Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

Azerbaijani media reports Deputy PM Mustafayev’s arrival in Yerevan — Updated

Emil Lazarian
Politics11:20, 29 April 2026
Read the article in: العربيةEspañolFarsiHayerenKartulushiRusskyTürkçe中文

Azerbaijani media reported on Wednesday that Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev has arrived in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

According to the reports, the plane carrying Mustafayev and his delegation landed at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport on Wednesday morning.

Other details were not immediately clear.

Asked to comment, the Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed to Armenpress that the Azerbaijani delegation led by Mustafayev has arrived in Yerevan, but noted that additional information will be released later.

Update: This article has been updated with additional information from the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming the visit.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenpress: Armenian, Azerbaijani deputy prime ministers discuss issues of mut

Emil Lazarian
Politics19:51, 29 April 2026
Read the article in: العربيةفارسیFrançais هییرینکارتیکترککی中文

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev exchanged views on issues of mutual interest in Aghveran, Armenia.

This was reported by Armenia’s Foreign Ministry.

It was noted that the transit of cargo to the Republic of Armenia through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan is being successfully carried out and is currently ongoing. It was noted with satisfaction that Azerbaijan is supplying petroleum products to Armenia, which indicates the formation of trade and economic ties between the two countries.

Read the article in: العربيةفارسیFrançais هییرینکارتیکترککی中文

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenia and Turkey hold inaugural meeting of joint railway restoration group

Emil Lazarian
OC Media
April 29 2026

A joint Armenian–Turkish working group has held a meeting on the rehabilitation and operationalisation of the Gyumri–Kars railway. The US Embassy hailed the meeting as ‘historic progress toward a peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus’.

The working group held what appears to be their inaugural meeting in Kars, Turkey, on Tuesday.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry reported that the meeting took place in accordance with the agreements reached within the Armenia–Turkey normalisation process.

‘The parties emphasised the significance of the early operation of the Gyumri–Kars railway in the context of enhancing regional transport communications’, the statement read.

‘Restoring this critical link between Armenia and Türkiye is an important step in unlocking regional connectivity and solidifying regional stability’, the US Embassy noted in its swift response to the meeting.

The embassy also cited the Armenia–Azerbaijan–US summit in Washington in August 2025 in its statement, saying it had ‘set the stage for such momentous developments’.

Armenia asks Russia to urgently restore railway near Nakhchivan and Turkey

An agreement on assessing the technical requirements to enable the functioning of the Akhurik–Akyaka railroad border gate was reached in July 2024, during a meeting of Armenian and Turkish special envoys of the normalisation process, Ruben Rubinyan and Serdar Kılıç, on the Margara–Alican crossing on the border between the two countries.

At the time the sides also agreed ‘to simplify their mutual visa procedures for diplomatic/official passport holders’, which came into force starting from 1 January 2026.

Following the agreements on the railway, ‘representatives of the relevant institutions of the two countries’ convened a meeting at the Akhurik–Akyaka border crossing between Armenia and Turkey and in the city of Gyumri in Armenia in November 2025.

That marked the second round of technical discussions ‘aimed at the rehabilitation and reactivation of the Gyumri–Kars railway’.

The Armenian side previously announced that its border checkpoints with Turkey are ready for use.

Currently, Armenian National Security Service (NSS) Border Guards carry out service at the Akhurik checkpoint, unlike previously, when the duty was conducted together with the Russian border guards. However, Russian border guards still maintain presence along the border with Turkey and Iran.

Armenia and Turkey have been engaged in a renewed normalisation process since 2022, including meetings of special envoys on normalisation on their shared border and in their respective capitals. However, diplomatic relations have not yet been established, and the land border remains closed, despite positive messages of its re-opening being shared from the end of 2025.

Bloomberg: Turkey considering opening border with Armenia in ‘next six months’

In 2022, the sides agreed to allow third-country nationals and diplomats to cross the land border, but Turkey has since stated that progress in the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process is a precondition for further achievements in the normalisation process with Armenia. Turkey originally closed the border in 1993 during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Earlier in 2026, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Special Envoy Rubinyan sat out the Antalya Diplomacy Forum taking place 17–19 April, in which they have participated since 2022. Instead, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan attended the forum.

The Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the decision to send a lower-level delegation. Previously, in the scope of the forum, the normalisation process was discussed between Armenia and Turkey.

Separately, Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan said in Istanbul that the continued closure of the Armenia–Turkey land border has been influenced by Azerbaijan ‘through its lobbying and influence’ in Turkey.

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Armenia’s foreign minister signals new era: Peace, EU ambitions, trade, ‘huge’

Emil Lazarian
France 24
April 29 2026

Ahead of the first-ever EU–Armenia summit, France 24’s François Picard sits down with Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan, at the country’s newly inaugurated embassy in Paris. He presents a country at a pivotal juncture: one defined by the simultaneous consolidation of peace and strategic repositioning. He asserts that “we now have peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” framing it not as a symbolic declaration but as an emerging reality, further underscored by the intention to “institutionalise this peace.”

Mirzoyan situates this development within a broader historical shift. After “decades and decades” during which “Armenia was under blockade,” the country is now seeking to redefine its regional role. Crucially, he reframes this transformation in cooperative rather than competitive terms: “This is not about competition, it’s about unblocking the South Caucasus.” In his account, Armenia’s future lies in connectivity, supported by ambitious plans for “huge infrastructure – railways, electricity grids, oil and gas pipelines” – positioning the country as “a critical chain in the Middle Corridor” linking Europe and Asia.

Yet this forward-looking vision is tempered by the enduring legacy of conflict. While the “wounds of this war are still fresh” following Azerbaijan’s brutal invasion and seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, Mirzoyan underscores a deliberate national pivot toward the future. “It’s not easy to forget, and there is no necessity to forget,” he explains. “We will, of course, remember. But we also should analyse… that our nation… should now focus on the present and future rather than remain in the past.” He points to a landscape of emerging opportunity: “There are so many new opportunities in Armenia… infrastructure… AI… data centres, modern schools, education, universities.”

On the domestic and geopolitical front, Mirzoyan emphasizes the democratic and societal dimensions of Armenia’s trajectory. He maintains that the people of Armenia “strongly support the peace agenda” and “have European aspirations,” framing closer ties with the European Union as both a political direction and a societal choice.

In outlining Armenia’s regional environment, the minister adopts a notably calibrated tone. Alongside the newly established peace with Azerbaijan, he highlights “very productive dialogue” with Türkiye aimed at normalising relations, describes ties with Georgia as “brilliant” and “brotherly,” and characterises relations with Iran as “very normal neighbourly relations,” while expressing concern over ongoing regional instability. Relations with Russia, however, are presented more cautiously: acknowledging “frustration regarding Russia’s role,” he nevertheless insists that Armenia “definitely” does not seek conflict and intends to maintain “normal friendly relations.”

Ultimately, Mirzoyan grounds his analysis in the principle of sovereignty, asserting that “no one in the world has the right to interfere” in Armenia’s democratic processes and that the “choice of people” must be respected. His remarks portray a state navigating between memory and momentum, seeking to anchor itself through peace, connectivity, and democratic legitimacy in an increasingly fluid regional order.


https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/spotlight/20260429-armenia-s-fm-hails-peace-embraces-future-eu-elections-trade-huge-infrastructure-projects

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Military Spending Soars in Armenia and Azerbaijan Despite Peace Agreement

Emil Lazarian
OIL PRICE
April 29 2026
By Eurasianet – Apr 29, 2026, 1:00 PM CDT

  • Both Armenia and Azerbaijan ranked among the world’s top military spenders relative to GDP in 2025, despite a provisional peace agreement.
  • Azerbaijan hit a record defense budget near $5 billion, while Armenia also boosted spending before planning a modest reduction in 2026.
  • Armenia’s upcoming elections could determine the future of the peace deal and key regional trade initiatives like the Middle Corridor.

They may have agreed on a provisional peace agreement last August, but Armenia and Azerbaijan nevertheless each had some of the highest military spending as a share of GDP in the world in 2025, according to data compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 

Azerbaijan ranked 6th (6.5 percent) and Armenia 7th (6.1 percent) in SIPRI’s Top Ten countries in terms of highest military spending last year. The country with the highest spending on defense was, not surprisingly, Ukraine at 40 percent. Russia (7.5 percent) ranked 4th behind Algeria and Israel. States in the Persian Gulf and Middle East rounded out the Top Ten list. 

