- 7 months ago
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00:00It's a long time, 35 years they fought, and now they're friends, and they're going to
00:07be friends for a long time.
00:09But it's a big, beautiful honor to welcome everyone to the White House for this very
00:16historic peace summit between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
00:21It's really a great thrill for me.
00:25I love seeing good people get together, and that's what you have.
00:28You have two great leaders.
00:30I want to congratulate these two visionary people, Prime Minister Pashinyan and President
00:40Aliyev, for coming to Washington to sign this momentous joint declaration.
00:46It's a tremendously important document, and it's been a long time in coming.
00:52They were explaining before that so many times they thought they could get there.
00:56It never happened.
00:57It just never happened.
00:58I also want to thank Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and
01:04their teams at the State Department.
01:07And I see that we have Chris Wright outside and Senator Steve Daines sitting right here.
01:13Thank you, Chris.
01:14Thank you very much.
01:15And Steve, thank you very much.
01:17We have some other wonderful dignitaries, including the dignitaries from your country.
01:23But they provided tremendous diplomatic assistance.
01:28And Marco, congratulations.
01:29It's a big thing.
01:31Keep going.
01:32He got many jobs.
01:34And then, of course, you would say Steve was quite influential.
01:37I call him Henry Kissinger, who doesn't leak.
01:43For more than 35 years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought a bitter conflict that resulted in tremendous suffering for both nations.
01:53They suffered gravely for so many years, many tried to find a resolution, including the European Union.
02:01The Russians worked very hard on it, never happened.
02:05Sleepy Joe Biden tried, but you know what happened there.
02:07He tried for probably 12 minutes and didn't work out.
02:11And many other countries tried, and they were unsuccessful.
02:14But with this accord, we've finally succeeded in making peace.
02:20And we just left the Oval Office, where we signed voluminous documents and very important elements to the agreement.
02:28The country of Armenia and Azerbaijan are committing to stop all fighting forever,
02:37open up commerce, travel, and diplomatic relations, and respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, so importantly.
02:46And I just spent a lot of time with these two men.
02:48I think they're going to have a great relationship, if you want to know the truth.
02:52They didn't see each other that much, but they probably will.
02:56I think you two are going to have a great relationship, I have no doubt.
03:00And if you don't, call me and I'll straighten it out, okay?
03:03Very importantly, we have also resolved the key issue that foiled previous negotiations.
03:10This declaration establishes what they are calling a great honor for me.
03:15I didn't ask for this.
03:17The Trump route for international peace and prosperity,
03:20which is a special transit area that will allow Azerbaijan to get full access to its territory of Nakchevian,
03:30while fully respecting Armenia's sovereignty.
03:35So they're going to be able to really live and work together, and it's amazing.
03:41So that's a very important territory, I guess, very special territory to you and to you,
03:46and now they work it together.
03:48Armenia is also creating an exclusive partnership with the United States to develop this corridor,
03:53which could extend for up to 99 years.
03:56And then they promise in 99 years they'll extend it, right?
04:00You'll promise.
04:01But we anticipate significant infrastructure development by American companies.
04:06They're very anxious to go in to these two countries,
04:09and they're going to spend a lot of money, a lot of money,
04:12which will economically benefit all three of our nations.
04:15This is incredibly positive news for the future of the entire region,
04:19and it's a very important region, as you know.
04:21Additionally, the U.S. is signing a bilateral agreement with both countries
04:27to expand cooperation in energy trade and technology, including AI.
04:32And in terms of energy, Chris is here representing our country,
04:36and there's nobody better than Chris Wright.
04:39And Chris, I understand, it's very fertile.
04:42It's a very fertile area.
04:43So I appreciate everything you've done.
04:45You've done amazingly well.
04:47We've got the gasoline prices coming way down from where they were,
04:52and it's really been something to watch.
04:56We are drilling like we haven't drilled in many years,
05:00I guess I could say ever before, and we just started.
05:04We're also lifting restrictions on defense cooperation
05:07between Azerbaijan and the United States of America.
05:11The president, that's a big deal.
05:14Unless, is that important to you?
05:16Yeah, I think so.
05:16That was pretty good.
05:19They're very happy about that.
05:20So am I.
05:21As president, my highest aspiration is to bring peace and stability to the world.
05:26Today's signing follows our success with India and Pakistan.
05:30They were going at it.
05:31They were going at it big, and they were two great leaders
05:36that came together just prior to what would have been a tremendous conflict,
05:41as you know, a nuclear conflict, probably.
05:44Also, the Congo and Rwanda.
05:47Now, that was one which was going on for 31 years.
05:50You have them beat.
05:5135 years, you have them beat.
05:53But that was going on for 31 years, and we have it all done,
05:57and people are very happy.
