US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the TRIPP transport project supported by Washington has the potential to "radicalize" Armenia's strategic role and turn the country into a regional trade center, while strengthening relations between Yerevan and Washington.
Speaking before the US Senate, Rubio called TRIPP "much more than just a part of a peace agreement" between Armenia and Azerbaijan. "We have signed the TRIPP agreement between the USA and Armenia. It really has the potential to radically transform Armenia's strategic position and make it a major regional trade center," said Rubio, referring to the framework agreement signed in Yerevan at the end of May.
According to him, the project solves the issue of transportation access to Azerbaijan, while opening wide economic opportunities for Armenia and has already given impetus to the bilateral relations between the USA and Armenia. "For a long time, our relations with Armenia were rather stagnant, and in some cases, almost non-existent. Now they have received a new impetus, and we can discuss cooperation in a wide range", he noted.
