Russia ready to consider options for joining Trump Road project - Russian Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW. Feb 2 (Interfax) - Russia will consider the possibility of joining the Trump International Road for Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), which is planned to be implemented in Armenia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Friday, January 30.
"As for the project, the Trump Road as they call it, we confirm our readiness to study possible options for getting involved, including taking into account the unique expertise of Russian Railways," Zakharova said.
"First of all, it is probably worth carefully familiarizing ourselves with all the details of the implementation and functioning of this initiative. And as far as we understand, development is only in the early stages," she said.
"The Russian offer to Yerevan to hold substantive consultations involving all concerned government agencies remains in force," Zakharova said.
"The Russian side is keeping in touch with the Armenian partners, including with the government's economic unit. All of Yerevan's requests are being promptly processed by relevant departments," she said.
Armenia and the United States agreed to set up a joint venture to develop transport routes in Armenia under the TRIPP project.
The TRIPP Development company will ensure the development and introduction of TRIPP infrastructure, under U.S. control. Armenia intends to offer the U.S. a 74% stake in the company and keep the remaining 26%, according to the project's implementation framework published by the U.S. Department of State.
It is expected that the agreement will be extended for another 50 years, with the Armenian government being granted an additional joint stock, as a result of which its share will increase to 49%.
The TRIPP project will link Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan via a 42-kilometer-long road in southern Armenia.
Yerevan will work with Washington and several third parties to work out a framework for the TRIPP transport connectivity project in Armenia, according to a declaration signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, U.S. President Donald Trump and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Washington on August 8. The project involves the construction of road, rail, and oil and gas infrastructure.