05:59That was a rough one.
06:00That was nasty.
06:01Seven million people that they know of died.
06:05Also, just recently, Thailand and Cambodia.
06:08That was one that was just starting.
06:10The 2,000 people were dead on the border.
06:13But it was just starting, and I was talking to one of the two nations on trade,
06:18and I said, I'm not going to sign a trade deal if you guys are going to fight.
06:21And I got the other one.
06:22And again, great leadership, Thailand and Cambodia.
06:26And before it got started, beyond that first couple of days, we stopped the war.
06:32And they've had wars periodically, as much as you two have had long-term wars.
06:38And we got it stopped.
06:39And we—the two—again, I find, in all cases, they're great leaders.
06:45If they didn't agree, I would say they're lousy leaders, to be honest with you.
06:48But they did agree.
06:50And so Thailand and Cambodia, Serbia and Kosovo, we got something stopped that was ready to start.
06:55We didn't like that one.
06:57We didn't like it at all.
06:58And we got—saved a lot of lives.
07:01And numerous others.
07:02In addition, as you know, we took out the nuclear capability of Iran.
07:06And to use a term that people tried to dispute without any knowledge, it was obliterated.
07:14That's been confirmed by the Atomic Energy Commission's everybody that saw it totally obliterated.
07:20They might try again, but they're going to have to try a new site because they are—and
07:24I want to just say our military.
07:25We have the greatest military in the world.
07:27We have the greatest equipment and military manufacturing anywhere in the world.
07:32Nobody even closed.
07:34And that sort of proved it.
07:35So getting rid of that threat from the Middle East was very big.
07:39And I think a lot of people are going to be joining right now.
07:42The Abraham Accords is going to be very important.
07:44So hopefully we're going to have many more successes.
07:47I hope we're not going to have too many more in this field because hopefully we're not going
07:52to be seeing too many more wars.
07:53But we just—I came in and this whole world was on fire.
07:57All these things were sort of happening.
07:59We've only been here for six months.
08:01The world was on fire.
08:02We took care of just about every fire.
08:05And we're working on another one that you're reporting on very strongly with Russia, Ukraine.
08:12And we'll have some more information for you a little bit later.
08:16But I want to ask these two very special people.
08:20Again, I've gotten to know them.
08:21They're very special people.
08:22I think they have the potential to have a great personal relationship, which is always
08:26good, but also a great just relationship.
08:30And if I might, may I ask you to say a few words, sir?
08:35Thank you very much, Mr. President.
08:37First of all, thank you for invitation.
08:39It's a big honor to be invited by the President of the United States for this historic event.
08:47Actually, we are writing a new history in a bilateral interstate relationship between
08:53the United States and Azerbaijan.
08:55We are starting the path towards a strategic partnership.
08:59The Charter on Strategic Partnership will be elaborated within several months.
09:07And that is a historic achievement for Azerbaijan.
09:10Because to be in the format of strategic partnership with the greatest country of the world is a great
09:18opportunity and also a very big responsibility.
09:22And this strategic partnership format embraces so many important areas.
09:27Mutual investments, trade, energy, connectivity, transit, AI, defense sales, counterterrorism.
09:38So all these areas where we had and hopefully will have very active cooperation in the future.
09:46So it opens a lot of opportunities for Azerbaijan to continue its path of development,
09:51to diversify its economy, to keep unemployment low as it is today, and to look to the future
10:00with a great optimism.
10:03Also, I'm very grateful to Mr. President that he today lifted the restrictions which have been
10:08imposed on Azerbaijan back in 1992.
10:12Just only one year after Azerbaijan restored its independence, these restrictions have been imposed
10:19on us.
10:21So after 33 years, these restrictions have been lifted just today.
10:28So really, it's a day which will be remembered by the people of Azerbaijan with a feeling of pride
10:35and gratitude to President Trump for his attitude to Azerbaijan, for his vision,
10:41for—not only for our region.
10:44We were exchanging views today, and I said that within several months, he managed to put an end
10:51to conflicts in Asia, in Africa, and now in Southern Caucasus.
10:56What we could not achieve for more than 30 years, we had to sacrifice lives.
11:01We had to fight two very bad wars with a lot of casualties.
11:07And if not for President Trump and his team, and our great friend, Mr. Witkoff, and his team,
11:15probably today, Armenia and Azerbaijan would have been again in this endless process of negotiations.
11:22So really, it's a historic day.
11:25We are today establishing peace in the Caucasus, which will open great opportunities, not only for our region.
11:32And as President Trump correctly mentioned, the Trump route for international peace and prosperity,
11:40which will create new connectivity lines, which will lift the walls,
11:46and which will create connectivity opportunities for so many countries,
11:52with investments, with prosperity, with stability.
