Armenian FM says TRIPP railway must pass through Gyumri to be meaningful

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said that the proposed TRIPP railway project would lose its significance if its route does not pass through the city of Gyumri.

Speaking during a parliamentary session, Mirzoyan explained that the railway must connect southern Armenia, pass through the country, enter Nakhchivan, and continue through Ijevan and Yerevan before returning to Armenia in order to be meaningful. He emphasised that the project should ensure mutual benefit for all parties involved, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media. 

Commenting on  the concerns that Azerbaijan could use parts of the railway while limiting access to other routes, Mirzoyan said that such fears are likely influenced by the bitter history between the countries, but noted that these fears also stem from perceptions shaped by that history.

He also described as premature any discussion of transferring the so-called “Trump route” section of the railway to the South Caucasus Railway (SCR) company.

While Armenia’s existing railway infrastructure has been placed under the company’s concession management, Mirzoyan stressed that the new section has not yet been built, making any transfer discussion speculative.

Mirzoyan added that Armenia has communicated its position to its Russian partners and is ready to consider different models of cooperation regarding the project.

By Sabina Mammadli