Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed hope for progress in the normalization of relations with Turkey following the release of the TRIPP Implementation Framework by Armenia and the U.S.
Pashinyan said it would be logical for developments to occur next in the Armenia-Turkey dimension.
“The logical next step is for us to see progress in the Armenia-Turkey dimension, and we hope that the processes that have been resolved at the level of political dialogue will also be reflected on the ground. This is truly an incredible and almost unimaginable positive environment in which we find ourselves, which, of course, does not mean that all issues are resolved, but essentially, all the solutions to these issues have already been determined,” Pashinyan said at the AIISA Security Forum titled Armenia and Peace: At the Intersection of Risks and Opportunities.
The joint statement by Armenia and the U.S. on the publication of the TRIPP Implementation Framework is of cornerstone significance on the path to institutionalizing the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Pashinyan added.
According to the Prime Minister, Yerevan and Baku are moving forward with much larger steps than initially expected. In this regard, Pashinyan cited the trade relations already taking place between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“Today, manifestations of Armenia-Azerbaijan bilateral trade have occurred much earlier than Armenia and the international community expected—perhaps even earlier than Azerbaijan,” Pashinyan said.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said it is clear that bridges will need to be built along the Armenia–Turkey border in the future, at least at the Akhurik and Margara crossings.
“On the Armenia–Turkey border, it is clear that bridges need to be built. At the very least, a bridge must be built in Margara, and a bridge must be built in Akhurik. It is also clear that customs and border terminals must be constructed in Akhurik, and customs and border terminals must be built in Yeraskh as well. I also foresee—and the likelihood is high—that we may see certain developments in the Ijevan–Gazakh section, and we are also seeing some developments in the southern section,” the Prime Minister said at the AIISA Security Forum titled Armenia and Peace: At the Intersection of Risks and Opportunities.
Pashinyan also noted that there is a high likelihood that power transmission lines along the Armenia–Turkey border will be modernized, as some infrastructure dating back to the Soviet era still remains.
“In this regard, we are already receiving signals from the private sector. The private sector is asking whether we can consider electricity projects, and we say yes, you can consider them. Why do we say yes? Because in the negotiation room where I speak with President Erdoğan, at that level, the issues and visions are resolved for the foreseeable future,” the Prime Minister of Armenia said.
