The possibility of unimpeded passage under TRIPP does not mean that any cargo can transit through Armenia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

Armenia retains the right to prohibit the transportation of certain goods, he explained to lawmakers.

Mirzoyan addressed an MP’s question during a discussion in the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations on the ratification of the agreement signed between Armenia and the United States concerning the TRIPP project.

The lawmaker asked whether there could be cargo that the Armenian side would not allow to enter Armenia.

“Of course, there can be. There is also an understanding between Azerbaijan and us on this, that prohibited cargo, such as weapons and ammunition, cannot transit,” the minister said, emphasizing that lists of prohibited goods are known to many countries.

Mirzoyan explained that unimpeded connectivity refers to the elimination of artificial obstacles, usually created for political reasons.

“All those reasonable actions carried out within the framework of customs and border authorities and legislation do not constitute obstacles,” Mirzoyan stressed.

The Foreign Relations Committee debated and approved the bill on ratifying the Framework Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America on Strategic Cooperation Concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).

The bill will be discussed during the parliament’s upcoming plenary session.

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.