Business project under Armenia's full jurisdiction is the "Trump Route," not the "Zangezur Corridor," says Rubinyan
YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. The business initiative to be implemented under Armenia's complete jurisdiction is referred to as "Trump Route" (TRIPP), not "Zangezur Corridor," according to Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Rubinyan addressed comments made by Ali Akbar Velayati, Senior Advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, who claimed that the "Trump Route" (TRIPP) for the Caucasus is fundamentally the same as the so-called "Zangezur Corridor" (advocated by Turkey and Azerbaijan - ed.) and that "Tehran is firmly against it."
"To begin with, it is important to note that alongside the aforementioned statement, our Ambassador to Iran reiterated to the Iranian side that TRIPP is a business initiative that will function under Armenia's full sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction, grounded in the principles of equality and reciprocity. Furthermore, TRIPP is not equivalent to the 'Zangezur Corridor,'" Rubinyan remarked.
The Deputy Speaker highlighted that Armenian officials maintain ongoing communication with their Iranian counterparts, "keeping them updated on current developments and considering sensitive matters.
"Their (Iran's) interests are taken into account, and in this regard, it is crucial to emphasize that the Iranian Foreign Ministry, including the Minister himself, has consistently asserted that this project respects their 'red lines' and provides them with opportunities," Rubinyan stated.
The agreement on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project established between the leaders of Armenia, the United States, and Azerbaijan, was formalized by a trilateral declaration signed in Washington on August 8.
Recently, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared that the Armenian-American joint venture TRIPP Company will carry out the Trump Route project. The joint venture will be registered in Armenia and will be empowered to develop the necessary infrastructure of railways and roads, oil and gas pipelines, and fiber-optic cables.
According to Pashinyan, the implementation and construction phase will begin as early as 2026.-0-
