Category: News

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has stated that there are some ‘partners’ who want to see the Republic of Armenia as “weak, a sham resembling statehood.”

Mirzoyan made the statement in his closing remarks during a hearing of the parliamentary committee.

“Unfortunately, we have partners who, yes, want to see the Republic of Armenia as weak, as a sham,” the minister said.

He did not specify whom he was referring to. 

Mirzoyan emphasized that signing the initialed peace agreement with Azerbaijan remains a political commitment of the Armenian government.

The document, he said, should provide legal consolidation of the peace already established and contribute to strengthening Armenia’s independence and sovereignty.

“We are not abandoning the signing of the peace agreement for a single second. This is the commitment of our political team, and we will move toward signing the peace agreement with great determination and consistency. It will institutionalize the peace that has been established and is in effect,” Mirzoyan stated.

The minister defended the approach of building peace gradually, without making progress in various areas conditional on the simultaneous resolution of all issues. In his assessment, it is practically impossible to expect the entire package to be resolved all at once.

The foreign relations committee debated and approved the bill on ratifying the Framework Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America on Strategic Cooperation Concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).

The bill will be discussed during the parliament’s upcoming plenary session.

Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan said that it remains to be clarified whether Armenian citizens traveling through Azerbaijani territory will be subject to the same procedures envisaged for those traveling through Armenia under TRIPP.

Speaking to reporters after the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations approved the ratification of the Armenia-U.S. Framework Agreement on TRIPP, Mirzoyan was asked whether Armenian citizens crossing Azerbaijani territory would also benefit from a “front office-back office” service model.

“That is an interesting question you raise. I think this issue probably still needs to be clarified,” Mirzoyan replied.

He also noted that mechanisms for the advance declaration of goods could be applied there as well.

The minister also addressed sensitive issues inherited from the past and the psychological factors affecting people. In his assessment, alongside progress in establishing peace, bilateral trade and transit, changes are also taking place in this area.

Mirzoyan said that, in his impression, these processes are developing faster than the paperwork, and some concerns the parties may have had two to two and a half years ago are no longer perceived with the same intensity.

Referring to the Armenia-U.S. agreement on TRIPP, the minister explained that it could not establish obligations for Azerbaijan, which is not a signatory to the document.

“An Armenia-United States agreement could not contain anything that would impose an obligation on Azerbaijan when Azerbaijan is not signing it,” he said.

Mirzoyan also reiterated that decisions on border and customs matters under TRIPP will remain within the authority of Armenia’s competent services. He said that the possible involvement of a private operator in the “front office” would not preclude Armenian customs officers and border guards from intervening when necessary.

The minister also distinguished between the service function involving direct interaction with citizens and a company’s potential internal security unit, emphasizing that these are separate functions.

The issue of a possible unilateral increase in the price of gas by the Russian side should be considered within the broader framework of Armenian-Russian economic and strategic relations, Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

The minister questioned to what extent such a move would be in the spirit of partnership and reflect the relations between the two countries.

“Losses, certainly. If the Russian side suddenly decides to unilaterally raise the price of gas, I don’t know to what extent that would be in the spirit of partnership and reflect our relations with Russia,” the minister said in response to a question about the consequences of a possible increase in gas prices.

The FM also emphasized that relations between Armenia and Russia are not limited to the price of gas. He referred to various areas of cooperation and assets of strategic importance, suggesting that any potential discussion be held within the framework of the relationship as a whole.

“There are many factors in Armenia-Russia economic and strategic relations. To take one component — the price of gas… I suggest that if we look at it this way, perhaps we should discuss the whole picture across the entire spectrum, think it over, make decisions, and understand,” Mirzoyan said.

According to him, there is already a preliminary understanding that the sides should sit down together and take stock of their existing relations and the components of their cooperation.

Discussions about a possible increase in gas prices followed a report presented on October 20 on the potential consequences of suspending the application of the EAEU Treaty to Armenia. According to the report, under such a scenario, the price of gas imports to Armenia could rise from $177.5 to $300 per 1,000 cubic meters, an increase of around 69%.

Armenia is unaware of any legal mechanism allowing the other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union to expel it from the bloc or suspend its membership.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan said this during a briefing with journalists, noting that the Government was examining the report submitted by representatives of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus on the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and would formulate its position accordingly.