11:55You know, Azerbaijan and Armenia, we became independent at the same time,
12:00as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
12:03But at that time already, we were at war.
12:06So we lost a lot of years just being preoccupied with wars and occupation and bloodshed.
12:15So today, historic day, also because we bring peace.
12:19President Trump brings peace to Caucasus, and we are grateful for that.
12:25And I'm sure that Armenia and Azerbaijan will find courage and responsibility to reconcile,
12:34and also the people will reconcile.
12:36We will turn the page of standoff, confrontation, and bloodshed,
12:41and provide bright and safe future for our children.
12:44And so I'm very happy because today we're writing the great new history.
12:51And once again, Mr. President, thank you for all what you are doing for us,
12:55for our region, and for the whole world.
12:58Thank you very much.
13:08Great leaders.
13:09How long have you been in the leadership position?
13:1222 years.
13:1422 years.
13:15That's pretty good.
13:16That means he's tough and smart.
13:18And it's an amazing part of the world.
13:21Congratulations.
13:22What a great honor to be involved.
13:24Thank you very much.
13:26Please.
13:28Thank you, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen.
13:31Today, we have reached a significant milestone in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations.
13:37We're laying a foundation to write a better story than the one we had in the past.
13:45This breakthrough would simply not have been possible without President Trump's personal engagement
13:53and his resolute commitment to peace in our region.
13:57The initiating of peace agreement will pave the way to end the decades of conflict between our countries
14:07and open a new era based on the full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other.
14:17Today's sign—today's declarations, which President Trump personally will sign as well, as Vintes witness,
14:30gives confidence and assurance that we're opening a chapter of peace, prosperity, security, and economic cooperation in the South Caucasus.
14:42In this context, allow me to highlight the agreement on opening transport communications in the region
14:50based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction.
14:56I'm particularly thrilled that together with the U.S., Armenia will work to bring to life the trip Trump wrote
15:04for peace and prosperity, a connectivity project that will unlock the entire region.
15:11TRIP will unlock strategic economic opportunities that will create long-term benefits.
15:19It will promote infrastructure investment, enhance regional connectivity, and strengthen U.S. leadership
15:30as a champion of conflict resolution.
15:33I want to thank President Trump and his team for brokering this game-changing outcome between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
15:41This is a great deal we've achieved today.
15:45This is a success for our countries and for our region, and a success for the world,
15:52because a more peaceful region means a safer world.
15:57This is peace through strength in a neutral.
16:00Mr. President, today's great achievement is yet another testimony to your global leadership
16:09and your legacy as a statesman and a peacemaker on the world stage.
16:16Bringing peace requires vision, political courage, and determination.
16:23But what is most important is that it requires faith in the cause.
16:31As it is said in the Holy Bible, blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
16:40May God enlighten this way.
16:43Thank you and my congratulations to all of us, President Aliyev, to you, to all of us, colleagues from Azerbaijan, Armenia, United States,
16:57and all the people of our region, all the people of our countries.
17:03And my congratulations to the world, because, as I said, it will definitely make the world a better place.
17:15The President of the United States, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia
17:28will now sign the Joint Declaration on the Outcomes of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity Summit.
17:34That's really beautiful.
17:35The President of the United States signs as a witness to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia,
17:44affirming their path to peace, stability, and prosperity.
17:47We kindly ask that all guests remain seated for the signing of the documents.
18:05The President of the United States, the President of the United States, the President of the United States,
18:35the President of the United States.
18:40That is so great, and we'll hold up.
18:42How about holding up that document?
19:00Alright?
19:03Well, thank you.
19:04This is really a big day, and we have some other big announcements, but I didn't want to make them
19:08because I don't want to do anything that could even, in a little way, overshadow what's taken place today.
19:1335 years of death and hatred, and now it's going to be love and respect and success together.
19:21And I didn't really want to do anything that would in any way overshadow.
19:26I don't think it can be overshadowed.
19:28When you're at war and so many people have suffered and so many people have been killed,
19:32and now you're going to have great peace.
19:34And I look forward to that corridor, because that corridor sounds like I'm going to have to get over there.
19:38I'll bring Senator Daines with me, and we're going to have to get over there, Steve.
19:43But this is a really great achievement, and I congratulate you.
19:48You're two incredible leaders.
19:50You're going to go down in history.
19:52And I've read the whole thing about how long it took, and you thought you were there, and people let you down,
19:59and sometimes you probably let people down, maybe.
20:02I don't know how it works, but that's the way it usually does.
20:04But this is something that is very, very special.
20:07So I don't want to get in the way of it at all, but we'll take a few questions,
20:11maybe at least slightly related.
20:14But we have some other things to announce later on in the day.
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