Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has announced that the project of the so-called "Zangezur corridor" is being actively implemented in his country. Major construction works within Azerbaijan are expected to be completed as early as next year. He made these remarks during the third meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Aliyev noted that work is also underway in Armenia, and that American partners provide them with regular updates on the progress. According to his information, construction in Armenia will begin either at the end of this year or early next year. The length of the railway in Armenia is only 42 kilometers, while the section in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic spans 194 kilometers. He assured that they will complete the work regardless.
Baku often uses the term "Zangezur corridor," which is unacceptable to Yerevan, instead of the "TRIPP" label. Azerbaijan regularly declares that its side is almost ready for operation. Meanwhile, in Yerevan, documentation processes are still ongoing both domestically and with the American side.
TRIPP is a joint Armenian-American project. Yerevan and Washington have agreed that in this joint venture, the United States' share will be 74 percent for the first 49 years, while Armenia's will be 26 percent. If the parties extend the cooperation for another 50 years, Armenia's share will increase to 49 percent.
The Armenian-American strategic agreement regarding TRIPP has already entered the ratification stage. First, the Constitutional Court must determine whether it complies with Armenia's supreme law. Following a positive conclusion, the document will be sent to parliament for ratification. A decision from the Constitutional Court is expected by September 15.
This statement clearly highlights the informational discrepancy surrounding this infrastructure project. While Baku speaks of the final stages of work and the imminent start of the Armenian section, the process in Yerevan remains strictly in the legal and documentary realm. The Constitutional Court's September decision will be of key importance for the future of the TRIPP project.
Aliyev's mention of American partners is also noteworthy. It indicates that the United States is not only the primary shareholder in the Armenian-American joint venture but has also assumed an active mediating and coordinating role in the process of opening regional communications. In the coming months, it will become clear how realistic Baku's timelines are, given the duration of Armenia's internal procedures.
