Ameriabank press release 

Lion Finance Group (LFG) marked its inclusion in the FTSE 100 Index by ringing the closing bell at the London Stock Exchange.

Ameriabank as part of LFG, has been included in the FTSE 100 index of one of the world’s leading stock exchanges in March, making it the first company from Armenia to join the top 100 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The Bell Ringing Ceremony is a symbolic and long-standing tradition at the London Stock Exchange, attended by representatives of financial institutions, investors, and key stakeholders.

Leadership of Lion Finance Group, Ameriabank, Bank of Georgia, and government representatives both from Georgia and Armenia, including Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan and Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia Martin Galstyan, and other guests attended the ceremony.

The LFG’s entry into the FTSE 100 reflects strong international investor trust in its long-term strategy and consistent growth trajectory.

This milestone marks a new phase of growth for the Group and its subsidiaries, built on a long-term strategic vision and a commitment to delivering value to their customers.

Having been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2006, the Group’s inclusion in the FTSE 100 index has taken place within two years after Ameriabank joined LFG. This testifies to the strategic importance of Ameriabank’s inclusion in the Group and to its significant contribution to the Group’s overall development. During the visit, representatives of Ameriabank and Bank of Georgia were also hosted at the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the United Kingdom, where they met with His Excellency Varuzhan Nersesyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

About Lion Finance Group

Lion Finance Group is a London Stock Exchange-listed banking group that brings together leading, customer-focused and digitally enabled universal banks across the region and operates through its principal subsidiaries, Bank of Georgia in Georgia and Ameriabank in Armenia.

About Ameriabank

Ameriabank is a leading financial and technology company in Armenia, a major contributor to the Armenian economy. In pursuit of digital transformation, the Bank has implemented unique products, services and innovative platforms designed to meet the diverse financial and non-financial needs people have today and keeps on improving them.

Being a dynamically developing fintech environment, Ameriabank offers comprehensive solutions to improve the quality of life.

The Bank is supervised by the Central Bank of Armenia.

French President Emmanuel Macron, after visiting the Armenian Genocide memorial in Yerevan, expressed France’s solidarity with the Armenian people in a social media post.

“Back in this place of memory and duty, facing the indelible,” Macron said, posting photos from the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial. “So that every name may be heard and not forgotten. France will forever stand alongside the Armenian people, with respect and in remembrance of the genocide endured and of so many stolen destinies.”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has hailed the establishment of peace with Azerbaijan as a key development, noting its growing practical _expression_ and saying that both sides have begun using similar rhetoric.

“The most important development is that we now have peace with Azerbaijan. And we should note that in the preceding period we have not had even two years, or even one year, without shootings, casualties, and injuries with Azerbaijan,” the Prime Minister said at a press conference after the first Armenia-EU Summit in Yerevan.

Pashinyan emphasized that, for the first time, a situation has emerged between Armenia and Azerbaijan in which the two sides are also converging in their rhetoric.

“For the first time in our shared history, Armenia and Azerbaijan are using the same or very similar rhetoric. The President of Azerbaijan also says that peace is a new reality in our lives, and we are learning to live under conditions of peace,” he noted.

According to the Prime Minister, the sides are still trying to understand the essence of peace and its practical implications.

He also highlighted the importance of institutionalizing peace, stressing the need to sign and ratify the initialed peace agreement, while noting that legal foundations already exist.

“It is wrong to think that the established peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan has no de jure basis. In 2024, the regulations on the joint activities of the border delimitation commissions were signed and ratified, which is the first interstate agreement between our countries with binding legal force,” Pashinyan emphasized.

Pashinyan said that the Alma-Ata Declaration has been accepted under this agreement as the basic principle for the delimitation process.

Pashinyan also noted that the peace process is already being reflected in practical steps.

“About 26,000 tons of cargo have already arrived in Armenia via Azerbaijani railways, and Armenia has also begun importing petroleum products from Azerbaijan,” he said.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of shaping a socio-psychological understanding of peace, noting that the consequences of decades of hostility cannot be overcome overnight.

“For 40 years we have lived in an environment of hostility, and it is not possible to simply turn off hostility and press a peace button. This is an inertial process,” Pashinyan said.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that the institutionalization of peace is progressing faster than expected at the societal level.

The Prime Minister voiced confidence that the sides will reach the signing of the initialed peace agreement, while stressing that further work will be required afterwards.

“The signing of a peace agreement does not mean that the work is finished. On the contrary, it will require the signing of many new agreements in different areas,” he said.

Pashinyan also highlighted the importance of opening regional communications and infrastructure projects, including TRIPP and initiatives being discussed with the European Union.