“The document you referred to was published yesterday. It is quite a lengthy document. We are studying and analysing it, and will determine the Republic of Armenia’s course of action and position accordingly,” the minister said.

Addressing the legal aspects, Mirzoyan said Armenia was unaware of any mechanism allowing one member state to be expelled by a decision of the others, including through the suspension of its membership. He added that Armenia would examine the report and respond.

The minister also stressed that, while economic interests were important, Armenia’s sovereignty and independence took precedence.

“Of course, our citizens’ well-being, trade, economic interests and our traditional ties with the Russian Federation and the other EAEU members are important to us. But there is something that takes precedence and is more important than anything else: the Republic of Armenia’s sovereignty and independence. Our position will therefore be closely determined by this consideration,” Mirzoyan stressed.

On 20 October, the report prepared by representatives of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan was sent to the Eurasian Economic Commission for transmission to the leaders of the member states. It concerns the consequences of a possible suspension of the EAEU Treaty’s application to Armenia.

The report states that four EAEU member states—Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus—could adopt a decision temporarily suspending the Treaty’s application to Armenia.

The possibility of unimpeded passage under TRIPP does not mean that any cargo can transit through Armenia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

Armenia retains the right to prohibit the transportation of certain goods, he explained to lawmakers.

Mirzoyan addressed an MP’s question during a discussion in the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations on the ratification of the agreement signed between Armenia and the United States concerning the TRIPP project.

The lawmaker asked whether there could be cargo that the Armenian side would not allow to enter Armenia.

“Of course, there can be. There is also an understanding between Azerbaijan and us on this, that prohibited cargo, such as weapons and ammunition, cannot transit,” the minister said, emphasizing that lists of prohibited goods are known to many countries.

Mirzoyan explained that unimpeded connectivity refers to the elimination of artificial obstacles, usually created for political reasons.

“All those reasonable actions carried out within the framework of customs and border authorities and legislation do not constitute obstacles,” Mirzoyan stressed.

The Foreign Relations Committee debated and approved the bill on ratifying the Framework Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America on Strategic Cooperation Concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).

The bill will be discussed during the parliament’s upcoming plenary session.

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.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has said Armenia does not base its policy on possible differences between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

During a briefing with journalists at the National Assembly, the minister was asked whether potential tensions between Ankara and Baku could affect the Armenia–Türkiye normalisation process and help bring about the opening of the border.

“That is not something we want to play on, and we do not base our policy on it,” Mirzoyan replied.

He also stressed that individual arrangements with Türkiye were progressing and that dialogue was delivering practical results.

“We also have quite a positive, dynamic dialogue with Türkiye, and we have already taken steps. You may say the border has not been fully opened, and I would agree. But there are things that did not exist a year ago or two years ago. For example, direct trade in customs terms,” Mirzoyan said.

Mirzoyan highlighted the importance of building on the progress achieved, also discussing trade with Azerbaijan and transit shipments.

On 21 October, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry placed 31 Turkish citizens on its list of undesirable persons, banning them from entering the country. Those listed include Turkish MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, New Welfare Party leader Fatih Erbakan and other representatives of political, civic and media circles.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry justified the decision by citing their publications, which it alleged contained calls against the country’s sovereignty and constitutional order, for a violent change of government and for the incitement of religious hatred.

Earlier, on 19 October, Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office announced that seven people living and working in Türkiye had been placed on an international wanted list. They face charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power by force, inciting religious hatred and distributing material promoting religious extremism.

Fourteen people have been arrested in the Stepanavan community of Lori Province amid a criminal investigation involving searches and other procedural actions, Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee told Armenpress.

“Additional information will be provided if necessary,” the Anti-Corruption Committee said.

Earlier, Andranik Gevorgyan, a Strong Armenia faction MP, reported widespread searches and arrests among what he described as supporters of the Strong Armenia party in the Stepanavan area.

Local government elections will be held in the Stepanavan community on October 25. Four political forces have registered to participate in the elections: the Business Party, whose list is headed by Armen Grigoryan; the Republic Party, whose list is headed by Artak Aleksanyan; the Civil Contract Party, whose list is headed by Arayik Nersisyan; and the Strong Armenia Party, whose list is headed by Arsen Gevorgyan.