Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has reaffirmed that theArmenian authorities have no intention of creating tensions inrelations with Russia.

Mirzoyan addressed the current state of Armenia-Russia relationsduring a press conference on May 26.

“We have absolutely no desire to create tensions in Armenia-Russiarelations, in political dialogue, or in economic ties – neitherbilaterally nor within multilateral platforms of cooperation such asthe EAEU, the CIS and elsewhere. All issues that have arisen or mayarise – and problems emerge from time to time in any relationship – wehope and are committed to discussing in a healthy, constructive andpartnership-based atmosphere in order to find solutions,” Mirzoyansaid.

According to the foreign minister, there is a tendency to linkexport-related issues involving certain Armenian goods shipped toRussia with bilateral relations or with Armenia’s pro-European andpro-Western policies or choices, although such problems have alwaysexisted.

Mirzoyan said that anyone making the effort could also find examplesof difficulties involving exports of fruit, vegetables or alcoholicbeverages from Armenia to Russia dating back five to 25 years.

At the same time, the foreign minister stressed that Armenia hasrepeatedly and publicly stated the need for economic diversification.

“Diversification is necessary for us, and we must continue takingsteps to find new markets, consumer markets and sources of supply,”Mirzoyan concluded.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has described claims about the possible resettlement of 300,000 Azerbaijanis in Armenia as “a product of a sick imagination”.

Speaking to journalists on May 26, Mirzoyan responded to claims circulated by opposition political forces alleging that “300,000 Azerbaijanis would be resettled in Armenia if the current authorities are re-elected in the upcoming parliamentary elections”.

“Once again, I say that the thesis about settling 300,000 Azerbaijanis in Armenia is a product of a sick imagination, it is nonsense. Moreover, repeating it again after our denials points to one of two things: either the person repeating it does not understand – at the level of basic comprehension – what is being said, or secondly, it is outright dishonesty, because they are deliberately repeating something that does not exist in an attempt to manipulate issues sensitive to people and, of course unsuccessfully, press on painful points in society,” Mirzoyan said.

“I do not know, from the perspective of the interests of the person constantly repeating this absurdity, which is the better explanation – that they repeat it because they do not understand, or because they have malicious intentions. Dear compatriots, the thesis about settling 300,000 Azerbaijanis in Armenia is a product of a sick imagination, nonsense and dishonesty,” he added.

Responding to a journalist’s question about how many Azerbaijanis were in fact being discussed for resettlement, Mirzoyan replied: “None.”

Claims that 300,000 Azerbaijanis would allegedly be resettled in Armenia if the current authorities are re-elected have been actively promoted by representatives of the opposition “Strong Armenia” and “Hayastan” alliances.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly denied the claims, stressing that such an issue has never been discussed and is not being discussed in negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Despite the denials, opposition representatives have continued actively circulating the claims, including through the production and distribution of videos generated using artificial intelligence.

A memorandum signed between Armenia and the United States on cooperation in the extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earths is only the beginning, and could soon lead to concrete investment and practical outcomes, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said.

Speaking during a briefing with journalists, Mirzoyan responded to a question regarding cooperation between Armenia and the United States in the field of extracting and processing critical minerals and rare earth elements.

“Yes, the document on critical minerals and rare earths is a memorandum, and it should be followed by various concrete agreements and specific deals. As often happens, before the ink on the paper has even dried, we see a flood of criticism and scepticism, with claims that this is merely a memorandum and nothing will work,” Mirzoyan said.

“However, let me remind you that not long after the memorandum on artificial intelligence and semiconductors was signed on August 8 last year, we saw semiconductors entering Armenia and, within that framework, the expansion of activities surrounding an artificial intelligence data centre,” he added.

According to the foreign minister, in the field of critical minerals and rare earth elements as well, governments create environments, shape conditions, establish rules and send signals to businesses that they will work to facilitate cooperation.

“I will not hide the fact that there are already preliminary ideas regarding investments, but I will not rush to speak publicly about them now, because they are still at the stage of an initial exchange of views. Let the discussions become more focused, and let companies on both sides explore mutual interests. But I would venture to say that in the near future we will also see very concrete developments in the field of critical minerals and rare earth elements,” Mirzoyan said.

Earlier, Armenia and the United States signed a framework memorandum on securing supply chains in the extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earths.

The memorandum was signed during a visit to Yerevan by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

A number of countries have expressed interest in various components of the TRIPP project set to be implemented in Armenia, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in remarks to journalists.

“There are various parties – countries and companies – that have shown interest in different manifestations of the TRIPP project, in one or another component or segment of it, whether in physical construction, the supply of goods, or the software systems through which the project will be managed. We have also held preliminary discussions and exchanges of views with a number of partners, but I would not like at this stage to draw any conclusions or mention names,” Mirzoyan said.

On May 26 in Yerevan, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio initialled a framework agreement on strategic cooperation related to the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” project.

The issue of Armenian prisoners of war and detainees held in Baku remains a constant part of discussions between Armenia and the United States, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in remarks to journalists.

