Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the second “Global Gateways” conference in Brussels, which was also attended by presidents and prime ministers from more than a dozen countries. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered a welcoming speech at the conference.
In his speech, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted, in particular:
“Madam President,
Your Excellencies,
Esteemed colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to thank President von der Leyen for the vision of the “Global Gateways” conference.
It is very symbolic that during the first conference titled “Global Gateways”, Armenia presented our newly created “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, with the vision of becoming an essential hub of East-West and North-South connectivity. As a landlocked country, we fully understand the benefits of inclusive and equitable connectivity in all its manifestations, as the lack of connectivity has long been a serious obstacle to Armenia’s development, economic growth, and regional integration.
I am pleased to inform you that today, with the positive momentum of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations, our “Crossroads of Peace” idea is becoming a reality, with the full potential to change the dynamics not only in the South Caucasus but also in a much broader geography.
At the Peace Summit in Washington on August 8, with the support of President Trump, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed, among other things, to open regional infrastructure in line with the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, the inviolability of borders, jurisdiction, and reciprocity. Moreover, Armenia and the United States, together with third parties to be mutually determined, will implement the “Trump Road for International Peace and Prosperity” project, which will have a significant impact on strengthening connectivity in the region and beyond, entirely consistent with the vision of the “Crossroads of Peace” initiative.
Dear Partners,
For the first time in modern history, our region is both politically and logistically ready to unleash its untapped potential and integrate into a more comprehensive, seamless connectivity between Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. The “Trump Road for International Peace and Prosperity” project, also known as the “TRIPP” route, is a promising investment program that offers numerous opportunities for cooperation across railways and energy.
Therefore, the increased engagement of the European Union in the South Caucasus and Central Asia comes at a very opportune moment, and Armenia is ready to build bridges between these regions, promoting not only infrastructure links but also digital, energy, and regulatory interoperability, as well as structural alignment with the European Union. Relations between Armenia and the European Union have never been closer. This developing partnership creates unique opportunities for Armenia to participate at a deeper and more strategic level in the evolving vision of European connectivity, in particular the “Global Gateways”, the Black Sea Strategy, the Middle Corridor, the Trans-European Transport Network, and others.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It was a great honor to address you today, and I sincerely hope my words resonated with you and inspired you to take bold decisions for peace, stability, resilience, and prosperity. I wish you all a productive day.
Thank you.”
