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Agreements on bilateral cooperation across various sectors were signed during a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov in Yerevan.

The heads of various government agencies of the two countries, as well as the mayors of Yerevan and Bishkek, exchanged the signed agreements.

Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan and Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev signed an agreement on procedures governing reciprocal visits and stays by citizens. Mirzoyan and Kulubaev also signed an agreement on a roadmap for cooperation between Armenia and Kyrgyzstan for 2027–2029.

Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan signed agreements on cooperation in education and science with Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Education Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva and Minister of Science, Higher Education and Innovation Gulzat Isamatova.

Armenia’s Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan and Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision Akyl Toktobaev signed a memorandum on cooperation to protect Lakes Sevan and Issyk-Kul.

Armenia’s Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan and Kyrgyzstan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Kubanychbek Bokontaev ratified an agreement on bilateral cooperation in personal data protection.

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan and Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev signed an agreement establishing sister-city relations between the two capitals.

Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kyrgyzstan Armen Ghevondyan and Chairman of the Social Fund under Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers Baktiyar Aliev exchanged an agreement on cooperation in pension provision.

Cooperation will also take place between the national academies of sciences of the two countries.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a joint statement.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has invited Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Kyrgyzstan to attend the second Global Mountain Summit “Bishkek+25”.

The Kyrgyz president extended the invitation during statements to the press following his meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan.

“Taking this opportunity, I once again invite you to Kyrgyzstan to participate in the second Global Mountain Summit ‘Bishkek+25’, which will take place in Bishkek on 21–23 October 2027. We look forward to your visit and will be delighted to welcome you once again on Kyrgyz soil,” Sadyr Japarov said.

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan has commented on the agreement establishing sister-city relations between Yerevan and Bishkek.

In a Facebook post, Avinyan said that Yerevan and Bishkek had become sister cities.

“During the visit of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, to Yerevan, we signed an agreement establishing sister-city relations between the two cities.

“It opens up new opportunities for cooperation in urban governance, transport, environmental protection, culture, sport, healthcare and social protection,” the Yerevan mayor wrote.

The Armenian Prime Minister’s Office has published the joint statement signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov following the latter’s official visit to Armenia. Armenpress presents the statement in full below.

Joint statement by Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov

“At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov paid an official visit to the Republic of Armenia on 16–17 October this year.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic,

having comprehensively reviewed the state and development prospects of the entire spectrum of interstate cooperation,

taking into account the historically established ties between Armenia and Kyrgyzstan and the traditional relations of friendship and respect between the peoples of the two countries,

guided by the provisions of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic of 4 April 2002, reaffirming their commitment to universally recognised norms of international law and the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter of 24 October 1945,

convinced that the destinies and prosperity of the two states are inseparably linked to strengthening peace, security and stability in the South Caucasus, Central Asia and throughout the world,

seeking to consistently improve and give greater substance to bilateral cooperation as the foundation of interstate relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic,

in the thirty-fifth year of the independence of the Republic of Armenia and the declaration of independence of the Kyrgyz Republic,

declare the following:

The Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic (hereinafter referred to as the Parties) are determined to continue strengthening the bonds of friendship between their peoples, guided by the principles of respect for sovereignty, equality, political independence and mutual benefit, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the non-use of force or the threat of force, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. The Parties will build bilateral relations to deepen interstate cooperation, based on a strategic vision for their development. The Parties will develop constructive cooperation bilaterally and within multilateral groupings for the prosperity of both countries and will contribute to strengthening peace, stability and security.

The Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic recognise the central role of the United Nations in ensuring international peace and security and in preventing and peacefully resolving conflicts. Emphasising their interest in ensuring regional and international security, the Parties will deepen cooperation between the security councils, defence and law enforcement bodies and special services of the two states, both bilaterally and in multilateral formats.

The Parties will continue cooperation between their foreign ministries to promote partnership within the multilateral groupings of which they are members, as well as cooperation on a broad range of issues on the international agenda.

The Parties emphasise the historic significance of the state border treaties signed by the Kyrgyz Republic with the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the Washington Joint Declaration signed by the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan on 8 August 2025, which have contributed to establishing peace and stability in Central Asia and the South Caucasus.

The Parties note with satisfaction the efforts to develop transport and logistics routes connecting the South Caucasus and Central Asia and underline the importance of their uninterrupted operation. The Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic are convinced that the implementation of the Armenian Government’s ‘Crossroads of Peace’ concept and the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, together with their integration with other transport and logistics routes, can significantly diversify and expand existing possibilities for organising global and regional supply chains and create additional opportunities for closer transport and logistics cooperation between countries and regions.

The Parties reaffirm their readiness to continue efforts to expand effective and mutually beneficial cooperation within the integration groupings of which they are members.

The Parties reaffirmed their support for international initiatives on sustainable development in mountain regions and adaptation to climate change, including Armenia’s initiative to establish and convene the ‘Yerevan Platform on Mountains and Related Freshwater Ecosystems’ within the framework of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, taking place in Yerevan in October 2026.