“When we fully open the roads for each other, including the opening of the border with Türkiye, and I have no doubt that this will happen, it will be an important step in the institutionalization of peace,” the Prime Minister noted.

President of the European Council António Costa said that the first Armenia-EU summit held Tuesday in Yerevan sends a clear signal of the EU’s firm commitment to deepen ties.

“Today’s EU-Armenia summit sends a clear signal of the EU’s firm commitment to deepen our relations with Armenia, and to strengthen cooperation across many new areas. Bringing Armenia and its people closer to the European Union,” he said on X.

In a separate post, he said the summit marks an important milestone in the deepening of the partnership between the European Union and Armenia. “This moment was made possible by Armenia’s significant achievements in recent years. They created a unique opportunity to deliver tangible benefits for our citizens, businesses and societies.”

Costa thanked Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan for hosting the summit.

“Our discussions reflect the significant achievements of recent years and our shared ambition to deliver tangible benefits for our citizens, business and societies,” the President of the European Council said.

At the first Armenia–EU summit, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the discussions revealed new layers of historical significance surrounding the event.

He made the remarks at a joint press conference with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“In our reality, there has historically been a perception that Armenia is located in a bad or even terrible geographical position. Today, it was very symbolic to hear from our EU partners that Armenia actually has an excellent geographical position and is located between the East and the West, or on the shortest route connecting the East and the West. This, perhaps, reflects a change in a historical period. These formulations express a shift in a historical era, when, while remaining in the same place, due to political processes, we are moving from a historically unfavorable or sometimes even terrible geographical position to an excellent geographical position,” Pashinyan said, emphasizing that the geographical position once used to explain Armenia’s problems is now serving the vision of building a sovereign, free, prosperous, and secure country.

The Prime Minister also described the EU’s statement calling on businesses to invest in Armenia as historic.

“Throughout the previous period, since independence, Armenia has been considered a risky destination for investments. Now, at the highest level, the EU is calling on economic operators to invest in Armenia. This is also a historically significant fact, because we have never before heard such a call or message from many of our international partners,” Pashinyan stressed.

Pashinyan highlighted that the Armenia–EU cooperation agenda also includes the energy sector. He noted that Armenia has historically been seen as limited in terms of energy resources and classified among dependent countries in this regard.

“In modern times, it has turned out that Armenia has unlimited energy resources, because we have regions where the number of sunny days exceeds 300, which means there are unlimited opportunities for the development of solar energy in our country. What we lack are storage facilities, and I thank our EU partners for their willingness to support us in developing energy storage systems in Armenia,” Pashinyan said.

He added that there are also joint programs with the EU in areas such as day–night water storage and utilization cycles, the development of green hydrogen production technologies, and other potential directions.

The Prime Minister also highlighted transport connectivity in the joint agenda, noting that cooperation with neighboring countries creates opportunities to integrate into international supply chains through railway, road, internet communication, and electricity transmission networks.

Pashinyan expressed gratitude to the EU, as well as to Costa and von der Leyen personally, for their support for Armenia’s democratic reform process. He expressed expectation of continued EU assistance in areas such as strengthening an independent judiciary, more systematic anti-corruption efforts, introducing more effective integrity systems, and several other directions.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that in recent years the perception of Armenia’s geographical position has significantly changed, reshaping the country’s strategic role in the region.

Speaking at the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset, and other dignitaries, the Prime Minister noted that although Armenia remains in the same geographical location, the perception and significance of its position have become completely different.

“While staying in the same place, we now have a completely different geographical position than we had before,” Pashinyan said.

He recalled that, according to the widely held perception in the past, Armenia was viewed as a country in a difficult region, surrounded by challenging neighbors and security risks, which for a long time shaped its political and strategic thinking.

“Today, a truly historic change has taken place. The description of Armenia’s geographical position is no longer that we are in a problematic environment, but that the shortest route connecting the East and the West passes through the Republic of Armenia,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

According to Prime Minister Pashinyan, this new perception is shaping a new vision and strategy for Armenia’s development. He noted that the government’s policy is built on this logic, aiming to realize the country’s potential for connectivity.

The Prime Minister presented two key initiatives of this strategy: the “Crossroads of Peace” and “TRIPP” projects.

He said that the “TRIPP” project primarily envisages the restoration of railway connectivity between the East and the West, adding that one of its main routes would pass through southern Armenia.

At the same time, the Prime Minister noted that the project is not limited to railways alone.

“These projects also include power transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines, which could pass through Armenia depending on technical and engineering solutions,” Pashinyan stressed.

