This is a reason for war… The Caucasus is being raised against Russia. Vardan Hakobyan

May 6, 2026

The liberal-globalists who rule the European Union are trying to make Armenia and the South Caucasus a platform to attack Russia, and raising the Caucasus against Russia is a reason for war, “casus belli”. 168 TVof Revue expressed this belief in an interview with the program Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Minister of the RA, diplomat Vardan Hakobyanthetalking about the European summits held in Yerevan and the announcements made during these events.

“Macron declares that the South Caucasus should not be a place of competition between empires, but with his own declaration he turns it into a battlefield.

If we move on to geopolitical and political issues, we see that with these statements and these steps, Armenia becomes a certain platform… We have often said here that, well, Armenia is not Ukraine with a population of 50 million, not even Azerbaijan, which has a population of approximately 10 million.

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But Armenia should play a supporting role rather than an infantry one, and basically it should be a platform for preparing the entire new anti-Russian attack. In all cases, this is what this person says, and by saying it, he hits the interests of all states. Someone can say that the Europeans have their interests too. Yes, for their own interests, they make Armenia a field of confrontation between the power centers of many states. They pursue their own interests.

Even today, the pursuit of that interest becomes the center of contradictions and contradictions, because it can pass military phaseas it happened in Ukraine, that is, if you raise the South Caucasus against Russia, and then also the North Caucasus, and then you go to Central Asia, this cause of war է՝ «casus belli“, and the Russians might not be patient this time for 8 years,” thinks Vardan Hakobyan.

Speaking on the occasion of French President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial statements in Yerevan, both about Armenian-French and Armenia-European Union or Armenia-Europe ties, the diplomat emphasizes that first of all, the geopolitical and civilizational sides of the issue should be separated. Vardan Hakobyan is disgusted by the similar expressions of Macron and other liberal-globalists, that until 2018, Armenia was “Russia’s satellite”and from the “stinking half-truths” expressed by him and emphasizes that historically, for more than 2000 years, Armenia has been connected with European countries, European civilization and culture. According to the diplomat, no one wants to deny this and exclude the Armenian nation from ties with Europe, but the European Union with its current policy and the so-called Eurobureaucracy that manages it is a different story.

“It is true, we were also connected with Iran, but with the Iran of that time, but the predominant one in our history, our self-awareness, national mentality is the European one, and not only, let’s say, European influences, but there was also a time when we influenced Europe, more specifically, after Cilicia, the influence of our culture was very significant. I am saying all this only because these EU supporters want to present as if we or the opposition, as well as individual people, are against the connections with the Europeans or deny those connections.

There is no such thing. Now let’s come from here, that connection that we had, let’s say, from Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece. The traces of Hellenistic culture are still there, aren’t they? Not to mention the most powerful connection with Byzantium. Both Armenia, and Europe at that time, and Russia entered that Byzantine cultural field, until the Ottomans came, captured Constantinople, destroyed the Byzantine Empire, and the history of Europe moved to the West… The same Marx, Engels said that when the Ottomans conquered all of Byzantium, entered Europe, etc., they have this expression:

«After the fall of Constantinople (1453), the Ottomans pushed back the history of Europe by 200 years.“. Indeed, the Europeans were in a very difficult position and development was disrupted. “And the history of Armenians,” they say, “stopped.” That’s their word… If we imagine the map in our mind, the field of development of our history is inseparable from the European field. I am talking about the time when Polis was not occupied yet. Then the Ottoman Empire was created and the Ottoman Empire stopped our history until 1918, or you could say until 1828., when Eastern Armenia at least joined the Christian state, and we were freed from many persecutions,” this is how Vardan Hakobyan analyzes the history.

The diplomat emphasizes that the whole issue is that now we are not talking about that Europe, but about the European Union as a bureaucratic organization, where the leaders, in fact, are not elected by the European peoples.

“These neo-globalists took the leadership positions of the European Union. Do you imagine that a certain von der Leyen or Kaya Kalas would give instructions to Mitterrand or Margaret Thatcher or the leaders of Italy,” the political analyst notes.

According to the diplomat, the goal of the EU bureaucracy is not to make these states and peoples, including Armenia, a member of the European Union, but to use them as they use the Ukrainians.

