Pashinyan has once again deceived the public: the corridor has been handed over to Turkey and Azerbaijan

For several days now, Armenian authorities have been trying to convince the public that the documents signed in Washington last week will guarantee not only peace for Armenia, but also economic prosperity and cooperation with its neighbors.

To recap, following the meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, US President Donald Trump, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Washington on August 8, a seven-point declaration was signed. The document, in particular, includes the initialing by the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan of the agreed text of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations; a joint statement by both foreign ministers on the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Process and its related structures; efforts to ensure unimpeded communication between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through the territory of Armenia, as well as Armenia’s cooperation with the United States and third parties to define the framework for implementing the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) project within Armenia.

However, as the saying goes, “reality often differs from appearances.” So, what did Armenia actually gain, lose, or fail to receive from the Washington negotiations?

In short, Armenia surrendered the corridor and agreed to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group, but in exchange, it did not receive a signed peace agreement. Moreover, by signing a bilateral statement with the United States—rather than a trilateral one—regarding the corridor (referred to as the “Trump Route”), Pashinyan effectively made Ilham Aliyev a stakeholder in the communication route passing through Armenian territory.

From the documents signed on August 8 and the statements made, it became clear that:

– The US is lifting restrictions on its military cooperation with Azerbaijan. The repeal of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act allows the US to supply weapons to Azerbaijan, which can and will be used against Iran and Russia in a “Ukrainian-style” manner.

– Nothing other than the so-called “Zangezur corridor” will be “unblocked” in the region. Pashinyan has demonstrated his willingness to cede control of the corridor to a third party. Thus, Syunik has been officially recognized as a potentially disputed territory.

– Baku’s other demands have not disappeared: changing the Constitution, demilitarization, resettlement of Azerbaijanis, and more.

– By stating that “in case of problems, the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan can call Donald Trump,” the US President confirmed that Washington does not have the capabilities or desire to be a real guarantor of the ceasefire.

Baku has received everything it wanted. Moreover, by taking advantage of Armenia’s territories, Ilham Aliyev has also made a gift to Donald Trump—formalizing the US presence in the region.

Think about it…