical implementation.
This project is unique in its scale and significance, as it is aimed at creating conditions in which transport and communication routes will be used not as tools of competition but as spaces for cooperation and mutual prosperity. We view this initiative not only as a positive development in the field of infrastructure but also as an important contribution to the strengthening of humanitarian ties and mutual trust.
One of the most important components of this process is the unblocking of transport and communication routes — not merely an infrastructural task, but a strategic step toward ensuring long-term stability and security. This is particularly important since Armenia and the neighboring countries possess great development potential, and the unblocking of communication routes gives us the opportunity to achieve more than just improved connectivity.
In this new phase, inclusivity among all parties is becoming one of the key factors. Within the TRIPP program, we strive to create an environment of genuine cooperation and mutual benefit. The program aims to build connections not only between Armenia and Azerbaijan but also with other CIS countries, ensuring the integration of Armenia’s transport routes into wider networks, including across the Eurasian space. This opens new opportunities for trade, logistics, and the movement of people while strengthening interdependence — an essential factor for lasting security.
Following the signing of the August 8 Agreement, efforts have been made to enhance contacts between the civil societies of Armenia and Azerbaijan. For example, on October 21–22, a delegation representing Azerbaijan’s civil society visited Yerevan, aiming to deepen communication between the two societies. We are confident that such exchanges should continue and expand to include new sectors, thereby contributing to the preservation and strengthening of peace.
Thus, the unblocking of communications and initiatives such as TRIPP — alongside the development of people to people ties, the activation of dialogue, and the institutionalization of peace — are fundamental elements that make stability irreversible and lay the foundation for the prosperity of the entire region. We remain open to dialogue, ready to work in a spirit of mutual respect, and committed to ensuring that our cooperation not only delivers tangible results but also becomes an example for other regions that have yet to embark on this path.
I am confident that today’s meeting will become an important step toward building a more peaceful, interconnected, and secure region that serves the well-being of all the peoples and states within the Commonwealth of Independent States.”
