Category: News

The peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan has already delivered significant results and achievements in ways that would have been unimaginable several years ago.

Vasif Huseynov, an Azerbaijani expert and head of a department at the Center of Analysis of International Relations and Multiculturalism, expressed this view while addressing the APRI Forum 2026 conference online.

“It may seem that the cycle of escalation and tension is permanent, but we have greater grounds for optimism about the ongoing peace and normalisation process. This is a process that has already delivered very significant results and achievements in ways that would have been unimaginable several years ago,” Huseynov said, adding that he believed this was part of a broader positive picture and that further developments would follow in the near future.

“We have already achieved a great deal. Today, goods can be exported from Azerbaijan to Armenia, as well as from other countries to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory, and only recently we heard that Armenia is preparing to export certain goods to Azerbaijan. I think this is something that should be appreciated and welcomed.

“As for the border process and discussions, as well as the opening of the border between our countries, I think the expectations are quite understandable because, from Azerbaijan’s perspective, it is quite clear that we cannot sign a peace treaty with a country whose constitution contains territorial claims against us,” the Azerbaijani expert said, reiterating the position and rhetoric of his country’s political leadership.

Huseynov recalled that Türkiye is Azerbaijan’s number one ally and, naturally, shares the aforementioned understanding. According to him, this is precisely why it is clear that the peace process will continue and the borders will open when “Armenia removes territorial claims from its Constitution”.

“President Aliyev has repeatedly stated that Azerbaijan is ready to sign the peace treaty the day after Armenia changes its Constitution. Signing the peace treaty would mean establishing diplomatic relations and opening the borders. In other words, the process will proceed step by step.

“This is not a circular process, but a linear one that we are carrying out step by step. Look at how many steps we have taken over the past year since the Washington summit. Those steps are continuing, and there will be more. Therefore, so far, I have not seen any setback that could be described as a circular process,” Huseynov said.

Turning to the TRIPP project, the Azerbaijani expert stressed its regional significance. He said Azerbaijan was interested in peace and stability in the South Caucasus and the wider region. Therefore, according to Huseynov, the successful implementation of the peace process remains a priority for Baku.

As one of its priorities for the next five years, Armenia should also seek to do more through parliamentary diplomacy to normalise relations with neighbouring countries in the region.

Sargis Khandanyan, Chair of the Armenian National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, expressed this view at the APRI Forum 2026.

“We cooperate quite closely with two of our neighbours in this format, but in the context of the peace and normalisation processes, the time has come to establish interparliamentary ties with Azerbaijan and Türkiye, which would be very logical. As part of our diversification policy, we should seek to broaden the scope of parliamentary diplomacy.

“In previous years, we have worked very actively with European and North American countries, but there remains considerable untapped potential for cooperation, particularly with Central Asian and Gulf countries. Concrete steps are already being taken to address this. The logic of our relations will be shaped precisely by a diversified and balanced foreign policy,” Khandanyan said.

He said Armenia’s geographical position offered opportunities for active cooperation and for the country to be at the centre of various logistics and trade chains.

“We should not view the preservation of our sovereignty through the prism of conflicting interests of others, but should instead seek, as far as possible, to avoid becoming a point where those interests clash. A balanced foreign policy means not having exclusive relations with only one geopolitical centre, but maintaining balanced ties with as many centres as possible.

“From the perspective of preserving our sovereignty, building normal relations with the countries of the region is very important, because one of the most important guarantees of preserving sovereignty is maintaining peace. We need to continue the peace process patiently and avoid tensions with all our neighbours so that external powers cannot take advantage of those tensions,” Khandanyan said.

He stressed that Armenia was indeed moving closer to the West – Europe and the United States – and was thereby diversifying its relations in different directions. According to Khandanyan, deepening relations with the EU is also a matter of Armenia’s domestic agenda because the country’s European aspirations and the process of joining the EU are, first and foremost, a process that contributes to the domestic reform agenda.

Khandanyan said diversification was important in terms of access to foreign markets, energy cooperation and certain forms of security cooperation, but stressed that the principle of balance should always be kept in mind.

“The Iran-US conflict in our neighbourhood cannot in any way be in Armenia’s interests and cannot be beneficial to the region as a whole. We therefore hope that the conflict will be resolved through peaceful diplomatic means in the near future.

“Our friendly relations with Iran are very important for Armenia, and there is an intention on both sides to elevate them to a strategic level, although the quality and nature of the relationship are already strategic in themselves. The relevant document will be signed in the near future. Armenia does not intend to develop relations with any country at the expense of other partner states,” the MP said.