Guided by the shared objective of strengthening friendship between present and future generations of citizens of both countries, and seeking to give fresh substance to interstate relations, the Parties intend to:

Maintain regular contacts and dialogue based on trust at the highest and senior levels across the full spectrum of bilateral relations, and deepen practical cooperation between government bodies to enrich it with forward-looking, mutually beneficial programmes;

Deepen cooperation within the United Nations and international environmental conventions to advance the agenda of mountain countries and develop international partnerships aimed at increasing resilience to climate change, protecting biodiversity and vulnerable mountain ecosystems, particularly inland water bodies, restoring land and soil cover, and creating favourable conditions for the sustainable development of mountain countries;

Provide comprehensive support, in bilateral and multilateral formats, for the development of ties between the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic;

Ensure the necessary conditions for placing the work of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic on a systematic footing and for the practical implementation of the cooperation roadmap for 2027–2029;

Intensify trade and economic cooperation, promoting increased bilateral trade and cooperation in areas of mutual interest, primarily transport and logistics, innovation and technology, agriculture, mining and metallurgy, and manufacturing;

Expand cooperation between the regions of the Republic of Armenia and the districts of the Kyrgyz Republic, promote decentralised cooperation in trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian affairs, and encourage direct, ‘horizontal’ links between businesses;

Discuss the possible launch in the Kyrgyz Republic of branches of Armenia’s TUMO Centre for Creative Technologies and the Armenian Aneli and Armath national engineering laboratories as new platforms for developing young people’s educational and innovative potential;

Support the development of cultural and humanitarian ties, including by promoting the preservation of the linguistic, cultural and other distinctive characteristics of ethnic groups living in both countries and ensuring their full participation in public, political, economic and cultural life. Support efforts to foster interest in the traditions and spiritual values of the peoples of the Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic;

Ensure that Days of Armenian Culture are held in the Kyrgyz Republic and Days of Kyrgyz Culture are held in the Republic of Armenia in 2027–2028, alongside events marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of writer Chinghiz Aitmatov and the 125th anniversary of the birth of composer Aram Khachaturian;

Support the organisation of joint exhibitions, musical performances and other cultural events involving prominent cultural figures and young people;

Intensify cooperation to promote each Party’s tourism potential and distinctive advantages, as well as exchanges of experience and information on tourism policy and management;

Intensify cooperation in education, science and intellectual property, encourage the expansion of exchange programmes, including academic mobility for students, lecturers and researchers, and develop joint educational programmes, including programmes awarding dual degrees;

Encourage the reciprocal participation of athletes and national teams from the Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic in international sporting events held in both countries;

Develop cooperation in public service, including exchanges of experience between the Parties’ relevant authorised bodies on the use of modern recruitment methods and digitalisation.

The leaders of the two countries expressed their conviction that the negotiations, the agreements reached during them and the documents signed during the official visit would give fresh impetus to bilateral cooperation and serve the interests of the peoples of both countries.

President of the Kyrgyz Republic S. Japarov expressed his sincere gratitude to Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia N. Pashinyan and the Armenian people for the warm reception and hospitality, and invited the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia to pay an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic in 2027.

The invitation was gratefully accepted. The specific dates of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.”

Armenian Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan has provided details of the memorandum of cooperation signed between Armenia and Kyrgyzstan on protecting Lakes Sevan and Issyk-Kul.

The memorandum was signed following Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov’s official visit to Armenia.

In a Facebook post, Matevosyan outlined what the memorandum envisages.

“Armenia and Kyrgyzstan have signed a memorandum of cooperation on protecting Lakes Sevan and Issyk-Kul.

Under the memorandum, we envisage exchanging experience and scientific data on studying and monitoring lake ecosystems, conserving native fish species, preventing water pollution and assessing the impact of climate change.

Direct cooperation between Sevan National Park and the protected areas of Issyk-Kul will also develop, contributing to the preservation of the natural heritage of both lakes,” Matevosyan wrote.

A formal reception marking the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s declaration of independence was organised in Moscow at the initiative of the Armenian Embassy.

More than 350 guests attended, including Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers Andrei Rudenko and Sergei Ryabkov, Head of the Russian Presidential Administration’s Foreign Policy Directorate Igor Neverov, and other senior officials.

In his address, Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia, Gurgen Arsenyan, congratulated those present on the occasion. He said the 35th anniversary of independence called both for looking back with pride on the country’s journey and for thinking about the future.

“The state is more than what we have inherited from previous generations. It is also daily work, responsibility, honesty, knowledge, professional dedication and civic awareness,” the ambassador said.

He added that Armenia’s future was shaped both at moments of major historical significance and through every piece of knowledge acquired, every undertaking created, every value preserved and every act of civic responsibility.

Discussing Armenia–Russia relations, Arsenyan stressed their multifaceted nature, encompassing politics, security, the economy, energy and culture. He said the ties between the two societies continued to underpin bilateral relations.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko also offered congratulations on the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. He discussed the development of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, cooperation within shared integration groupings and Russia’s role in the South Caucasus.

