Armenian cabinet to approve framework agreement on TRIPP

The Armenian government plans to approve the draft framework agreement on TRIPP at its meeting on July 16.

The relevant issue has been included in the agenda, Armenian media report.

The framework agreement was signed in early June by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

After approval by the government, the document will be sent to the Constitutional Court for review of compliance with the Constitution. Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan will represent the government's interests in the CC.

In the event of a positive ruling by the Constitutional Court, the agreement will be submitted for ratification to the National Assembly of Armenia.

The TRIPP project (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) provides for the creation of a strategic transit corridor through Armenia's Syunik region. According to the published concept, the route will operate within Armenian jurisdiction and will not affect the country's sovereignty. At the same time, the United States may receive exclusive rights to its development for a period of up to 99 years. It is planned to establish a company in which the American side will initially own 74% of the shares, Armenia — 26%, with the possibility of increasing the Armenian share to 49% upon extension of the agreement.

On May 26, during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Yerevan, the parties initialed a framework agreement on strategic partnership within the TRIPP project, as well as the Charter of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Armenia and the United States.