The launch of Azerbaijani petroleum imports into Armenia has saved citizens and residents tens of billions, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.
Speaking in parliament, he added that the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz would have had a stronger impact on Armenian citizens and the economy if not for the opening of the Azerbaijani railway route to Armenia, which currently runs via Georgia.
“The import of Azerbaijani petroleum products was the final factor that allowed us to complete the operation to dismantle the monopoly in the fuel market, which had been ongoing for eight years. Why eight years? Because we are fighting the mafia,” Pashinyan told lawmakers in his 2025 report, stressing that the mafia is not only domestic but, in some cases, has branches elsewhere.
“We should note with satisfaction that, despite the complex international situation, the governments of the United States, the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan all consider the reopening of regional communications and the implementation of the TRIPP project a priority,” the Prime Minister told lawmakers in parliament.
Pashinyan emphasized that this stems from the understanding that the implementation of the project will become an important pillar of long-term, stable, and reliable peace in the region.
The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia, envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. An Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.