«Did Ukraine join the European Union?, – Vardan Hakobyan asks a rhetorical question and continues, – Now we can, don’t we, have the right to assume that they want to do the same thing with the Caucasian states and peoples? In other words, if their “idea fix”, the goal of the Nulands and European liberal-globalists is not to keep Europe strong and develop, but the exact opposite.”

Speaking about the Artsakh issue and Russia’s policy, the diplomat recalled his personal contacts with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the impression he received.

«Yes, Lavrov is an Armenian, but the man is a Russian politician. Moreover, it fell because during my personal contacts, I saw that he and some of his deputies, for example, Karasin, how hard they take our problems, how much they think about it, how many proposals they make, but there are people who believe that “genocide did not take place”, “it is necessary to count who killed whom”… I myself attended the Russian-Georgian negotiations many times.

The Russians were saying it all the way“We recognize the territorial integrity of Georgia, but understand: it is not necessary to do this, it is not necessary to do it that way, be patient.” But at the behest of the West, Saakashvili, who is the disgrace of the Georgian people, organized a very theatrical attack on South Ossetia.… The same was said to Armenians. “Come on, let’s see how these developments will go, because the Karabakh issue is in the process of being resolved, one way or another. don’t make statements: Karabakh is ours, and that’s it…”

Let’s remind that on May 4, during the interactive panel discussion of the European Political Community (ECC) summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said:

“Let’s be honest, 8 years ago no one would have come here, and the fact that we have so many first visits to your country is a really good indicator, because 8 years ago, this country was considered by many countries at the table as a de facto satellite of Russia, and Nikol organized the Velvet Revolution, and the country benefited from it.”

And while speaking at the “Yerevan Dialogue” conference held the next day, Macron called on Azerbaijan and Turkey to open their borders with Armenia.

Full interview in the video.




Yerevan shifts from Kremlin ties: implications for Belarusians

BelSat.eu
May 7 2026

Armenia hosted Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya at the European Political Community summit, but this does not necessarily mean that the country’s relations with the Belarusian democratic forces will change fundamentally. Just as Armenia’s move toward the European Union will not necessarily be successful. Belsat discussed with experts how Yerevan is attempting to move away from the Kremlin and toward Europe and whether democratic Belarusians will benefit from this.

Armenia has had tense relations with the Minsk authorities for several years, and on May 4, the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, visited Yerevan. There is even discussion about whether Armenia will become safe for Belarusians persecuted for their politics.

The only ally of Russia and Belarus that supported the democratic forces

Ryhor Nizhnikau, a senior research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, emphasizes that Armenia is currently the only ally of Russia and Belarus under official treaties, particularly the CSTO, which is developing relations and providing diplomatic support to Belarusian democratic forces.

,,

If this government remains in power (parliamentary elections are in June in Armenia – Ed.) – we don’t know for sure yet, but the chances are quite high – we will continue to see this trend. That is, Armenia will become an increasingly safe country for both Belarusians and Russians. There will be increasing opportunities for those already in Armenia and for those who want to escape these concentration camps (from Russia and Belarus – Ed.),” says Ryhor Nizhnikau.


At the same time, pro-democratic Belarusians should not have high expectations even if the current government remains in power, the source notes.

Historian and political commentator Alexander Friedman shares this view. He believes that rapid, qualitative changes in Armenia’s relations with the Belarusian democratic forces are unlikely, and that Armenia did not initiate Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Yerevan. Most likely, the Europeans who organized the summit asked the Armenian leadership whether they were prepared to see Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya there, the expert believes.

The Armenian side has demonstrated its readiness. Especially since they are exploiting the Belarusian factor in today’s election campaign. As for the [pro-democracy] Belarusians in Armenia, the current situation is favorable. Obviously, the Armenian side isn’t particularly interested in cooperating with the Belarusian authorities. How sustainable is this? I’m honestly not sure. There are positive trends, and, of course, Tsikhanouskaya’s participation in this summit and meetings with the Armenian side are a success. But it’s too early to draw any conclusions from this,” says Alexander Friedman.

