Armenia's FM Mirzoyan: TRIPP project could start before peace deal is signed

Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan did not rule out that implementation of the TRIPP project could begin before a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is signed. Speaking in parliament, he answered a question on the matter positively, according to Modern.az. “I can answer this question easily: yes, it is possible,” he said.

Mirzoyan noted that the text of the peace agreement has already been initialed and that both countries officially state they do not question its content. According to him, Baku refuses to sign the document for another reason: it demands that Armenia amend its Constitution.

Although the agreement has not yet been signed, Mirzoyan said a real peace has in practice taken shape between the two countries. “So TRIPP's launch requires peace, and that peace already exists,” the minister stressed. He acknowledged that signing the peace agreement first and launching joint projects afterwards would seem logical, but said events do not always unfold in practice in that order. He also did not rule out that TRIPP and other joint initiatives could contribute to signing the peace deal.