Transfer of sovereign territories under complete control of third  country and granting of concession to third party incomparable -  ex-FM

ArmInfo.  Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is surprised by attempts by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to equate the transfer of the Republic's sovereign territories to the full control of a third  country for 50 years with the granting of a concession to a third  party.

"I was surprised that it was even possible to compare the transfer of  the entire territory of Armenia, from the western to the eastern  border, to the full control of a third country for 50 years, and the  granting of a concession to a third party, be it state or non-state,  for example, or even property rights. These are incomparable,"  Oskanyan wrote on his Facebook page.

He added that some might think that since Armenia is only about 40  kilometers wide in this area, its transfer is not a serious issue.  Oskanyan added that this logic is deeply flawed, as sovereignty is  not measured in kilometers.

He then offered to explain his point with a clear example. "Imagine  France handing over a continuous strip of its territory, the entire  width of the country, from the Atlantic coast to the German border,  to a third country for 50 years. Or imagine the United States doing  the same, from coast to coast, from the Pacific to the Atlantic. It's  clear to all of us that this entire process is aimed at ensuring  uninterrupted and free communication between Azerbaijan and  Nakhichevan through Armenian territory. Armenia has already enshrined  this commitment in previously agreed-upon and signed documents. I  think the word 'pathetic' is too mild," Oskanyan concluded.

As a reminder, on January 21, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat  Mirzoyan, speaking from the parliamentary rostrum, justified the  transfer of control over the route through the south of the country  to the American side by citing the transfer of a number of Armenian  enterprises to a third party for concessionary management. He also  used vulgar language, using street language, to criticize opposition  figures who pointed out the unacceptability of such a distribution of  shares in this project.

On January 14, the Armenian Foreign Ministry published a framework  document signed with the American side in Washington for the  implementation of the Trump Roadmap for International Peace and  Prosperity (TRIPP). The 12-page document outlines the project's main  objectives and operational mechanisms.

Among other things, the document emphasizes Armenia's intention to  authorize and support the establishment of the TRIPP Development  Company. The company is expected to be responsible for developing the  TRIPP project, receiving an initial development right for a period of  49 years. Armenia intends to offer the United States a 74% stake in  the TRIPP Development Company, retaining 26%. This partnership is  expected to be extended for another 50 years, with an additional  ownership stake granted to the Armenian government, bringing its  stake to 49%.

As a reminder, on August 8, 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a joint  seven-point "Declaration of Peace" in Washington. It envisages a  joint appeal to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in  Europe (OSCE) to terminate the OSCE Minsk process and related  structures, as well as the creation of a transport corridor through  Armenian territory that will connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan  exclave, surrounded by Armenia, Turkey and Iran.