Europe and Armenia have mutual interests

The intensification of relations between the democratic forces of Belarus and Armenia has become possible due to Armenia’s orientation toward the European Union and its distancing from Russia. Ryhor Nizhnikau notes that the June elections will show how stable this reorientation is.

“I think this process is quite stable in Armenian society. Today, with the exception of Belarus, all countries in the borderlands of Europe and Russia continue or have adopted this policy of balancing. They see a conflict between Europe and Russia and are taking advantage of it [to distance themselves from Russia],” says Nizhnikau.

“It’s quite interesting how, even as a Russian ally, involved in all Russian integration processes, Armenia is showing the way to distance itself from this alliance.”

Alexander Fridman adds that there is interest in Armenia from the European side:

“Strategically, it’s an important country. Moreover, it’s a country located in Russia’s sphere of influence. Trying to pull it out is a very interesting opportunity for Europe. Especially since there have been certain shifts on the Armenian side.”

Moreover, from the EU’s perspective, Armenia cannot be considered a problematic country, Friedman believes:

“It already has a certain democratic tradition and structures, and imperfect but largely democratic elections are held there. There is freedom of the press. It is a country that already has a certain foundation for integration into European structures and the EU.” There is a desire to move in this direction.”

Breaking away from Russia will not be possible without obstacles

However, it is unknown how Armenian society will react and whether it will continue to support the EU in a situation where Russia exerts economic, propaganda, and military pressure due to the country’s attempts to distance itself.

“Therefore, Armenia still needs to decide what to do next with its participation in various integration associations under Russia’s auspices. What will happen to the Russian military personnel stationed in Armenia? All these are still open questions. There are no obvious answers,” emphasizes Alexander Fridman.

Ryhor Nizhnikau adds that it’s impossible to say that Armenia will ultimately necessarily join the European Union:

“Much depends on whether Ukraine, which is currently struggling to permanently leave the so-called ‘Russian world,’ where it has been for almost four centuries, will be able to do so. If it succeeds, it will be the main driver of the disintegration of Russian imperial space. This will push Belarus, the countries of the Caucasus, and so on.”

For now, Armenia is forced to gradually retreat from Russia and wait for a window of opportunity. This is precisely what the Armenian leadership and society are currently preparing for, believes Ryhor Nizhnikau.

“The European Union is very actively developing relations with both Armenia and the countries of Central Asia.” Armenia has become the EU’s main ally in the Caucasus. This would have been unimaginable just five years ago. Whether the EU will be able to resolve the dilemma of what to do with Armenia if it wants to join the EU and is ready is a big question,” concludes Ryhor Nizhnikau.

Arsen Rudenka / kz belsat.eu

Guys, there can’t be a closed door for you in Armenia. Gagik Tsaruky

May 7, 2026

Gagik Tsarukyan writes on his Facebook page. “Today I appeal to our boys who participated in the 44-day war and the defense of the motherland.

As you know, after the weather improved, the pilgrimage to the construction site of the statue of Christ resumed, and already thousands of citizens have lined up to take part. Tens of thousands of our compatriots want to participate in the construction of this historical structure.

The number of those who want is much larger than we can provide even in the case of raising groups on a daily basis. This is the reality. We spare no effort to regulate the flow of people and escort them to the construction site. Everyone wants to put a prayer on the lips of this truly historic structure.

However, there are people whose desire for me is above and more important than anything else. Our boys who took part in the defense of the motherland approach us a lot, expressing their desire to take part in the construction.

I instructed to give priority to our boys’ groups. I am sure that the other people on the waiting list, from Armenia and the Diaspora, will approach with understanding. There is very little we can do to repay these boys’ feats and express our gratitude to them. Let this be a symbolic step.

Guys, there can be no closed doors, queues, delays, inconveniences for you in Armenia. All those who wish to climb the statue construction site, please contact the information office or my assistant, your battle buddy Eric and your groups will climb Mount Hatis in order of priority. I will welcome you with great love, I will accompany you.”

Russia scolds ally Armenia for hosting Zelensky

rfi, France
May 7 2026

Moscow (AFP) – Russia said Thursday that it was “incomprehensible” its ally Armenia hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a European summit earlier this week, and cautioned the country against deeper European integration.

Ties between Armenia and its former imperial ruler Moscow have frayed in recent years.

