All border security and customs functions will remain under Armenia’s overseeing, the US State Department said in response to RFE/RL inquiry about the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) regulations on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, RFE/RL reports.
The deputy foreign minister of Armenia recently announced that the TRIPP project, which will connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through Syunik Province of Armenia, will operate in accordance with the EAEU transit regulations.
In this regard, RFE/RL asked the State Department whether the US, as a TRIPP participant, has agreed that the transit route will operate under the EAEU regulatory framework and whether customs transit procedures within the framework of TRIPP will be regulated by the EAEU regulations, and if so, whether there already was an understanding or agreement between Armenia and the US on this matter.
The State Department responded very briefly to RFE/RL’s questions, only stating that TRIPP preserves Armenia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction. All border security and customs functions shall remain under Armenia’s overseeing, the Armenian authorities shall oversee and make key decisions.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan of Armenia did not deny that face-to-face service—that is, contact—to those passing and returning through this route could also be delegated to a third-country operator. They will collect documents for verification, as well as transit fees.
But the State Department left unanswered the other question from RFE/RL, whether the US plans any changes to the current regulatory framework or the introduction of separate transit rules for TRIPP. In response to the question of whether Washington has discussed this with the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the State Department spokesperson only stated that Washington continues to work with the Azerbaijani government on the priority domains enshrined in the strategic partnership document, including regional connectivity, economic investment, energy, security cooperation, and artificial intelligence.
Also, Washington declined to say how much money the American side has allocated for the TRIPP project so far, as the State Department spokesperson said that they could not provide additional details at this time.
