Category: News

On April 9, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna, attended the opening of Estonia’s resident embassy in Yerevan during Tsahkna’s official visit.

In his remarks, published by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna noted:

“Dear friends,

Ararat, my good friend, when I was last here, I promised that during my next visit I would open the Estonian embassy. Today, that is exactly what we are doing—we are opening the Estonian embassy in the heart of Yerevan. I can say that this year is truly historic: Estonia, as a small country, sees that a number of countries, especially in Europe, are closing their embassies, while we are opening five new ones. And among them, the first is the Embassy of Estonia in the Republic of Armenia.

This is our priority, because I see that you are guiding Armenia toward peace, toward European values, toward prosperity, and we want to be your friends. We truly are. We truly want to support you, and the highest level of support, the highest diplomatic commitment, is through an embassy here. It is permanent. We have our new ambassador, who has done a great job and will do even more in the future. Thank you very much for your support, because politically it is easy to decide to open an embassy, but in real life it takes time—diplomatic negotiations, practical arrangements, and building a team. I greatly appreciate all of this.

We are not alone here: Canada and Sweden are also with us, as well as several countries from the Nordic region. But Nordic nations are generally among the most reliable friends, so you can count on us. Estonians are friends of Armenians. This is something interesting—it comes from history—that we love you as a people, even though we are far away from each other. We want to be together with you. In these challenging times, you are making historic decisions not only for your nation, but also for the region and for all of Europe. I am pleased that soon our Prime Minister will also visit Armenia, as well as many leaders of the European community and heads of the European Union.

But now something very practical and of bilateral importance: today we launched practical cybersecurity exercises with the participation of more than 10 different teams, testing in real conditions how to respond to various attacks. In addition, a business program has been launched to help Armenian businesses find new markets. This is already a very practical level. I can assure you that we are already here—by your side—and there will be more. But first of all, I would like to thank you, my good friend Ararat, as well as the Armenian people, you have guts in making decisions and following your spirit. That spirit is freedom. We know that today’s world is a very, very crazy world, and unfortunately freedom is not granted; we must stand for freedom. However, history also shows that this can never be done alone.

Friends are always necessary, and I can assure you that Estonians will remain your best friends—at least in Europe, and perhaps in the entire world. Once again, I thank you, my good friend, for the opportunity to be here at this historic moment and to open an embassy. The roots of friendship between our nations go back decades, and I am confident they will deepen further in the future. We Estonians have lived in the region for about 10,000 years or even more, and we also have a plan for the next 10,000 years.

So let us join this shared plan for the future, stand for our future together, and enjoy freedom. Once again, thank you very much for this cooperation.

Thank you.”

Minister Mirzoyan stated:

“Mr. Minister, my good friend Margus, I am pleased to see you again in Yerevan on such an important occasion.

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,

It is truly a great pleasure for me to join you in marking this significant milestone in Armenia–Estonia relations—the opening of the resident Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Yerevan. Of course, we all understand that this decision was not an easy one, neither in terms of its adoption nor in terms of advancing it through all the relevant bodies of the Estonian government.

Believe me, I know very well how difficult this is. We also have our own special relations with our colleagues at the Ministry of Finance and all other partners, who, of course, welcome such decisions. Jokes aside, this is indeed a very important event.

It certainly reflects the commitment of Estonia, the Estonian government, and personally yours, dear friend, to developing Armenia–Estonia relations, as well as continuing support—providing strong backing to Armenia’s democracy and to the Armenian people on their path toward freedom, sovereignty, and, of course, territorial integrity and prosperity.

We feel this same support not only at the bilateral level but also fully within the framework of Armenia–EU relations. There has not been a single issue or concern raised by the Armenian delegation or the Republic of Armenia that has not received the support of the Estonian delegation.

Therefore, we highly appreciate your support, we value your position, and allow me to congratulate all of us—yourself, dear Minister, as well as you, Madam Ambassador, the first resident Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the Republic of Armenia.

Please be assured that a team of friends awaits you at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. You can always find understanding and support in that building, which, by the way, is very close, and whose address you know.

So, I congratulate all of us.

As you noted, dear friend, dear Margus, we have a very rich past, but let us focus on the future, which will undoubtedly be even brighter and stronger.