The former Soviet republic froze its membership in the Russian-led CSTO military alliance in 2024 over Russia’s failure to defend it against Azerbaijan, and has expressed an interest in joining the European Union, angering the Kremlin.

“Russian society, with deep indignation and bewilderment, not only saw, but above all remembered, the fact that Armenia, which we are accustomed to considering a friendly, fraternal country, had served as a platform. For whom? For a terrorist,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a weekly briefing.

Since launching its full-scale military offensive in February 2022, Russian officials have regularly hurled insults at Zelensky and routinely call Kyiv a “terrorist state” — outbursts rejected and dismissed in Kyiv as baseless wartime propaganda.

“No one in Armenia’s current leadership snubbed Zelensky. So whose side are you on, historically?” she asked.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told reporters Thursday: “Back in 2022-2023 I already stated that, on the issue of Ukraine, we are not an ally of Russia.”

Zakharova also criticised a joint declaration that Armenia and the European Union adopted at their summit on Tuesday.

The document recognises Yerevan’s aspiration to join the bloc, as well as deepens cooperation between the two sides in economic and security matters.

“Such a course on the part of the Armenian authorities will sooner or later lead to Yerevan’s irreversible involvement in Brussels’ anti-Russian line, with all the ensuing political and economic consequences for Armenia,” Zakharova said.

The nation of three million people bordering Iran and Turkey passed a law last year formally declaring its intention to apply for EU membership.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Pashinyan in April that Yerevan could not be a member of both the European Union and the Russian-led customs bloc.


Cristiano Ronaldo regularly visits an Armenian restaurant in Riyadh — we find

Tribuna
May 7 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo regularly visits an Armenian restaurant in Riyadh — we find out what he eats there
He only has one rule.

Meghna Sharan

Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved to Saudi Arabia in 2023, has quickly adapted to life in the Middle East.

One of his favorite spots in Riyadh is Lavash, a three-story Armenian restaurant featuring a main hall, a VIP room, and a terrace.

Shortly after relocating, Ronaldo and his family celebrated Georgina Rodríguez’s birthday there, and the star has returned countless times since.
Ronaldo’s go-to dish at Lavash is hobob (also called hopop), a fried chicken dish garnished with pomegranate seeds and caramelized onions.

He also enjoys a variety of Armenian appetizers and fresh salads.

Though Ronaldo generally avoids sweets, he allows himself a dessert treat during holidays.

For special celebrations, he typically rents a private room, but on regular days, he prefers dining in the main hall with other guests.

Lavash has clearly become a culinary home away from home for the Portuguese superstar.

Baku rejects French FM’s “accusations” regarding the destruction of Armenian

MediaMax, Armenia
May 7 2026

Baku rejects French FM’s “accusations” regarding the destruction of Armenian churches

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Baku has “strongly rejected the accusations made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot during a speech in the French Senate on May 6.”

This was stated by Ayhan Hajizade, spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in comments cited by the Anadolu News Agency.

 

He said that “the French minister’s use of the term ‘Nagorno-Karabakh’ in reference to the Karabakh region, which is sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, is unacceptable.”

 

“We strongly condemn such provocative statements by the French side, which question Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over its territories and cast doubt on the protection of cultural and religious heritage, at a time when, following the just war conducted by Azerbaijan within the framework of international law and on its sovereign territories, conditions have been created for sustainable peace in the region,” the comment said

 

Hajizade added that “the French minister’s remarks regarding the demolition of certain structures dating back to the occupation period, while ignoring the destruction of hundreds of mosques and other cultural heritage sites in Azerbaijani territories during the Armenian occupation, as well as the inappropriate reference to the ongoing proceedings at the International Court of Justice, are a clear example of double standards.”

From Justice Deficit to Emigration. how to overcome the crisis?

When thousands of families live in conditions of serious social difficulties, and at the same time the “privileged” circle of the government receives millions of bonuses from the state budget, this is a serious crisis of state thinking.

As a former government official myself, I am convinced that such a policy is not only unfair, but also dangerous for the future of the state.

