Stepan Sarksyan

U.S.

was involved since the 90s during the first phase of the conflict, obviously because of humanitarian reasons to eventually resolve conflict.

the killing between the two nations.

But also, the United States has strategic interest in the region because both Armenia and Azerbaijan, being in the South Caucasus, represent an important corridor which serves a bridge between East and West, be it for various oil and gas pipelines or trade between China and Europe.

Overall, a key piece of real estate in the Eurasian landmass.

Armenia is one beacon of religious freedom in the entire region.

Armenia on all three sides is surrounded by Islamic countries, as you referred to already earlier.

So with some of them, we've been at war.

Frost relations with Iran, we've had great friendly relations.

But without betraying our Christian roots, we have been able to both remain Christian, but at the same time offer refuge not only Christians persecuted in other countries, but also other religious minorities, Yazidis, Kurds, even Muslims who had been persecuted by Islamic State in Syria and, you know, corresponding territories of Iraq, who could find Armenia as the safe haven to come and both find physical security and also liberty to exercise their faith.

J.D.

Vance, the vice president of the United States, the highest-ranking official, American official to visit Armenia, held press conference with the prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan,

They signed documents, one pertaining specifically to cooperation between Armenia and the United States in the sphere of nuclear energy.

So the TRIP project, as we call it, as is commonly known, the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,

is a key corridor of railways, energy corridor, IT, all kinds of fiber optic cables that's meant to solidify and institutionalize the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

It's meant to carry, ferry all kinds of goods, oil, gas, not only within the region, but also as far as Central Asia, perhaps even

as far as China.

And right now, both the Americans and Armenians and the Azerbaijani counterparts are working very diligently and very expeditiously to bring it into fruition.

And just as the vice president said during the press conference, that means a lot of investment, but it's not just about money.

It's about peace building.