Congratulations.”

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held a meeting on Friday in Yerevan with his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna.

The one-on-one meeting was followed by talks in an expanded format.

A joint press conference is expected afterwards.

The meeting comes during Tsahkna’s official visit to Armenia and a day after the inauguration of the Estonian embassy in Yerevan.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan praised on Friday the solid relationship with Estonia, both bilaterally and in the context of ties with the EU.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna in Yerevan, Mirzoyan said the relationship between the two countries is based on shared values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and peace.

“Our relations are built on our shared values—freedom, democracy, human rights, and peace. I must note that we have truly succeeded in building strong relations based on these values, and now it is indeed time to further expand them and raise our cooperation to a new level,” Mirzoyan said.

The Armenian foreign minister elaborated that during discussions with his Estonian counterpart, they also addressed the economic component of bilateral relations. “The numerical indicators reflecting these economic ties are growing, but we can confidently say that this is not the full potential, and we will make efforts to realize this potential to a greater extent. We have identified areas where cooperation is already taking shape and where we still see potential for further deepening. These include digitalization, information technologies, innovation, and cybersecurity. These are areas where we have much to learn from Estonia, and we also hope to contribute to enriching our shared experience.

“I expressed my gratitude to my colleague for the support provided by the Estonian government to the reforms being implemented in Armenia within the framework of development cooperation.

“Of course, we also discussed the positive cooperation in multilateral formats and emphasized the importance of ensuring its continuity. I would like to highlight the regular contacts within the Armenia–Nordic-Baltic Eight format, and we hope that, with Estonia’s leadership, we will be able to further advance this agenda and cooperation within this format,” the foreign minister said.

Mirzoyan stressed that, within the broader context of Armenia–Estonia cooperation, the Armenia–EU dimension holds particular importance.

“Here too, it should be noted that Estonia has demonstrated both willingness and leadership, and we have a very reliable and trustworthy partner in the EU in person of Estonia. You know that our commitment to the values underlying this cooperation is unwavering, and you can rely on us to the same extent,” Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized, addressing his Estonian counterpart.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said he discussed regional matters with his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna, during a meeting on Friday in Yerevan, including details pertaining to Armenia’s normalization processes with Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

“We discussed regional issues. We expressed our gratitude to Estonia for the support provided to the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process,” Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with Tsahkna.

“We also discussed recent developments in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the challenges the world is facing today, while at the same time exchanging ideas on possible solutions,” the Armenian Foreign Minister added.

Mirzoyan briefed his Estonian counterpart on the Armenia–Azerbaijan normalization process, the Armenia–Türkiye normalization process, the unblocking of infrastructure, and the ongoing work related to the TRIPP project.

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.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said his country is ready to provide support to Armenia and further develop practical cooperation.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan following their meeting in Yerevan on Friday, Tsahkna said that this is his second visit to Armenia as foreign minister and that it reflects Estonia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

“This is our commitment as the Estonian people: we love you, the Armenian people. You are very close to us, even though there is a great distance between us,” he said.

The Estonian foreign minister also highlighted the opening of Estonia’s embassy in Armenia, emphasizing its practical significance.

“We opened our embassy here, in Armenia. This is not just a symbolic step; it aims to develop practical cooperation between Armenia and Estonia,” Tsahkna said.

According to him, Armenia is at an important stage, and the policies being implemented could have a significant impact not only on the country but also on the entire region.

“The path to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is extremely important as a prerequisite for the prosperity of the people, as well as the development of business and trade,” he emphasized.

Tsahkna also noted that Estonia is ready to support Armenia by sharing its experience and knowledge, while at the same time being interested in learning from Armenia’s experience.

“We want to support, share our experience, and learn from you,” he said.

The Estonian foreign minister added that the processes taking place in the region can be seen as part of broader geopolitical changes, and Estonia wants to be an active participant in these developments.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Friday that Armenia continues its “dialogue” with Azerbaijan to secure the release of the remaining captives held in Baku.

Asked to comment at a joint press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna in Yerevan, he reiterated that Armenia and Azerbaijan have established peace, but understandably, some outstanding issues remain, with the matter of the captives and other detainees being the most sensitive.

