Official: Armenia sees zero probability of another conflict with Azerbaijan

Armenia’s Minister of Economy, Gevorg Papoyan, stated at a press conference on February 6 that the probability of armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is currently zero, emphasising that the focus has shifted from security concerns to economic development.

Papoyan recalled that two years ago, discussions in Armenia centered on the potential for renewed hostilities. Today, he said, the conversation has turned to everyday economic issues, such as product sales and petrol prices, reflecting a significant shift in the country’s priorities, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He described the current peace as a major achievement and noted that it has already influenced legislative and policy decisions.

Highlighting recent progress in bilateral relations, Papoyan said that a year ago, few could have imagined that Armenia and Azerbaijan would engage in trade. He added that Yerevan is hoping to establish a direct railway connection with Baku via the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) within the next few years.

Currently, there is no active trade between the two countries, Papoyan explained, due in part to mutual unfamiliarity with each other’s markets. He emphasised that the private sector will play a central role in developing trade, while the government’s role is to create favourable conditions through political agreements, road openings, rail links, and other measures.

Work on a direct rail service and TRIPP is ongoing and expected to be completed in the coming years, he said, while noting that other tools can be used in the meantime to facilitate trade.

Papoyan also confirmed that Armenia and Azerbaijan have exchanged lists of goods and are awaiting feedback from businessmen as part of efforts to jumpstart economic cooperation.

On August 8, 2025, a Joint Declaration was signed in Washington during a summit hosted by US President Donald Trump, attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The leaders endorsed a joint declaration outlining a seven-point framework emphasising sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the renunciation of force.

Foreign ministers from both nations initialled a draft “Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations,” witnessed by Trump, Aliyev, and Pashinyan.

A key feature of the agreement is the creation of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP), also called the Zangezur Corridor — a transit passage through Armenia’s Syunik province connecting mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave.

By Sabina Mammadli