“Russia, both in the past and today, supports the genuine and full preservation of Armenia’s sovereignty. We regard Yerevan as our natural strategic ally in the South Caucasus. Moscow remains Armenia’s main trading and investment partner, as well as the guarantor of its economic, energy and food security. We take all our obligations seriously,” Rudenko said.

The reception was also attended by heads of more than 50 diplomatic missions accredited to Russia, military attachés, diplomats, public figures and numerous representatives of science and education, culture, healthcare and business.

The event featured musical performances and concluded with traditional refreshments.

World-renowned Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has expressed support for an initiative by Armenia and Colombia to establish the Coalition of Action to Recover Endangered Species (CARES) ahead of the COP17 conference opening in Yerevan. Sixteen countries have joined as founding participants.

DiCaprio wrote on Instagram:

“Preventing extinction isn’t enough. We need to bring threatened species back from the brink and recover them. Today’s announcements at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP17) signal growing global momentum to make that happen.”

The actor highlighted that 16 countries, led by Armenia and Colombia, had joined the new Coalition of Action to Recover Endangered Species (CARES), committing to accelerate efforts to prevent extinctions and achieve measurable species recovery.

“Nine philanthropic funders and organisations, including my organisation Re:wild, formed the Species Recovery Alliance, collectively committing and aligning more than $500 million over five years to support the recovery of species around the world that are Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered and Endangered.

“These two separate initiatives share a common goal: helping the world’s most threatened species recover, which requires sustained investment, coordinated conservation action and long-term commitment.

“Congratulations to the founding governments and organisations,” DiCaprio said.

Armenia’s Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan met with the Republic of Cyprus’s Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Christos Senekis ahead of COP17, the Armenian Ministry of Environment said in a statement.

The ministers discussed opportunities to develop Armenian-Cypriot cooperation in environmental protection, highlighting the importance of implementing agreements reached during previous meetings and developing a joint action plan.

The ministers also discussed exchanges of experience in biodiversity conservation, the management of specially protected natural areas and waste management, as well as cooperation within the framework of COP17.

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is important for Armenia from an environmental, political, economic and security perspective.

Armenian Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan said this while discussing the opportunities offered by the conference and the prospects for expanding international cooperation.

He said hosting an international event of this scale enables Armenia to strengthen ties with international partners, raise its profile and highlight the importance of its involvement in international affairs.

“Security comes first. Clearly, this event also has a political dimension. The presence of so many people, countries and participants in the Republic of Armenia is a significant event. This is one of the most important factors for Armenia’s economic development and its place in the world. It is impossible to overlook all the positive aspects,” Simonyan said.

He said such international platforms allow Armenia to establish new connections, engage directly with representatives of different countries and identify areas for further cooperation. Hosting such events also helps increase international interest in the country and expand Armenia’s involvement in global affairs.

Asked what new opportunities could emerge for Armenia over the next two years, Simonyan said these were already being created through the country’s hosting of the conference.

“Look, these opportunities have already opened up through the very fact that COP17 is being held in the Republic of Armenia. If it had not been possible to hold this event in the Republic of Armenia, COP17 would not be here today,” he said.

The Security Council Secretary stressed the importance of maintaining the connections and opportunities for cooperation established during the conference after the event ends. The next two years could be important for Armenia in continuing dialogue with international partners and developing these ties.

The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP17), to be held in Armenia from 19 to 30 October, is the largest international environmental event in the country’s history. Its central objective is to conduct the first global review of how countries are implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

The conference’s activities are divided between two main venues: the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex (Green Zone) and the Meridian Expo Centre (Blue Zone).

The Green Zone is open to the general public, civil society, scientists, businesses and young people. It will showcase environmental innovations and host community discussions, exhibitions and cultural events.

The Blue Zone is the venue for official negotiations, where national delegations, intergovernmental bodies, observers and experts meet to take decisions at the global level.

Sargis Asatryan

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, COP17, will open up new opportunities for Armenia to conserve biodiversity and develop international cooperation.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said this while discussing the conference’s significance for Armenia.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that biodiversity conservation continues to receive due attention as the country develops its economy.

“Naturally, biodiversity must become increasingly important to us. Amid the whirlwind of economic development, we must not forget to give this area the attention it deserves. Armenia will chair the COP17 process over the next two years, which also offers a major opportunity to expand international cooperation,” Mirzoyan said.

He said the participation of representatives from numerous countries provides an opportunity to strengthen existing ties and continue cooperation with international partners over the next two years.

Discussing the layout and design of Armenia’s pavilion in the conference’s Blue Zone, the foreign minister said it had made a strong impression on him.

“Believe me, I attend quite a few events like this in different parts of the world, and I must say that Armenia’s pavilion is very impressive, modern and tastefully designed,” the minister said.

Asked what would first attract international visitors’ attention at Armenia’s pavilion, Mirzoyan praised its overall concept and execution.

“Armenia’s pavilion has turned out wonderfully. It is impressive, tasteful and rich in content, with a modern approach to its execution,” Ararat Mirzoyan concluded.

COP17, taking place in Armenia from 19 to 30 October, is the largest international environmental event in the country’s history. Representatives from countries around the world are discussing biodiversity conservation and stronger international cooperation at the conference.

Sargis Asatryan