Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Saturday that Armenia wants to enhance its logistical chains through Iran and highlighted the implementation of the TRIPP connectivity project in this regard.

“We note with satisfaction that the negotiations between our two friendly countries—the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States—appear to be showing a dynamic of progress,” he said at a press briefing when asked about developments in Iran and the possible economic fallout from the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the possibility of seeking alternative routes.

“We are generally developing alternatives, but our vision of cooperation with Iran is strategic, and we want to expand our logistics chains and opportunities through Iranian territory. In this regard, the implementation of the TRIPP project is also very important, because as a result we will have a railway connection with Iran, which will significantly facilitate the import of goods into Armenia and the export of goods from Armenia,” Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized.

In this context, the prime minister also emphasized that a new transport route had already been established in the previous period—a rail connection with China via Central Asia through the China–Kazakhstan–Russia–Azerbaijan–Georgia–Armenia route.

“I assume that in all cases where businesses see difficulties in bringing goods through Iranian territory, they will use this route instead,” the prime minister said.

Pashinyan stressed that the Armenian government has been working on these issues since last year, when regional tensions began to rise.

“We are confident that we will not face a shortage of goods. Inflation is a different issue, because if the price of a product increases at its point of origin, our ability to influence that is limited,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

The prime minister noted that alternatives exist in terms of supply routes but expressed confidence that, in the context of regional stabilization, the TRIPP project will be implemented in the near future. As a result, an Iran–Armenia railway link, as well as the Persian Gulf–Black Sea railway link, will be established.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia, envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. An Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Saturday that work is ongoing toward the swift signing of the initialed peace treaty with Azerbaijan, as well as the reopening of the land border with Türkiye.

“I believe the time has long come for contacts between officials of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye to be part of everyday working relations,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, commenting on recent increased interactions and meetings between officials of the three countries.

Addressing questions about the prospects of the reopening of the Armenia–Türkiye land border and the final signing of a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, Pashinyan said there were no new developments in that regard.

“There is nothing new, but there is daily work underway. We are trying to find opportunities to develop relations in various directions,” he said at a press briefing. 

In this context, he noted that Turkish Airlines recently launched flights to Armenia.

“We hope that one of the Turkish airlines will also operate flights to Gyumri,” Pashinyan added.

The prime minister stressed that for him, the question is not whether the Armenia–Türkiye border will open or whether a peace agreement with Azerbaijan will be signed, but when it will happen.

According to Pashinyan, work is currently underway to ensure that these developments take place as soon as possible.

Türkiye unilaterally closed its land border with Armenia in 1993.

The two countries have intensified normalization efforts in recent years and reached an agreement that the first phase would envisage opening the border to citizens of third countries as well as diplomats.

Armenia’s border checkpoint with Türkiye has been modernized and is ready for operations. 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the country’s law enforcement bodies have compiled a “thick file” of individuals whom authorities believe are operating according to the agendas of foreign states.

Pashinyan made the remarks during a press briefing, responding to his recent statement about foreign agents operating in Armenia.

The prime minister said that if these individuals remain at large, it means they have not yet crossed the line into espionage, but are operating within that line of conduct.

“There are people who are very close to that line, walking along the edge. When they cross it, there will be a response,” Pashinyan said. “I have the list of those individuals — by name, and contacts. I am primarily speaking about political actors.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated that the Armenian judiciary ought to be reformed and highlighted the proposed new constitution in that regard.

He spoke about the matter at a press briefing when asked about his suggestion to introduce a jury system in the judiciary.

With the adoption of a new Constitution in Armenia, significant changes are expected in the judicial system, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

He noted that there is even a proposal suggesting that, from the moment the new Constitution is adopted, the status of all judges should be redefined as acting judges. Within a set period, and only after the establishment of a new integrity standard—which would become possible under new legal regulations—they would be reappointed.

Pashinyan said that there cannot be a judiciary—or any branch of government—that is not organically connected to the people.

“I believe the General Assembly of Judges, for example, should not have the right to elect members of the Supreme Judicial Council. They should have the right to nominate candidates, but in all cases the final decision should be made by the body that holds the primary mandate of the people, and that body is the National Assembly,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan recalled that when he said years ago that the judicial system should be independent, he did not mean it should be independent from him while being dependent on many others.

“This is where a balance is disrupted, and we need to address this issue. For example, if it turns out that there is a judge in Armenia who does not meet the professional standards of a judge, then that person cannot be independent, because while writing decisions, verdicts, or reviewing motions, they will constantly turn to others, which in itself creates dependencies with resulting consequences,” Pashinyan emphasized.