When most of the society is convinced that the government does not act for the public interest, but for the sake of serving “their own”, then the stability of the state is threatened. When a citizen faces price increases, low wages, social insecurity and unfair opportunities every day, but at the same time sees how high-ranking officials receive millions of drams in bonuses, deep disappointment and alienation from the state is formed.
This is a matter of national security.

Emigration begins not only with economic difficulties, but also with a sense of injustice. When a civil servant becomes convinced that political loyalty is not valued in this country, but work and professional ability, he loses confidence in his own future.

About rewards
Today, the authorities speak of “everyone’s Armenia”, but the reality is completely different. Millions in bonuses go to a narrow circle of politically “trusted” officials, while thousands of public sector professionals—teachers, doctors, community and civil servants—continue to survive on modest salaries.

This is a gross violation of social justice.

As Gagik Tsarukyan rightly pointed out, the problem is not the existence of bonuses. The problem is the unfair, closed and politicized system of their distribution. In the same system, a few high-ranking officials cannot receive millions of drams, and tens of thousands of people receive small bonuses or nothing at all.

Our political team is convinced that the state cannot be divided into “privileged” and “the rest”.
If the “Prosperous Armenia” party comes to power, it guarantees that state and civil servants will not be subjected to political pressure, will not be deprived of their jobs for their views, and will not be forced to serve any political agenda.

The remuneration system should operate exclusively according to clear standards established by law, based on the principles of social justice, worthy encouragement of quality work and professional advancement.

It is necessary to separate the state from the government. The state should evaluate the work of its employee, not political loyalty. The state budget should serve the public, not the privileges of narrow groups. The state must create healthy working relationships and a healthy atmosphere, free from fear and political coercion.

Such a country is stable, they want to stay and create in such a country, such a country has a future.


Hrachya Rostomyan, General Secretary of the National Olympic Committee




What can the EPC summit in Armenia achieve?

EuroTopics
May 6 2026

06 May 2026

What can the EPC summit in Armenia achieve?

More than 40 leaders convened at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the future of Europe in light of the wars in Iran and Ukraine. With the looming prospect of US troops withdrawing from Germany, there was a general agreement that the continent needs to take more responsibility for its own security.

Support for shift away from Moscow

Not this summit, but the upcoming Armenian elections are what counts, argues political analyst Arkady Dubnov on Facebook:

“At this stage, it’s still too early to say whether Armenia will cease to be an ally of Russia, but it is hard to deny that Yerevan is increasingly distancing itself from Moscow. What is clear, however, is that the European presence in Yerevan is intended to provide Prime Minister Pashinyan with strong support in his preparations for the parliamentary elections on 7 June. If his Civic Contract party succeeds in defeating the pro-Russian opposition, the path towards European integration will continue, and the distance from Russia will grow.”

Arkadi Dubnow

  Original article

Big talk with little substance

The taz sees a lack of strategic depth:

“Every European step inside Armenia is seen as a provocation, every move towards the West as a move away from Russia. Prime Minister Pashinyan wants to turn this to his advantage. In the run-up to the parliamentary elections on 7 June he will play the pro-European reformist and promoter of peace. But it’s a risky gamble: he faces domestic instability if he loses – and in terms of foreign policy, potentially the next war. … Europe is stepping up its presence but has no strategy. … That is the uncomfortable truth behind the images from Yerevan. Diplomacy comes and goes, but the risks remain.”

Petrosyan Tigran

  Original article

Rapprochement between Yerevan and Ankara

T24 takes a closer look at Armenian-Turkish relations:

“The visit of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, the first meeting at this level since 2008, removed the word ‘normalisation’ from the realm of rhetoric and placed it back in the zone of real possibility. … An open border could turn this region into a transit zone. By creating mutual dependencies, economics often succeeds where politics fails. This dependence will become one of the most tangible guarantees for peace. … But the situation is fragile: the mood at home, historical memory and regional tensions could obstruct the process at any moment.”


Belarus summons Armenia’s Chargé d’Affaires over ‘unfriendly actions’ by Yere

OC Media
May 6 2026

Belarus has summoned Armenia’s Chargé d’Affaires Artur Sargsyan over what it claimed were ‘unfriendly actions’ from Yerevan. While the Belarusian Foreign Ministry did not specify what exactly the actions were, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ruslan Varankov had days earlier sharply criticised remarks made by Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan in which he appeared to refer to Belarus as a ‘peripheral province’ of Russia.