Azerbaijan, which completed its reconquest of the long-contested Nagorno-Karabakh territory in 2023, set a country record for military spending in 2025 with a defense budget reaching almost $5 billion. That marked a significant increase from 2024’s defense budget of about $3.8 billion. Military spending this year is projected to be slightly higher than in 2025. 

Armenia also had record-high defense spending in 2025 totaling about $1.7 billion, an approximately 18 percent increase over the previous year’s $1.4 billion budget. The Armenian parliament voted to scale back the defense budget for 2026 to about $1.47 billion, with a large chunk of funding devoted to modernizing the army, based on lessons learned from its decisive defeat in the Second Karabakh War. 

Halting progress has been made on finalizing the peace deal both countries initialed in Washington last August. Armenia will hold parliamentary elections in early June that will likely determine the future course of negotiations, not only concerning a peace treaty but also the development of TRIPP, or the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, envisioned as a key node of the emerging Middle Corridor trade route. 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, an ardent proponent of the peace deal, is facing a challenging reelection battle. His electoral opponents are on record as opposing the peace deal.

By Eurasianet

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Azerbaijan, Armenia agree and exchange draft border delimitation proposals

Emil Lazarian
KazInform International, Kazakhstan
April 29 2026
21:44, 29 April 2026

On 29 April 2026, in Aghveran, Republic of Armenia, the thirteenth meeting of the State Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and the Commission on Delimitation of the State Border and Border Security Issues between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan was held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Shahin Mustafayev, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Mher Grigoryan, the statement of the Secretariat of the State Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between Azerbaijan and Armenia says, Trend reports.

Photo credit: Trend

At the meeting, it was noted with satisfaction that the 13th meeting of the commissions was once again held on the territory of one of the parties – in Aghveran, Republic of Armenia.

During the meeting, the parties held a detailed exchange of views on organizational and technical issues related to the implementation of delimitation activities.

The parties agreed upon and exchanged the texts of draft instructions governing the procedure for conducting delimitation works, including: “Instruction on the Procedure for the Work of Delimitation Expert Groups during the Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia”; “Instruction on the Procedure for the Preparation of a Delimitation Map of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia”; “Instruction on the Procedure for the Formalization and Publication of Documents on the Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia”.

The parties agreed to refer these instructions to their respective governments for appropriate approval.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Shahin Mustafayev, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Mher Grigoryan, also held a separate exchange of views on matters of mutual interest.

It was noted that the transit of cargo to the Republic of Armenia through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan is proceeding successfully and continues at present.

The parties noted with satisfaction that Azerbaijan is supplying petroleum products to Armenia, which reflects the formation of trade and economic relations between the two countries.

In addition, discussions were held with the participation of representatives of the business communities of both parties on the development of trade and economic cooperation, mutual supplies of goods and services, as well as transit transportation.

It was particularly emphasized that the achieved results were made possible by the political will of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.

Upon the results of the meeting of the commissions the relevant Protocol was signed.

The parties agreed, through working-level contacts, to determine the date of the next meeting of the commissions, to be held in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Previously, Qazinform reported Azerbaijan dispatches 22 railcars of gasoline to Armenia. 

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Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Mustafayev visits Armenia

Emil Lazarian
Commonspace.eu
April 29 2026

The Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan has visited Armenia on Wednesday 29 April to participate in the the 13th meeting of the Commission on Demarcation and Border Security between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the State Commission on Demarcation of the State Border of Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was held in Aghveren.

The Commission meeting was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan and Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, noted with satisfaction that the 13th meeting of the commissions is once again taking place in the territory of one of the parties, in Aghveran, in the Republic of Armenia.

“During the meeting, the parties exchanged detailed thoughts on organizational and technical issues related to border demarcation measures.

The parties agreed and exchanged the texts of the following draft guidelines on the procedure for carrying out demarcation work:

“Guidelines on the procedure for the work of border demarcation expert groups during the demarcation of the state border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan”,

“Guidelines on the procedure for creating a map of the state border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan”,

“Guidelines on the procedure for drafting and publishing documents on the demarcation of the state border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.”

The parties agreed to contact their governments for appropriate approval of the guidelines.”