Armenia and Russia will continue to implement previously reached agreements in the military-technical sphere, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Saturday.

“We have military-technical cooperation with Russia, we have had it, which at some point was interrupted or significantly reduced, and yes, we have an agreement to implement previously reached arrangements,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a press briefing when asked about his April 1 visit to Moscow and his meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

Pashinyan had earlier said that his visit to Russia was “very successful” and that he reached concrete agreements during talks with Putin.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has proposed creating an organization to protect the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises.

“A circle is being formed whose responsibility is to collaborate with the government, to gather and present issues, which will be professional and will not be a state position,” the Prime Minister said during a meeting with members of the SME Cooperation Association and small and medium-sized entrepreneurs.

PM Pashinyan added that the government is ready to fund this organization, provided that small and medium-sized enterprises also participate in the funding.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took part in a discussion on the future of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), organized by the SME Cooperation Association NGO with the support of the Democracy Development Fund, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, representatives of the association’s regional offices, and SME representatives.

Pashinyan congratulated participants on Taxpayer’s Day, highlighting its importance for state-business relations. He stressed that the existence of a functioning state is directly linked to tax collection, noting that taxes enable the resolution of public issues and the implementation of development programs.

The Prime Minister said tax policy should encourage higher productivity and increased tax payments, as this reflects economic development.

“There is tax, there is a state; there is no tax, there is no state. When there is tax, issues are resolved or are being resolved; when there is no tax, no issues are resolved,” the PM said.

Speaking about the development of SMEs, Pashinyan emphasized that sustainable economic relations cannot be achieved without a change in attitudes toward taxation. He highlighted the importance of properly presenting the tax system, noting that recent amendments have created broader opportunities, including reduced tax rates of 1% and 1.5% depending on the sector.

Pashinyan also underlined the need to establish an institutional system, suggesting that SMEs should have an advocacy organization. He said the Government is ready to co-finance such a body together with businesses.

According to the Prime Minister, this would help coordinate efforts and create a non-state institution working closely with the Government to collect and present sector-related issues.

Participants also discussed issues related to SME development, the continuous improvement of tax administration, available support tools, existing challenges in the sector, and possible solutions.

Armenia plans to build 100 additional combined playgrounds in the near future, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the awarding ceremony of the “Schoolchildren’s Basketball League” sports games.

The playgrounds will include both mini-football and basketball courts, he noted.

Pashinyan said that for the second consecutive year, Yerevan teams have shown clear dominance, but added that the regions are also receiving important motivation. He emphasized that large-scale investments are being made in both Yerevan and the regions under the school construction program.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan said such tournaments also serve as a unique assessment of the work of physical education teachers.

She added that more schools will be involved in the tournament each year, noting that it is not only about sports but also about developing important personal qualities.

Armenian weightlifter, the late Aghasi Aghasyan, has been posthumously awarded the bronze medals in the clean & jerk and total results of the 2014 European Weightlifting Championships held in Tel Aviv, Israel, following the reallocation of results announced by the European Weightlifting Federation.

Aghasyan died in a car crash in 2019 at the age of 30.

The reallocation took place after the EWF disqualified other athletes who competed in Aghasyan’s 85kg category in 2019.

The medal reallocation ceremony took place during the Congress of the European Weightlifting Federation in Batumi, Georgia.

The medal was received on Aghasyan’s behalf by the Secretary General of the Weightlifting Federation of Armenia, Samvel Gasparyan.

The Federation will transfer the medal to the Aghasyan family in the coming days.

The Blue magazine of the Greek Aegean Airlines has published an extensive article about Armenia under the title “Armenia: A Museum Beneath an Open Sky”,  the Embassy of Armenia in Greece said in a statement.

”The Republic of Armenia is continuously presented as a country with a rich cultural heritage and modern creative potential. Yerevan, as the capital, combines historical values with innovative developments, forming a multi-layered and attractive environment,” it reads.

“In the cultural map of the capital, museums and art centers hold an important place, while young creative initiatives, including TUMO Studios, contribute to the engagement of the new generation and the reinterpreting of Armenian traditions through a contemporary perspective”.

“Armenian cuisine is presented in both traditional and modern formats; restaurants in Yerevan combine national flavors with innovative approaches, offering a high-level gastronomic experience. At the same time, Armenia is developing as an important wine-producing destination, based on centuries-old traditions and the revival of local grape varieties,” the article reads.