It was the latest spat in a yearslong diplomatic conflict between the two countries.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry told the state-run media outlet Belta on Tuesday that a ‘strong protest was lodged’ with Sargsyan, and ‘corresponding note was handed over in connection with the recent unfriendly actions by the Armenian side’.

Days earlier, Simonyan had said ‘Armenia should not become a [province] and be governed the way Belarus is’.

In response, Varankov said, ‘the statements by the speaker of the Armenian Parliament are nothing more than electioneering populism and a desperate attempt to distract voters from the country’s dire domestic problems’.

‘With poverty topping 40%, unemployment soaring, and entire regions stagnating, it is easiest to designate an external adversary and resort to offensive labels. This cynical approach is regrettable’, Varankov said. Armenian government statistics have indeed indicated that those living under the ‘upper poverty line’ at ֏64,200 ($175) per month is at 40.2%, although it is at 21.7% on the average level.

Varankov concluded by saying ‘Belarusians and Armenians are bound by strong historical ties, and we believe that sooner or later Armenia’s leadership will come back to its senses and return to constructive dialogue with our country, so that our nations may once again become truly friendly and strategic partners’.

In turn, Simonyan also responded to the summons by defending his own remarks.

‘I believe it is the disrespectful attitude toward Armenia, a partner in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), and toward Armenian statehood that damages relations’, Simonyan said on Wednesday.

‘For Armenia, human rights and freedoms are among the highest values, and I think every state chooses its own model. We have chosen the path of democratisation’.

In addition to the spat over Simonyan’s comments, the presence of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Yerevan within the auspices of the European Political Community (EPC) summit earlier in May may have angered both Minsk and Moscow.

Nominally allies, as both Armenia and Belarus are members of the CSTO, relations between Yerevan and Minsk have been in freefall for years, largely over the latter’s support for Azerbaijan.

In 2024, Politico published a report based on leaked documents detailing the alleged supply of advanced military hardware from Belarus to Azerbaijan between 2018 and 2022.

‘Maybe Azerbaijan did buy them [weaponry]. But we were open to [selling to] Armenia too. Whoever paid the money got the goods’, Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka said at the time.

Lukashenka has also directly attacked Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, claiming in January 2025 that he will ‘destroy Armenia’.

Earlier, in June 2024, Pashinyan declared that no Armenian officials would visit Belarus while Lukashenka was in power, due to the latter’s support for Azerbaijan during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization to require further agreements

Muslim Network
May 6 2026
Armenian prime minister highlights transport links, regional connectivity as key next steps after Yerevan EU summit

YEREVAN, Armenia (MNTV) — Armenia’s prime minister Nikol Pashinyan said efforts to normalize relations with Azerbaijan will continue beyond any future peace treaty, stressing the need for additional agreements on sectoral cooperation.

Speaking alongside António Costa, president of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, following an Armenia–EU summit in Yerevan, Pashinyan said a peace agreement would mark the beginning rather than the end of the process.

“Signing and ratifying a peace agreement does not mean the work is finished,” he said. “The text itself makes it clear that additional arrangements will be required afterward, including on sectoral cooperation.”

He pointed to transport as a key area, noting that some cooperation is already taking place informally. Pashinyan emphasized the importance of reopening regional routes, including borders with Türkiye, to facilitate trade and movement.

“It is extremely important that we fully open roads for each other,” he said, adding that improved connectivity would support economic development and regional integration.

The prime minister said the principle guiding cooperation should be unhindered transport links while respecting territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He also referenced prior trilateral understandings between Armenia, Azerbaijan and international partners, including a summit held in Washington in August 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to stabilize relations.

Pashinyan said there is “enormous potential” in expanding cooperation and expressed cautious optimism about progress.

“For the first time in our shared history, Armenia and Azerbaijan are using the same or very similar rhetoric,” he said. “We are learning to live in conditions of peace.”

Despite the progress, he acknowledged that defining and implementing lasting peace remains an evolving process for both countries.

https://www.muslimnetwork.tv/armenia-azerbaijan-normalization-to-require-further-agreements/