Turning to relations between Armenia and Russia, Khandanyan said they needed to be transformed, given that, through inertia and circumstances, they had largely been built primarily around security cooperation.

“But events have taken place which have demonstrated that Russia cannot be the guarantor of Armenia’s security. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has ended and peace has been established, so these circumstances must be taken into account and the nature of Armenian-Russian relations brought into line with the new reality.

“This does not mean that relations between Armenia and Russia should be severed. On the contrary, bilateral relations have considerable potential for development. We will seek to resolve the problems that have arisen on both sides through negotiations in a calm atmosphere.

“If the TRIPP project remains the only functioning programme for unblocking infrastructure, we will have a problem. Armenia’s railways must therefore, in our case, be adapted to connect with the outside world,” Khandanyan said.

According to him, both the opportunities and risks associated with the TRIPP project should be assessed. However, he described the risks being raised as not so much risks as political perceptions.

“The first was the risk related to Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but the TRIPP formula has already resolved that issue. The project will be implemented within the principles of preserving Armenia’s sovereignty, jurisdiction and territorial integrity.

“During the next month, Armenia and the United States will also sign the main framework agreement on TRIPP, which will be ratified by the National Assembly. The agreement contains all the answers regarding political perceptions. TRIPP should not be the only exclusive project that unblocks Armenia,” said the Chair of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations.

Finally, addressing the process of normalising Armenian-Turkish relations, Khandanyan said the Armenian side was seeking to keep the Armenia-Türkiye normalisation process exclusively within the bilateral agenda, despite the difficulties that arise.

“I do not think the process is at an impasse; nevertheless, decisions are being made. We do not see any obstacle preventing relations between the two sides from being fully normalised. Türkiye should have opened its border with Armenia and established diplomatic relations long ago.

“Filled with faith and hope, we will continue working in this direction, which occupies an important place in our diversification policy,” Khandanyan concluded.

Türkiye has continued to advance the process of normalising relations with Armenia, as evidenced by the special representatives, air links, procedures to facilitate the visa regime for official passport holders, trade documents, the railway working group and Washington’s support for the political process.

Hazel Çağan Elbir, a Turkish analyst and expert at the Center for Eurasian Studies, expressed this view online during the APRI Forum 2026 conference.

“Ankara did not wait for perfect trust before opening channels of communication; it built trust by acting. We can say that we have reached a crucial milestone. The South Caucasus has, in fact, seized a unique moment – one that will be significant for generations and perhaps one of the most important periods for the countries of the region.

“The Armenia-Azerbaijan border is taking shape, the peace process has been initiated and set in motion, moving from design to implementation, the transportation of energy resources and cargo has resumed, and Turkish flights to Yerevan have also been planned,” Elbir said.

She added that for a long time there had been no significant developments between Armenia and Türkiye or between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and that this essentially presented an opportunity to view the future as an era of possibilities. According to the analyst, the Armenian Government’s programme, which establishes the establishment of diplomatic relations with Türkiye as official policy, represents accumulated political capital.

“I believe that by taking steps towards the future and positive development among our three countries, there will be a good future for all of us. Therefore, the persistent question is no longer whether Türkiye will deliver results, but whether Armenia will take measures that demonstrate trust towards Azerbaijan and Türkiye,” the Turkish analyst said.

She recalled that the Turkish side maintains the presence of its special envoy in the region, while Armenia currently has no active representative. Armenia’s former representative and envoy for relations with Türkiye, Ruben Rubinyan, is now President of the National Assembly.

“We support the normalisation process, as demonstrated by the work of our representative Serdar Kılıç. Incidentally, on every occasion he refers to the former representative as his counterpart. Türkiye does not seek to be the leading or sole country trying to strengthen its position and influence in the region. Our approach is based on normalising relations and ensuring prosperity and stability,” Elbir said.

She supports the view that there should be no other actors from outside the region.

“External actors should not try to persuade Türkiye to set aside its partner, Azerbaijan. Calling for the Turkish-Armenian border to be opened while disregarding Azerbaijan’s position demonstrates a misunderstanding of both alliance politics and the current situation,” Elbir concluded.

The APRI Forum 2026, which began in Yerevan on September 23, is being held under the theme “Sketching the Architecture of Change”. Politicians, diplomats, representatives of the business community and civil society from Armenia and abroad are taking part in the forum.

During the three-day event, participants will discuss key issues for Armenia, including regional security and foreign policy, connectivity, economic security, digital sovereignty and the development of institutional capacities.

