Armenia Clarifies Position Ahead of Peace Talks in Washington

In Washington, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is set to hold a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, followed by a trilateral meeting with Trump and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev aimed at promoting peace, prosperity, and economic cooperation in the region, Orda.kz reports, citing Armenian Public Television (OTA).

OTA's Take

OTA's crew is currently on the ground in the U.S.

First, a Pashinyan-Trump meeting will take place, during which documents related to energy, artificial intelligence, and the  ‘Crossroads of Peace’ initiative are expected to be signed. As for the most widely discussed question — whether a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be brokered by Washington — it is noted that a document will be signed at the end of the meeting,  reported OTA’s Washington correspondent Maya Khachatryan for Lurer.

Pashinyan is accompanied by a high-level delegation including the foreign minister, deputy ministers, the head of the prime minister’s office, the secretary of the Security Council, and the minister of high-tech industry.

The bilateral meeting with Trump is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. D.C. time, followed by the trilateral meeting with Trump and Aliyev. Both sessions are expected to be streamed live.

Lurer correspondents in Washington, citing off-the-record conversations with informed experts, outlined expectations and possible outcomes of the talks.

According to circulated talking points, the ‘corridor’ issue is being closed. There is no corridor — rather, roads are being opened. The Republic of Armenia is being unblocked. Armenia and Azerbaijan will use each other’s roads on equal terms, within the framework of each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction, on a reciprocal basis. Armenia will gain railway access to the outside world — toward Iran, China, Central Asia, and Russia, OTA reported.

OTA reports that infrastructure passing through Armenian territory will remain fully under Armenian sovereignty — governed by the laws, institutions, and law enforcement of the Republic of Armenia:

In the presence of the U.S. president, a peace agreement will be initialed. In front of the U.S. president, the parties will commit to maintaining peace, renouncing revenge, and refraining from seizing territory from each other — now and in the future — on the understanding that the territories of the Armenian SSR and the Azerbaijani SSR are identical to the territories of the independent Republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Under these conditions, the existence of the OSCE Minsk Group is not only unnecessary but may cast doubt on the sincerity of the parties. Therefore, both sides will jointly request the OSCE to dissolve the Minsk Group. This will effectively establish peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

OTA claims that experts say it will be confirmed in Washington that a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be signed and ratified, with U.S. President Donald Trump taking on a share of responsibility.

The “Trump Route” (TRIPP) is being framed as a strategic infrastructure project aimed at building new regional transport networks and fostering international ties. The project could serve as a foundation for a practical Armenia-U.S. investment agreement.

Minval's Report

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani media Minval reports that a joint declaration is expected to be signed following the meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Washington. The document will be signed in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The text affirms both sides’ agreement to submit a joint appeal to the OSCE Secretary General requesting the termination of the Minsk Group’s activities. It also reaffirms the necessity of amending Armenia’s Constitution to eliminate territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Minval reports that the declaration will affirm the right to unimpeded transit between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, effectively confirming the implementation of the Zangezur Corridor.

Later, Nazeli Baghdasaryan, spokesperson for Armenia's Prime Minister, announced that claims and publications stating that Armenia has agreed, is agreeing, or will agree to "corridor-type' solutions simply do not correspond to reality.

Prime Minister Pashinyan very clearly and unambiguously presented the Republic of Armenia’s position during his press conference on July 16 of this year. Any other interpretation is out of the question, she wrote on her social media.

Rubio Hopes for Armenia-Azerbaijan Agreement and Peace Deal

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope for the signing of an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the beginning of a broader peace process.

On the broader issue of peace, the President is committed to peace and committed to being the President of peace.  And so, we saw when India and Pakistan went to war, we got involved directly, and the President was able to deliver on that peace.  Cambodia and Thailand more recently; Azerbaijan and Armenia, hopefully – we’re taping this here today, but on Friday of this week, we’ll be here to sign an agreement and the beginning of a peace deal there.  DRC-Rwanda – a 30-year war, 7 million people killed – we were able to bring them here to sign it.  Obviously, work needs to – peace is not permanent.  It always has to be worked and maintained,
 Rubio said in an interview with Raymond Arroyo of The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).

Observers have stated that Trump may be pushing for the deal to increase his Nobel Peace Prize chances.

Background

Both countries have repeatedly declared readiness to sign a peace treaty, but no deal has yet been finalized. Most reports indicate that the deal set to be signed in D.C. is a commitment to work toward peace.

Baku has demanded an extraterritorial corridor through Armenia to its Nakhchivan exclave, a proposal Yerevan sees as a threat to sovereignty, insisting the road must remain under Armenian control.

Azerbaijan has also demanded that Yerevan amend its constitution to remove territorial claims on Azerbaijan — a step requiring a national referendum. Armenia has made similar demands. With parliamentary elections scheduled for 2026, shifts in Armenia's political landscape in Armenia may complicate talks.

Pashinyan's popularity has been diminishing.

In July, the U.S. offered to place the above route under its supervision. Pashinyan confirmed receiving the proposal, stressing that “any issue is discussed based on the principles of Armenia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and jurisdiction.”

Other remarks by Armenian officials were made, highlighting territorial integrity and Armenia's preferred route, "The Crossroads of Peace."

Meanwhile, border fire claims have remained consistent, with the most recent one surfacing on August 4.