Category: News

Lawmakers in the Armenian parliament began debating a bill on October 27 to ratify 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 was presented by Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan, who reaffirmed that the project’s infrastructure will operate under Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction.

The minister recalled that the project is based on the agreements reached in the Washington Declaration of August 8, 2025. These were followed by the agreement on the TRIPP implementation framework and the signing of the interstate agreement now submitted for ratification.

He said that the project may include a railway, highways, power transmission lines and fiber-optic cables, as well as possible oil and gas pipelines. He emphasized that their construction and operation must be based on the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty and jurisdiction.

“All infrastructure that will operate on the territory of the Republic of Armenia will in no way undermine territorial integrity and will operate entirely under the sovereignty and within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Armenia. In other words, the jurisdiction of the Republic of Armenia will extend to everything,” Mirzoyan told lawmakers.

The implementation of the project, he said, will enable Armenia to connect with third countries through Azerbaijan’s territory and infrastructure, develop domestic railway connectivity and become a hub for East-West communications. Azerbaijan, in turn, will gain connectivity with Nakhchivan through Armenian territory.

Mirzoyan noted that the significance of the project is not limited to economic benefits. In his assessment, the development of economic ties between Armenia, Azerbaijan and third countries could also contribute to strengthening peace, stability and security.

The minister said that completing the documentation process still requires agreement on the shareholders’ agreement and the charter of the TRIPP Development Company. He expressed hope that this work would be completed in the near future.

Addressing the company’s structure, Mirzoyan noted that it would be established with the participation of the Government of Armenia and the TRIPP Development Company on the American side. The American company will remain under the ownership and management of the U.S. government.

Armenia will hold a 26% stake in the TRIPP Development Company, while the American side will hold 74%. This ownership ratio will apply during the initial 49-year period.

“The parties have the opportunity to extend the term of cooperation by another 50 years, in which case the Republic of Armenia’s stake will automatically increase to 49%, without any additional investment, while the U.S. side will hold a 51% stake in the TRIPP Development Company,” the minister explained.

Mirzoyan expressed hope that the project would also receive support from the opposition factions.

“This is one of those cases in which we can reasonably and justifiably expect the bill to receive not only the votes in favor of the ruling faction but also the positive positions and votes in favor of the opposition factions,” he said.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has said that people from Armenia could also accidentally cross into Azerbaijan after getting lost, stressing the need to improve border management.

During discussions on the bill to ratify the Framework Agreement between Armenia and the United States on TRIPP, the minister responded to a question from MP Taguhi Ghazaryan.

Referring to recent cases on the border, the lawmaker asked about Armenia’s border guard capabilities and the support expected from the United States to develop them.

Mirzoyan first emphasized that, under the agreement, responsibility for border management, border control, and customs control rests with Armenia.

Referring to the incident in Shaki, the minister described what happened as unfortunate and said that the circumstances surrounding the Azerbaijani serviceman’s actions must be clarified through an investigation. He stressed that the procedures established by Armenian law must be followed and that, if guilt is proven, the person must be held accountable.

Mirzoyan then addressed the case of the Azerbaijani shepherd who ended up in Armenia after getting lost.

“I assure you that there have been, and I can confidently say there will be in the future, cases when a shepherd or a soldier from our side gets lost. But this means that, as you say, there are gaps, and border management needs to be improved,” the minister said.

According to Mirzoyan, Armenia is making efforts in this direction, and cooperation with the United States within the framework of TRIPP can also help improve border management without undermining Armenia’s jurisdiction.

He also noted that most of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is monitored by the armed forces on both sides, rather than by border guard services. As an example of border guards’ service, the minister mentioned the delimited section in Kirants, describing it as a positive experience.

The National Security Service reported on October 26 that Azerbaijani citizen Yashar Ali Ogli Kasimov, who had been found in Tavush Province after getting lost, was returned to Azerbaijan on October 24.

The economic interests of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and other countries can become a real guarantee of consolidating peace between the two countries, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan said.