The Armenian Foreign Ministry added, that, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev exchanged views separately on issues of mutual interest.

It was noted that the transit of cargo to the Republic of Armenia through the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan is successfully carried out and is currently ongoing.

It was noted with satisfaction that Azerbaijan supplies oil products to Armenia, which indicates the formation of trade and economic ties between the two countries.

A discussion was also held with the participation of representatives of the business circles of the parties on issues related to the development of trade and economic cooperation, mutual supplies of goods and services, as well as transit transportation.”

source: commonspace.eu with agencies


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Investigation into gastrointestinal outbreak in small Armenian town reveals wa

Emil Lazarian
Armenia12:08, 28 April 2026
Read the article in: Armenian:

The cause of a mass gastrointestinal illness reported last week in a small Armenian town has been linked to contaminated drinking water and the detection of multiple pathogens, including rotavirus, adenovirus, and pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains, according to healthcare authorities.

Last week, at least 300 people, all with similar gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, sought medical treatment in Byureghavan, a town of roughly 10,000 residents some 16 km northeast of Yerevan. Authorities launched an investigation but indicated that the cause was likely a tap water issue.

The suspicion was confirmed on April 28.

Armenia’s National Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported on April 28 that testing of drinking water in Byureghavan has revealed deviations, including the presence of coliform bacteria.

Biological sample analyses have also detected rotavirus, adenovirus, as well as pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli), including enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) and enteropathogenic (EPEC) types.

Authorities said appropriate measures have been taken and that relevant bodies have been notified.

“The situation is currently under control; no active spread of the outbreak has been recorded, and epidemiological data indicate that the process is subsiding. The condition of patients who sought medical care, both outpatient and inpatient, is satisfactory, and no new cases have been registered,” the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.

Read the article in: Armenian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenia reacts to suspension of Jermuk water sales in Russia, cites no officia

Emil Lazarian
Economy13:22, 28 April 2026
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Armenian food safety authorities have reacted to reports regarding the temporary suspension of Jermuk mineral water sales in Russia, saying they have not received any official notification from their Russian counterparts.

The Food Safety Inspection Agency of Armenia, responding to media reports that Russia has suspended the sale of an imported batch of the Armenian bottled water pending inspections, said in a statement that it is taking measures to clarify the situation.

“The Food Safety Inspection Agency of Armenia has not yet received any official information—such as a written notice—regarding the matter in question from the relevant Russian authorities, including either Rospotrebnadzor or Rosselkhoznadzor (the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation).

Measures are being taken to clarify the situation and take appropriate action.

Russian authorities have suspended the sale of a batch of Armenian “Jermuk” carbonated mineral water in the country while inspections are carried out. According to the Russian RBC media outlet, around 338,000 bottles are affected.

The decision was made following a warning from Russia’s consumer safety watchdog (Rospotrebnadzor), which cited the need to prevent possible risks to consumer health and safety. The agency pointed to alleged “violations of mandatory requirements” as the reason for the suspension.

The ban applies to products manufactured between February 17, 2026, and March 2026.

There was no public comment from Jermuk Group immediately available.

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenia dismisses claim of territorial handover to Georgia as “fabricated”

Emil Lazarian
Politics11:28, 28 April 2026
Read the article in: العربيةEspañolFarsiHayerenKartulushiRusskyTürkçe中文

Authorities have denied as “fabricated” a report by a local media outlet claiming that Armenia intends to hand over a village in the country’s north to Georgia during the delimitation process.

The delimitation process of the Armenia–Georgia international border has not been formally concluded, although Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously said the process would soon be finalized.

The report claimed that the village of Jiliza in Armenia’s Lori Province would be handed over to Georgia during the process.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s spokesperson, Nazeli Baghdasaryan, denied the claim as fake news.

“Some media outlets have circulated ‘information’ claiming that, within the framework of the delimitation process, an agreement has allegedly been reached under which Armenia would transfer the village of Jiliza in the Alaverdi Municipality.

Any statement, idea, or ‘information’ about the intention, plan, or agreement to transfer any part of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia to another country cannot correspond to reality by its very nature.

Therefore, as before, we deny, are denying, and will continue to deny any such publications, both now and in the future, due to their fabricated nature,” Baghdasaryan said on social media. 

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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