He said the government is currently focused on realizing this potential and turning Armenia into an important hub of regional connectivity.

The Prime Minister also addressed the investment environment, noting that recent developments have significantly improved Armenia’s position.

“Today, Armenia is in a geographical position where the investment environment is changing substantially,” he said, emphasizing that this has become possible in the context of emerging peace in the region.

Pashinyan added that international partners, including U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, have also played an important role in this process.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized on Tuesday that Yerevan has made a sovereign choice to pursue a balancing foreign policy based not on dependence on a single center, but on the formation of substantive and mutually beneficial partnerships across different directions.

Speaking at the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum, he noted that the United States, France, Kazakhstan, China, and an expanding group of European countries are today part of Armenia’s strategic partnership landscape—not as alternatives to one another, but as diverse and cooperative pillars of its foreign policy architecture.

“Our commitment to peace, cooperation, and development guides our approach toward our neighbors. The process of normalizing relations with Türkiye reflects our belief that open borders and good-neighborly relations will best serve the interests of our people. With Georgia, we continue to deepen our strategic partnership based on mutual interests, and with Iran, we have consistently maintained friendly ties and close cooperation,” he said.

Mirzoyan stressed that diplomacy alone is not sufficient to sustain peace.

“When we share trade routes, energy networks, and digital connectivity, we also share risks and benefits. Therefore, by jointly building infrastructure with our neighbors that connects East to West and North to South, we create a reality in our region where every actor has a vested interest in their neighbor’s stability,” the minister said, adding that this is the foundation of the “Crossroads of Peace” initiative and the TRIPP project.

The European Commission has highly praised Armenia’s progress in implementing the Visa Liberalization Action Plan.

The first progress report on Armenia’s implementation of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan was formally handed to Armenia during the first Armenia–EU summit in Yerevan on Tuesday.

The report, according to the Armenian authorities, notes the clear political commitment of Armenia to implement the necessary reforms aimed at visa liberalization with the EU.

“The Armenian authorities have demonstrated strong political commitment to implementing the reforms envisaged under the Visa Liberalization Action Plan. Despite the fact that the VLAP was only recently handed over to Armenia, many reforms have already been initiated or are being planned by the Armenian authorities,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs quoted a part of the report as saying.

Analyzing all the steps taken by Armenia under the first set of benchmarks of the Action Plan (legislation and policy framework), the European Commission concluded that Armenia is at an “advanced stage of fulfilment” in the areas of document security, borders, migration management, and asylum, and has made “good progress” in the areas of public security and fundamental rights.

The European Union wants to make Armenia an attractive country for investment, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during a press conference after the inaugural Armenia–EU summit in Yerevan.

“We want to make Armenia an attractive country for investment. You have talent, you have human resources, and you have important resources. What you need is investment and infrastructure. This is partly provided directly by the European Union, but also through EU investment and de-risking measures, which create opportunities for the business sector to invest in Armenia,” von der Leyen said when asked by Armenpress about the areas in which the European Union is ready to support Armenia, including the opportunities that will emerge following the unblocking of communications in the South Caucasus.

“You have just witnessed the signing and handover of six letters of intent to leading funds and companies, which are already convinced that this is the right place to invest. The de-risking component provided by the EU creates a very favorable environment for the business sector to come here and implement projects of interest,” she added.

The signing of the first Letters of Intent with selected private sector partners in the fields of digital infrastructure, semiconductor skills, innovation ecosystems, and private investment mobilisation took place during the summit.

Armenia and the European Union have discussed numerous projects, including cooperation in the field of border management, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Tuesday. 

“We have many projects and have discussed many initiatives, including in the area of border management cooperation,” he said at a press conference after the first Armenia–EU summit in Yerevan.

“I have repeatedly said that we want to make Armenia a very desirable and popular destination, and for that we need to facilitate travel for people. In the near future, alongside the introduction of biometric passports, we must also have non-contact border-crossing infrastructure at all our border checkpoints. Today, the European Union already has a very concrete contribution to our border management. The ‘Agarak’ border crossing on the Armenia–Iran border and the adjacent infrastructure are being built thanks to European investments,” he said.

Pashinyan added that there are also projects aimed at regional connectivity, based on the reality previously mentioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen—that the shortest route from East to West passes through Armenia.

“We are used to calculating issues in euros, dollars, and drams, but the statement that ‘the shortest route from East to West passes through Armenia’ is worth tens or hundreds of billions, even trillions. This is a signal at the highest level to the international investment community that there is potential here worth tens of billions, if not hundreds. And we are grateful to our EU partners for helping us also discover that potential,” Pashinyan emphasized.