Armenian Ambassador to the US: Trade with Azerbaijan Can Become a Driving Force for Peace
YEREVAN, August 18. /ARКА/. The natural effect of trade with Azerbaijan is becoming a driving force for peace, stated Armenian Ambassador to the US Narek Mkrtchyan.
"The implementation of joint economic and trade projects is essential to support peace," Mkrtchyan said on The Heritage Foundation's "The Parliament" podcast.
He emphasized that peace is a process, and concrete actions must be taken to contribute to it.
"Indeed, the outlook is very promising, and we see that the ongoing dialogue with Azerbaijan and the commitment of the political leadership will lead us to final peace and transform the region into a true 'crossroads of peace and cooperation,'" Mkrtchyan said.
Trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan effectively resumed in late 2025, but remains almost entirely one-sided. According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, goods worth $17.37 million, primarily petroleum products, were exported from Azerbaijan to Armenia from January to July 2026. Shipments from Armenia to Azerbaijan during this period amounted to only $960. In 2025, Azerbaijani exports to Armenia were valued at $788,800, while no return shipments were recorded.
Cargo transit to Armenia through Azerbaijan became possible after Baku announced the lifting of all existing restrictions on October 21, 2025. The first rail shipments of Kazakh and Russian grain were delivered to Armenia in November 2025 via Azerbaijan and Georgia. According to the South Caucasus Railway, by mid-May 2026, approximately 45,000 tons of cargo from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan had been transported along this route.
By August 8, more than 37,000 tons of grain, approximately 9,000 tons of fertilizer, 1,136 tons of propane, 133 tons of aluminum, 414 tons of anthracite, and lumber were transited from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan. At the same time, approximately 15,000 tons of diesel fuel and approximately 5,000 tons of AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline were exported from Azerbaijan to Armenia.-0-