Mirzoyan made the remarks in parliament during the debate on the bill to ratify the Armenia–U.S. Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation concerning TRIPP.

Mirzoyan responded to criticism from opposition factions, emphasizing that the agreement has both economic and geopolitical significance.

He said the benefits for Armenia include a north–south railway connection, the possibility of trade with Azerbaijan, and access to the markets of third countries through Azerbaijan.

“With this, at least in terms of railways, Armenia connects its north to its south, is able to trade with Azerbaijan, and connects with third countries through Azerbaijan,” Mirzoyan said.

As an example, he cited the possibility of a more direct route for cargo transportation between Armenia and China. The minister also noted that the investment burden of TRIPP would be borne primarily by American partners.

Addressing questions about guarantees of peace, Mirzoyan stressed that signed documents alone have not always prevented wars. In his assessment, a situation must be created in which Armenia, Azerbaijan, and other countries all have an interest in the normal operation of communications.

“You want a guarantee; the real guarantee is interest—that we have an interest, that Azerbaijan has an interest,” he said, adding that this interest should also extend to other countries using the east–west communications route.

Mirzoyan dismissed concerns that TRIPP could operate in Azerbaijan’s interests without ensuring Armenia’s interests.

“How can a train travel from Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan and not continue for us along that same route? Either they will cut it off, or we will, right, if the interests of one of us are violated?” the minister said.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan presented the bill “On Ratifying the Charter of the Board of Peace” at a plenary session of parliament on Tuesday.

The Charter of the Board of Peace was signed by the Republic of Armenia on January 22, 2026.

“The purpose of the Board of Peace is to establish peace in different parts of the world. The Board currently has 28 members. Membership is for a three-year term. The Board of Peace provides for a mechanism for voluntary contributions. The Republic of Armenia has not made any contributions to the Board to date. For us, the Board of Peace is also a good platform for advancing political dialogue and cooperation with the United States and other member countries,” Mirzoyan said.

The Board of Peace was established in 2026 under the chairmanship of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has described Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev’s recent statement as not conducive to peace, while emphasizing that an exchange of sharp statements could negatively affect efforts to consolidate peace.

During a parliamentary debate, opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan, secretary of the Strong Armenia faction, referred to Hajiyev’s statement that “Armenia and Armenian society should apologize to Azerbaijan.” He asked FM Mirzoyan why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade had not responded to the statement and to what extent such rhetoric contributes to the peace process.

Mirzoyan responded that the government, led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, is building peace while being aware of the difficulties and obstacles along the way. According to him, the Armenian side is trying to consolidate peace and avoid returning to the logic of past confrontation.

“Mr. Abrahamyan, I assure you that I know so many bombastic and patriotic words, so many passionate words. The question is this: would doing that contribute? You have now brought up an example that does not contribute. Of course, it does not contribute,” Mirzoyan said.

The minister added that a sharper response could be followed by an even sharper reaction from the other side, leading the parties down a path of negative developments.

The lawmaker’s follow-up question concerned whether such a statement could later become another precondition for signing the initialed peace treaty.

In his response, FM Mirzoyan addressed the consequences of the conflict and the pain experienced by both societies, emphasizing the need to move into a phase of peace and cooperation.

“The wounds are very fresh, the conflict has only recently ended, there have been casualties and bloodshed on this side, and there have been casualties and bloodshed on that side. But this conflict must be brought to an end, and we must enter a phase of peace and cooperation. We will benefit from that, and they will benefit from that,” the minister noted.

Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Tom Berendsen in Yerevan on October 27.

According to the Office of the Security Council, the discussions focused on bilateral ties and Armenia–EU relations.

Regional developments and other issues of bilateral importance were also discussed.

The Armenian government proposes renaming the State Property Management Committee as the State Assets Management Committee and the Water Committee as the Land and Water Committee.

Both bodies would be transferred from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure to the direct subordination of the government.

Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Arnak Avetisyan presented the draft amendments to the Law on the Structure and Activities of the Government and related laws in parliament.

The changes aim to improve state asset management, bring unused property into economic circulation, attract investment and improve the management of state-owned companies.

The proposed Land and Water Committee would also take over agricultural land monitoring, efficient use, reclamation and protection functions from the Ministry of Economy, enabling more coordinated planning of land use and irrigation investments.

Narek Karapetyan, leader of the opposition Strong Armenia parliamentary faction, has called for consolidating the management of the agricultural sector under a single body and establishing a Ministry of Agriculture.

Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Arnak Avetisyan said the government had no such plans.

The issue was discussed during parliamentary deliberations on a legislative package proposing changes to the names and subordination of the State Property Management and Water committees.

Karapetyan noted that there are problems with irrigation systems serving agricultural land and asked whether broader consolidation of management functions in the sector was planned.

Avetisyan said the proposed changes would also contribute to agricultural land management, land consolidation and reforms in the sector. At the same time, he outlined the government’s approach of treating agriculture as an economic activity while taking into account its specific characteristics and needs.

“No changes are planned in this regard,” the deputy minister said.

In a follow-up comment, Karapetyan criticized this approach, arguing that a single coordinating body was needed to address the sector’s problems. He said that, amid declining farmers’ incomes, irrigation and agricultural procurement issues should be addressed together.

“Irrigation is one problem, procurement is a second problem, and there is no single body that can coordinate this,” the lawmaker said.

Responding, Avetisyan said procurement issues should be addressed within the framework of economic policy. He added that the proposed changes to bring land and water resources under joint management would, in turn, contribute to implementing agricultural policy.

The deputy minister emphasized that developing intensive and high-value agriculture is among the government’s priorities and that unified land and water management would make it possible to advance in that direction.

The opposition Armenia (Hayastan) faction in the Armenian parliament said it would vote against the bill to ratify the Framework Agreement between Armenia and the United States on Strategic Cooperation concerning TRIPP.

Faction leader MP Anna Grigoryan announced the decision during parliamentary debates on TRIPP ratification.

Grigoryan presented the faction’s concerns regarding the agreement, addressing the expected economic benefits for Armenia, the opening of communications, and the application of the principle of reciprocity.

In her assessment, although the agreement is bilateral between Armenia and the United States, its content also reflects Azerbaijan’s interests.

“On paper, it is considered a bilateral agreement, meaning that the two parties to the agreement are the Republic of Armenia and the United States. But in its essence, in its content, there is a third party, namely Azerbaijan. Moreover, Azerbaijan’s interests are reflected more directly in this document than the interests of the Republic of Armenia could be,” Grigoryan stated.

The faction leader noted that through the project, the United States gains a presence in the region, on the border with Iran, while Azerbaijan gains a connection between its main territory and Nakhchivan. She questioned what equivalent opportunities Armenia would receive under these circumstances.

Grigoryan raised questions about the organization of border and customs procedures, particularly asking whether equivalent conditions would apply to people and cargo passing through the territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

She also noted that clear calculations are needed regarding the revenues Armenia expects to generate from the project.

Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia Artur Poghosyan attended the 2026 conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in Orlando, Florida, United States.

The visit was organized with the support of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Office of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

According to the Investigative Committee, Poghosyan held bilateral meetings and productive discussions with law enforcement partners from several countries during the conference. The meetings focused on expanding legal cooperation, exchanging information, and modern approaches to combating crime.

On the sidelines of the conference, Poghosyan met with Lesley Ziman, a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and Nicholas Collura, Director of the Diplomatic Security Service.

The parties discussed issues of mutual interest, as well as reforms in the law enforcement system and the progress of joint programs.

As part of the international conference, the chairman of the Investigative Committee also visited a specialized exhibition, where he familiarized himself with the latest technological equipment for law enforcement. During the exhibition, he discussed technical assistance to develop the Investigative Committee’s capabilities with partners.