“Our position on this matter has always been the same. Of course, we believe that the established peace needs further institutionalization. Peace exists, and we are enjoying its benefits, but at the same time, we understand that this peace is new and requires care and attention.

Many issues have been resolved—for example, the transit of goods to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory, as well as the bilateral trade that is already taking place and which we believe will continue to grow. Unfortunately, and understandably, not all issues have been resolved, and the matter of Armenian captives and detainees remains the most sensitive issue for our society.

Yes, unfortunately, there are still Armenian captives and detainees in Baku, and our position remains the same: these individuals must be released as soon as possible. We are confident that their release will further strengthen the established peace. We continue our dialogue with Azerbaijan on this topic, and, of course, it remains one of the highest-priority issues on our agenda. We also continue to raise this matter with our international partners.

The cessation of Red Cross activities in Azerbaijan has further complicated the situation. We acknowledge that there is a problem and continue our efforts in this direction. There is no new development on this issue yet; whenever there is news, the entire society immediately learns about it. The only possible new development would be the release of a new group [of captives],” the Armenian Foreign Minister said.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in Yerevan on Friday that his country is taking “practical” steps toward EU visa liberalization for Armenian citizens.

“We are taking a practical step, which is visa liberalization for Armenians, and we are truly making great efforts to achieve this measure,” he said at a joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

The Estonian Foreign Minister also noted that the two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at expanding cooperation between their foreign ministries.

According to him, effective collaboration has already been established in the fields of information technology, digitalization, and cybersecurity, and Estonia is ready to share its expertise.

“We are a highly digitalized country; our government services are provided 100 percent online, and we are ready to share our experience,” Tsahkna said.

At the same time, he emphasized that Estonia is also interested in learning from Armenia’s experience, particularly in the field of nuclear energy.

Tsahkna added that Estonia sees itself as Armenia’s partner within the European Union and is ready to support Armenia’s European-oriented initiatives.

“We are among your best friends in the European Union,” he said.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna addressed the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process and the outstanding humanitarian issues.

“Not all issues can be resolved in a single day; it takes time, as these are very complex problems,” he said at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan when asked about the remaining Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan.

At the same time, he described the peace process as a historic step.

“This is a huge and historic step forward for both Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he said.

According to the Estonian Foreign Minister, the ongoing process is real and could serve as a foundation for the region’s future.

“The peace process is real and ongoing; it is shaping the future for the Armenian people,” he noted.

Tsahkna also emphasized that peace is a prerequisite for further development, adding that he hopes the process will lead to the establishment of long-term and just peace.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan reiterated on Friday that “multiple” countries are interested in the TRIPP project, the joint Armenia–United States connectivity initiative.

Asked to elaborate on a recent U.S. State Department comment to Armenpress stating that Armenia is working with the United States and mutually determined third parties to implement TRIPP, Mirzoyan did not name any specific countries but highlighted that work on the project is ongoing.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna, Mirzoyan noted that despite less favorable developments globally and regionally, bilateral work between Armenia and the United States on TRIPP implementation continues.

“I have had the opportunity to say that we are still in the paperwork phase of the work. We are currently finalizing the intergovernmental agreement. We continuously exchange views and positions on individual issues with representatives of the U.S. administration. We hope that as soon as possible we will move on to the next, construction phase, and this is where we will also need third-party partners,” Mirzoyan said when asked by Armenpress which other countries Armenia and the U.S. are working with.

He clarified that the intergovernmental agreement on the TRIPP project will be bilateral—between Armenia and the United States—but other partners will be needed during the construction phase. According to him, partners may also be required during the systems management phase.

The Armenian Foreign Minister emphasized that although TRIPP is a bilateral project, it serves the interests of many countries, from China to Portugal.

“Not to mention our neighbors. TRIPP is not on another planet. One end will connect to Azerbaijan, the other will end in Nakhchivan—again via Azerbaijan—but the logical continuation is the Yeraskh railway in Armenia, the Kars–Gyumri railway junction, and Türkiye’s railway network. Central Asian countries are particularly interested. Just a day ago, we also met here with Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, who was accompanied by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transport.

Countries in the Middle East are also interested in these topics. For now, there is nothing specific that I can share publicly,” concluded Ararat Mirzoyan.

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. TRIPP is part of the Crossroads of Peace project, and an Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.