French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Armenia is experiencing a pivotal moment in its modern history, describing the phase as “Armenia’s moment.”

In his speech at the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum, Macron, who is on a state visit to Armenia, emphasized the country’s peace agenda, economic progress, and growing regional significance.

Macron stressed that recent days show this is truly Armenia’s moment.

He reiterated his earlier remarks that four or eight years ago no one could have imagined it would be possible to bring together around 40 heads of state in Yerevan within the framework of the European Political Community, or to hold a summit between the European Union and Armenia.

In his view, it is clear that changes have taken place, especially considering that Armenia went through a severe war in the autumn of 2020 with serious consequences.

In Macron’s assessment, this moment opens a new path for Armenia, which in itself is already a success. He emphasized that it is first and foremost about the path of peace, noting that Armenia had the courage to choose peace and to find the necessary formats for normalizing relations with Azerbaijan. He added that the Prague and Washington summits in 2022 contributed to this process.

The French President also referred to economic developments, noting that over the past eight years Armenia has recorded average economic growth of around 6 percent, with even more impressive growth in the last two years. In his words, this reflects the effectiveness of a model that combines peace and prosperity.

“Armenia has become an important platform for European discussions. The 8th summit of the European Political Community is being held in Yerevan, as well as high-level EU–Armenia meetings, where infrastructure, security, and development programs are being discussed,” Macron said.

He added that developments in Armenia were unexpected for many, but they became possible thanks to the great courage shown in recent years, which is opening new opportunities for the country.

Macron also stressed that he wants the “Armenian moment” to become a “Caucasian moment,” encompassing the entire region. He said he has two fundamental convictions regarding the South Caucasus:

“The region should not become a field of imperial competition; it can become a crossroads thanks to its geographical location,” the French President said.

He also highlighted the importance of opening borders, noting that doing so would allow the region to fully benefit from economic and political opportunities. In this context, he welcomed Azerbaijan’s removal of trade restrictions with Armenia and the gradual opening of logistical routes.