Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on July 16 that the text of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been agreed upon, and negotiations on the draft have concluded. He said there is now an idea on the table to preliminarily sign the agreement—a step short of final ratification—but underlined that consultations are ongoing on how to proceed.
“We’ve started consultations on how to move forward, and the idea of a preliminary signing is also on the table, part of the agenda. It’s one of the options currently under discussion. Under certain conditions, it could be realistic; under others, not so much,” Pashinyan said at a press conference in Yerevan.
The Prime Minister did not clarify which side proposed the idea of a preliminary signature, nor why the treaty isn’t being signed outright if the text has already been coordinated.
Pashinyan also reaffirmed that Armenia remains committed to unblocking regional transport and communication routes in the South Caucasus, while strictly upholding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Our position is clear: Armenia is interested in and supports the opening of regional transport communications, including routes connecting Armenia to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory, and Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan through Armenian territory,” he said.
He added that Armenia supports bilateral trade and international transport routes from Armenia to third countries via Azerbaijan and vice versa. “In other words, we are showing consistent interest and readiness,” he stated.
The Prime Minister emphasized that all discussions with Azerbaijan on the matter have been, and will continue to be, conducted strictly within the framework of Armenia’s sovereignty, jurisdiction, and territorial integrity. This approach, he noted, is part of the Armenian government’s broader “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, aimed at fostering regional cooperation through infrastructure development. “All of our discussions have taken place within the framework of Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is crucial to emphasize that no negotiations have taken place, or will take place, outside of this context,” Pashinyan said.
The term “outsourcing” has recently been used in reference to a proposed road through Armenia’s Syunik Province that would connect mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhichevan.
The United States has proposed managing the disputed transport corridor between Armenia and Azerbaijan, aiming to facilitate the peace process.
On July 11, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, revealed that Washington is offering to take control of the 32-kilometer route under a 100-year lease.
Addressing the issue, Pashinyan referred to similar infrastructure examples in Armenia, such as Zvartnots International Airport, the South Caucasus Railway, the national water management system, and HayPost.
“Both the railway and the airport, as well as the water system, remain the property of Armenia. For example, the idea of creating a company is being discussed—a company that would attract investments. You can imagine the enormous investment potential of the ‘Crossroads of Peace’ project,” he said. “We often talk about railways and highways, but in this context we’re also discussing pipelines, power transmission lines, and telecommunication cables. It’s an economic ecosystem that must be created and managed. And from our point of view, it should and can remain the property of Armenia. What we’re talking about is how to manage this system and perform certain functions within it,” the prime minister explained.
Referring to recent remarks by the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey about leasing the road, Pashinyan said: “Under our legislation, this is known as the right to development (or build-operate). Investments made under such a right, depending on the terms, may remain or become the property of the Republic of Armenia after the contract ends.”
Pashinyan stressed that many ideas have been and continue to be discussed, but no final agreement has been reached. “If something had been signed or agreed upon, I would say so. What I’ve shared reflects the scope of discussions.”
He reiterated that Armenia’s government has never negotiated arrangements that would compromise its sovereignty or allow for extraterritorial corridors. “We receive and evaluate proposals, yes. But we do so strictly within the framework of Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction,” he said.
“If we were operating in the logic you suggest—say, giving up sovereignty—then everything you’re imagining would have already happened long ago. But that’s not the case. Unfamiliar terms like outsourcing, leasing, the right to development, rental, investment—they all come up. But the principle remains: the infrastructure must remain under Armenian control,” he said.
Pashinyan also addressed the contentious use of the term “corridor” in public discourse, which has gained politically charged meaning in Armenia since the 2020 ceasefire. “For example, the official name of Armenia’s North-South Highway is the ‘North-South Transport Corridor,’” he said. “Since November 9, 2020, the word ‘corridor’ has acquired an allergic connotation for us. When our international partners use the word, we flinch, and they flinch in return, asking: ‘But what did we say wrong?’ Globally, everyone seeks transport corridors. So now, every time the word is used, the question arises: which corridor do they mean?”
