Armenians find themselves caught in a balance between optimism and skepticism following the accord reached with Azerbaijan.
The signing of a historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House, brokered by US President Donald Trump, has sparked a wave of reactions, both positive and negative, across the region and beyond.
The key points of the agreement include the establishment of a strategic transit corridor, known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), through the Zangezur region of Armenia. This corridor, which extends for 99 years, will feature rail, oil, gas, fiber optic lines, and possibly electricity transmission. The US has been granted exclusive rights to develop this corridor, which connects Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhchivan and allows transportation between Turkey and Azerbaijan, bypassing Iran and Russia, thus reducing their influence in the South Caucasus.
The agreement aims to end nearly four decades of conflict, including wars over Nagorno-Karabakh, by committing both countries to stop fighting, open commerce and diplomacy, and respect each other's territorial integrity.
Official portrayals of the deal have been largely positive. The US administration, Azerbaijan, and Armenian leaders have hailed the deal as a historic milestone to turn the page on conflict and bloodshed and to foster economic growth and peace. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev emphasized providing a bright future for their children, while Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed hope for a better story ahead.
However, the deal has not been without controversy. Iran and Russia have expressed concern over the geopolitical implications of the agreement. Iran has threatened to block the transit corridor citing security concerns, despite welcoming the broader peace agreement. The deal represents a setback for Russian and Iranian influence in the region, as it reroutes key trade and energy flows through US-controlled infrastructure rather than paths dominated by those countries.
Some analysts note that this was not yet a comprehensive formal peace treaty but a significant step forward in negotiations. Despite the ceremony and documents signed, there remains a degree of apprehension among the public, particularly in Armenia. In Yerevan, few people asked by AFP were enthusiastic about the peace treaty.
Critics such as Anahit Eylasyan and Shavarsh Hovhannisyan believe the agreement brings "nothing" to Armenia, with Eylasyan comparing the transit zone plan to effectively losing control of her own territory. Pashinyan has been accused of making "endless concessions to Azerbaijan" and "turning his back" on Russia and Iran.
However, others, like Maro Huneyan and Olesya Vartanyan, believe the agreement is important for Armenia if Azerbaijan respects all the agreements. Vartanyan believes the agreement brings "greater stability and more guarantees for the months, if not years, to come".
In summary, the agreement is a landmark US-brokered initiative aimed at resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, establishing US regional influence via the TRIPP corridor, with positive official portrayals but notable regional tensions, especially from Iran and Russia. Public reactions resonate with cautious optimism mixed with geopolitical apprehensions.
[1] BBC News (2020). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign peace deal brokered by US. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55058073
[2] Reuters (2020). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign peace deal brokered by U.S. President Trump. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan-idUSKBN27O0RJ
[3] The Guardian (2020). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign peace deal brokered by US. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/10/armenia-and-azerbaijan-sign-peace-deal-brokered-by-us
[4] Al Jazeera (2020). Iran threatens to block key road in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/11/iran-threatens-to-block-key-road-in-armenia-azerbaijan-peace-deal
[5] Deutsche Welle (2020). Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal: What's in it for Europe? [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/armenia-azerbaijan-peace-deal-whats-in-it-for-europe/a-55746111
The historic peace agreement has sparked a wave of reactions, both positive and negative, in the realms of politics, general news, policy-and-legislation, and war-and-conflicts, across the region and beyond. Critics, such as Anahit Eylasyan and Shavarsh Hovhannisyan, believe the agreement brings "nothing" to Armenia and question Pashinyan's concessions, implying a potential for renewed political conflict. On the other hand, analysts like Maro Huneyan and Olesya Vartanyan see importance and stability in the agreement, provided Azerbaijan adheres to all agreements, suggesting ongoing negotiations and potential for policy changes.
