Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Plan Stalls One Year After Washington Breakthrough
Iran Says Hormuz Will Stay Closed Until U.S.
Meets Its Conditions Uzbekistan is pursuing alternative trade… Eurasianet is an independent news organization that covers news from and about the South Caucasus and Central Asia, providing on-the-ground reporting and critical perspectives on… One year after the signing of a provisional peace deal in Washington, DC, American, Armenian, and Azerbaijani officials continue to exude optimism about the potential for stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus.
But movement toward implementing the joint declaration has been halting.
On August 8, the one-year anniversary of the declaration’s signing by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued astatementreaffirming Washington’s commitment to realizing the deal’s potential.
“This declaration ended decades of conflict in the South Caucasus and launched the trailblazing Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity –TRIPP,” Rubio stated.
“Over the past twelve months, the United States has worked side-by-side with Armenia and Azerbaijan to turn that promise into progress.” Rubio touted severalTRIPP-related accomplishments, including the start of surveying work for a railway that would traverse Armenian territory to facilitate freight traffic from Azerbaijan to Turkey and beyond, as well as the establishment of a Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund with initial capitalization of $201 million.
“This progress reflects a simple truth: peace and prosperity reinforce one another,” Rubio stated.
“TRIPP is more than an infrastructure project – it is a vital link in the Trans-Caspian Trade Route, a driver of commercial opportunities for the United States and others, and a model for how economic cooperation can cement peace following the resolution of long-standing disputes.” Aliyev, in an August 8letteraddressed to Trump, lauded TRIPP’s “tremendous potential,” while noting that bilateral US-Azerbaijani relations “have now reached their highest point in the 34-year history of our diplomatic relations.” Trump held upbeat phone conversations with bothPashinyanandAliyev, reiterating a desire for TRIPP’s construction to start in the “near future.” Pashinyan, in astatement,said TRIPP has the potential to “help Armenia and Azerbaijan begin to perceive each other not as an obstacle, but … as neighbors.” There is no disputing that enthusiasm for the deal remains strong.
Even so, many key operational details concerning TRIPPremain to be worked out, including the US role in ensuring the route’s security, as well as potential customs procedures for Azerbaijani individuals and goods using the planned road and railway.
And despite the Enterprise Fund’s existence, questions linger about TRIPP’s price tag and financing for construction.
Armenian officials this year have sought to attract additional investors in the project, but have yet to receive any firm commitments.
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