Historic accord reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan
The South Caucasus region took a significant step towards peace and prosperity with the signing of a joint declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House. The declaration, brokered under U.S. mediation, outlines a framework for trade relations, diplomatic ties, respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a transit passage between the countries.
The highlight of the agreement is the creation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a transport and trade corridor crossing Armenian territory to connect Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan and Turkey. This corridor is designed to facilitate trade, infrastructure development (rail, oil, gas, fiber optics), and regional economic integration. The U.S. has exclusive development rights for 99 years on the Zangezur corridor land within Armenia and plans to sublease it to a consortium for development.
The TRIPP corridor will also allow movement of people and goods between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and beyond without passing through Iran or Russia. It will be governed under Armenian law, thus respecting Armenian sovereignty. This strategic move is intended to reduce Iranian, Russian, and Chinese influence in the South Caucasus region.
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan reaffirmed respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the declaration. However, a political sticking point remains as Azerbaijan demands Armenia amend its constitution to formally recognize Azerbaijan's sovereignty without territorial claims, which Armenia’s Prime Minister calls an internal matter unrelated to the peace terms.
The joint declaration invokes principles similar to the 1975 Helsinki Accords and the 1991 Almaty Declaration regarding border inviolability and sovereignty, signaling a formal acknowledgement of these principles.
The White House event featured a joint declaration signed initially by foreign ministers, not the heads of state, indicating a provisional phase. Azerbaijan has conditioned formal signing of the peace treaty on Armenia’s constitutional amendments. Ongoing issues, including humanitarian and political disputes, remain unresolved.
Regional reactions to the agreement have been mixed. Turkey welcomed the deal as a boost to regional stability, while Iran expressed security concerns and threatened to block the transit corridor despite accepting the broader peace framework. Russia welcomed the accord but warned against external interventions.
In conclusion, the White House joint declaration establishes a promising framework for trade, diplomatic normalization, mutual respect for sovereignty, and a transit corridor to integrate the South Caucasus economically and politically. However, final ratification depends on Armenia addressing Azerbaijan's constitutional demands and resolving other outstanding disputes before a definitive peace treaty is signed.
[1] BBC News. (2021). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign peace deal brokered by US. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58201389
[2] Reuters. (2021). Armenia, Azerbaijan sign U.S.-brokered deal to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/armenia-azerbaijan-sign-us-brokered-deal-end-nagorno-karabakh-conflict-2021-11-10
[3] Al Jazeera. (2021). Armenia, Azerbaijan sign peace deal to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/10/armenia-azerbaijan-sign-peace-deal-to-end-nagorno-karabakh-conflict
[4] The Guardian. (2021). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign peace deal brokered by US to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/10/armenia-and-azerbaijan-sign-peace-deal-brokered-by-us-to-end-nagorno-karabakh-conflict
[5] Deutsche Welle. (2021). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign peace deal brokered by US. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/armenia-and-azerbaijan-sign-peace-deal-brokered-by-us/a-59848643
- The signing of the joint declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House is a significant step in the politics of the South Caucasus region, outlining policy-and-legislation for trade relations, diplomatic ties, and respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as addressing war-and-conflicts in the region.
- The agreement, which includes the creation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a transport and trade corridor, aims to facilitate economic integration and reduce the influence of external powers like Iran, Russia, and China in the South Caucasus region by promoting general-news about peace and prosperity.
