Armenia will not pay $1 billion to join the Peace Council recently launched by U.S. President Donald Trump, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan told Factor.am .
She explained that the Peace Council’s charter provides for voluntary financial contributions and allows invited countries to join without a fixed membership fee for up to three years.
“A country invited by President Trump may join the council without any specified membership fee for a period of up to three years, subject to review thereafter. The Armenian government has approved membership under these terms,” Badalyan said.
She added that the oft-cited $1 billion figure is a voluntary contribution, applicable only if a country seeks permanent member status after the charter comes into force.
On January 22, representatives from 19 countries signed the Peace Council charter in Davos. Armenia and Azerbaijan were among the signatories.
During the signing ceremony, Trump stated that the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan had become his friends.