“Our American partners have consistently shown sincere interest in this issue and have made efforts, and those efforts have yielded results. I very much hope that this issue will see new success in the near future,” Mirzoyan said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Armenia on May 26.

During the visit, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Rubio signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Charter between the two countries, as well as a framework memorandum on securing supply chains in the extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earth elements.

The sides also initialled a framework agreement on strategic cooperation related to the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” project.

The TRIPP project to be implemented in Armenia will also create opportunities for the Islamic Republic of Iran, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in remarks to journalists, adding that concerns over possible security risks for Iran linked to the project had been dispelled.

“There were questions in Iran regarding the alleged security component of TRIPP, including discussions about the possible deployment of third-country armed forces. Our Iranian partners have seen that no such thing is envisaged by the signed document. All infrastructure will remain under the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia and operate under Armenia’s jurisdiction, which also excludes the deployment of any third party. There is therefore no particular reason for concern over these issues,” Mirzoyan said.

“The same TRIPP project will also create opportunities for Iran. Through Nakhchivan, we will be connected by rail to Iran’s railway network. Through Armenia, Iran will also be able to gain access, for example, to the Black Sea. In effect, TRIPP creates a new rail connection linking the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea,” he added.

The Armenian foreign minister also said the project would create opportunities for Russia.

“Numerous officials from Russia have shown interest in TRIPP and would like to participate,” Mirzoyan noted.

On May 26, Armenia and the United States initialled a framework agreement on strategic cooperation related to the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” project.

The document was initialled during a visit to Armenia by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The agreement was signed on behalf of Armenia by Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and on behalf of the United States by Rubio.

The United States Department of State has summarised the outcomes of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Armenia.

The State Department released a statement on its website.

“The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed the peace process with Azerbaijan, the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), and Armenia’s upcoming elections. The two leaders announced a bilateral framework agreement on TRIPP and signed a Strategic Partnership Charter and a Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals. These documents deepen our bilateral relationship and advance the agreements made between the United States and Armenia during President Trump’s historic August 8, 2025 peace summit between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the statement said.

Rubio visited Armenia on May 26.

During the visit, Rubio and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Charter between the two countries, as well as a framework memorandum on securing supply chains in the extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earth elements.

The sides also initialled a framework agreement on strategic cooperation related to the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” project.

On May 22, 2026, the arbitral tribunal of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) issued an award fully rejecting all claims brought against the Republic of Armenia by the Lebanese company Sanitek and its owners, the Armenian government said in a press release.

The Lebanese company Sanitek provided waste collection and sanitation services in Yerevan. The Yerevan City Hall terminated its contracts with the company due to its improper performance of contractual obligations, which caused a waste management crisis in the city.

On March 11, 2021, Sanitek initiated arbitration proceedings, alleging that Armenia had violated the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Republic of Lebanon on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments,” and sought approximately USD 36 million in compensation.

The arbitral tribunal unanimously ruled in favor of the Republic of Armenia, fully rejecting the claimants’ demands. The tribunal found that Sanitek had failed to properly fulfill its contractual obligations for waste collection and street cleaning services, despite having received payment for these services.

The tribunal emphasized that inadequate waste management poses a risk to public health and concluded that Armenia’s termination of the contracts was reasonable and justified.

It also noted that had the state not taken measures to replace Sanitek and address the service gap, this would have been considered a failure to fulfill its obligations to the public.

The tribunal further dismissed the claimants’ allegation that, following the 2018 change of government, Armenian authorities acted against Sanitek for political reasons rather than on contractual grounds, finding this claim unsubstantiated.

“The Republic of Armenia welcomes the tribunal’s award, which reaffirms that the reasonable exercise of a state’s contractual rights and its obligations toward its citizens cannot give rise to international liability,” the Armenian government said in a press release.

A reception was held at the Embassy of Bulgaria in Armenia on the occasion of the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture, as well as Slavic literature.

As part of the event, students of School No. 131 named after renowned Bulgarian poet Peyo Yavorov performed the national anthems of Armenia and Bulgaria. The pupils also presented Armenian-Bulgarian national dances and songs.

Welcoming the guests, Bulgaria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia, Nikola Nikolov, stressed that the holiday holds special significance not only for Bulgaria, but also for all peoples who share the spiritual heritage of Slavic script and culture.

“The work of Saints Cyril and Methodius serves as a bridge between nations, becoming a symbol of cultural identity, heritage, national pride and mutual respect. Today, more than ever, May 24 is not merely a calendar date for Bulgarians and other Slavic peoples. It is a day symbolising the spirit of education, culture and literacy. We celebrate not only a historical achievement, but also a living tradition that continues to inspire and shape our societies. This day is a true testament to the enduring power of knowledge and cultural heritage. Thank you for celebrating this joyful occasion together,” the ambassador said.

During the event, the embassy presented certificates of appreciation to Eduard Khachatryan, head of the “Khachatryan” dance group, and Ashkhen Shahazizyan, the choir’s artistic director, for their support in organising the event, as well as for the dance and musical performances.