Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said a statement issued in Washington marks a significant step towards turning peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan into a lasting, institutionalised reality.

Speaking to Armenian media, Pashinyan described the declaration as "very important and significant", saying it reflected tangible progress rather than purely political intent.

His comments followed a joint statement released in Washington by Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which focused on advancing the normalisation process between the two South Caucasus neighbours.

Pashinyan said work on peace along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border was already under way and moving faster than initially expected.

"We are moving forward much faster than we initially assumed," he said, adding that agreements recorded in the Washington statement were being translated into practical outcomes.

A central element of the declaration concerns the opening of regional transport and communication links, including Armenia’s access to regional railway networks.

Pashinyan said such access had been expected at a later stage of the process but had materialised earlier than anticipated.

He added that improved connectivity had implications beyond transport, laying the groundwork for deeper economic ties and helping to reduce the sense of isolation that has shaped Armenia’s regional position for decades.

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The prime minister also highlighted the emergence of bilateral trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan, describing it as another unexpected but welcome development.

"Today, bilateral trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan has become a reality earlier than Armenia and the international community expected," he said, adding that it may even have occurred sooner than Azerbaijan had anticipated.

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