Rubio to Mirzoyan: You are paving the way for a brighter, more  independent future for Armenia

ArmInfo. "You are paving the way for a brighter, more independent future for Armenia, and the United States is pleased to extend its support for this vision, this courage, this dedication, and your commitment to the future of your  country," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a briefing with  Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at Yerevan's Zvartnots  Airport.  "I am delighted to be here today to continue advancing the  vision of President Trump and Prime Minister Pashinyan—this bold path  to peace in the South Caucasus, which was cemented on August 8th last  year in Washington.

"It is a great honor for me to join the Foreign Minister today in  initialing our bilateral agreement regarding the TRIPP project. This  agreement is one of the most significant steps toward making this  historic path a reality. And it is a path to peace and prosperity in  Armenia and the region," Rubio said.

According to him, Armenian-American cooperation is not limited to the  TRIPP project; Yerevan and Washington continue to develop cooperation  across various areas. He stated that for the current US  administration, developing relations with Armenia —both within the  scope of TRIPP and in all other fields— remains a priority. "We have  also signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Charter, which  defines the framework for our bilateral relationship and charts a new  path that will benefit both Armenians and Americans. Simply put, we  are undertaking the foundational work that will serve as a long-term  basis for Armenians and Americans to work together. We also respect  sovereignty, and that's how bilateral relations work best: both  countries must see benefits in their relationship. And our  partnership becomes strategic when we share a common vision for the  future and can help each other in achieving that better future  together.

Furthermore, the Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Commodities  is another step aimed at increasing mutual prosperity. When it comes  to critical minerals and rare earth elements, we discuss technology  and innovation extensively—these are essential factors in the 21st  century. Their development, processing, and extraction are vital for  future economic well-being," Rubio added. According to the Secretary  of State, nations capable of securing these capabilities will attain  economic independence and position themselves at the center of  21st-century innovation. "Conversely, those left behind will suffer.  We can work together to ensure that both of our countries, both of  our economies, have secure access to critical minerals. This will not  only be financially lucrative—it will also help sustain the cycle of  innovation, which is an essential factor for the 21st century.

And you, Prime Minister, the entire Armenian team – you are paving  the way for a brighter, more independent future for Armenia. And we  are pleased to express our support for this vision, this courage,  your dedication and commitment for the future of your country. We are  glad and proud to be a part of all this, and we stand  ready to  achieve even more together," concluded Rubio, who departed the  Armenian capital following the conclusion of the talks, having spent  approximately one hour in Yerevan.