Digitec, one of Armenia’s major annual technology events, will bring together a larger and more representative group of participants this year.

Armen Kocharyan, President of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE), the organizer of the event, noted that their main goal and dream is to make Armenia a high-tech country creating unprecedented value.

“When Digitec was created in 2005, Armenia was taking its first steps in the high-tech sector. During this time, we have come a long way and have become a country that not only uses but also creates technologies,” he said at a press conference.

“Digitec will be much bigger this year because we already have companies creating technologies that have global demand. This is a platform where we must showcase all of this. For 21 years now, we have seen how Digitec brings the entire community together, becoming a platform where everyone presents the work they have done and, through communication, develops new ideas, new businesses, and new cooperation. That is our main path to becoming a technological country,” he said.

According to Armen Kocharyan, Digitec gives Armenia an opportunity to present itself: organizing a major technology exhibition testifies to the presence of a major technology sector in the country. Their goal is to contribute to increasing its public visibility.

“Today, we have reached a point where this technology event has gone beyond the country’s borders, and this year, already with international funding and with the support of NVIDIA and Firebird, it has grown even further,” he emphasized.

The UATE president also highlighted the fact that Digitec contributes to ensuring the continuity of the sector’s development by educating and training the new generation.

Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence Davit Tadevosyan has praised the agenda of the upcoming Digitec 2026 technology exhibition, which will be held under the motto “World’s New AI Hub,” for covering the entire spectrum of the artificial intelligence sector.

Tadevosyan spoke at a press conference dedicated to the event, which will take place on November 20-22.

“Digitec reflects the model that we would like all organizations in Armenia’s artificial intelligence sector to follow. In other words, an idea born from a modest concept should reach a status where its impact, significance, and role clearly extend beyond Armenia’s borders. We welcome and are also excited about the event’s title. We are also glad that the Digitec agenda features not just one component of the AI sector, but seemingly the entire spectrum, from computing resources and energy to the creation and design of high-value-added products,” he said.

The minister emphasized that the success and development of Armenia’s technology sector depend on effective cooperation between the state and private companies, noting that Digitec is a vivid manifestation of such cooperation.

It was noted that Digitec 2025 recorded simply excellent results, with more than 30,000 participants and over 200 organizations from around 30 countries.

Digitec 2026, an international technology exhibition scheduled to take place in Armenia in November, will be accompanied by a major conference and a series of meetings and discussions involving executives and representatives of globally renowned companies.

Edita Ghazaryan, Executive Director of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE), announced the details at a press conference on September 23.

“This year, we will have a larger international conference. There will also be technical workshops and discussions at various levels. Digitec will host the international OpenTalks.AI community this year. It is a community of highly skilled specialists and engineers, and we will dedicate one of our halls to its representatives for an entire day.

“We will also have workshops and specially targeted talks featuring representatives from the OpenAI, Mozilla and NVIDIA teams,” Ghazaryan said.

The event will also feature a large startup exhibition, including a dedicated startup track, with around 70 startups expected to take part.

B2B meetings are also planned, bringing together businesspeople and members of delegations from different countries. In this section, organisers will use a dedicated app to identify participants and seek to facilitate connections between them with the help of various artificial intelligence tools.

A national robotics competition involving around 400 children will also be held as part of the exhibition.

On November 22, the 33rd anniversary of the introduction of the Armenian dram, a panel discussion with representatives of the Central Bank of Armenia will be held on the main stage.

Of the 150 speakers expected at Digitec, around 80 have already confirmed their participation.

Ghazaryan also said that Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, as well as ministers responsible for the high-tech sector from Georgia, Uzbekistan and Bulgaria, had expressed an interest in attending the exhibition.

“We are positioning Armenia as the region’s leading country in artificial intelligence and Digitec as the best event,” she said.

Digitec 2026 will take place at the Meridian Centre in Yerevan from November 20 to 22, bringing together leading technology professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and public-sector representatives from the United States, Europe, the Gulf states and Central Asia.

The exhibition will be held under the theme “The World’s New AI Hub”.

Armenia has everything it needs to take advantage of the limitless opportunities offered by the new technological revolution and to be represented at every layer of it.

NVIDIA Vice President Rev Lebaredian made the remarks online during a press conference dedicated to the Digitec 2026 technology exhibition, which will take place in November.

In his assessment, Armenia now has an opportunity that may come once in a lifetime, or even once in a century.

“We are now seeing unprecedented demand for the production of artificial intelligence. That is precisely why we are seeing AI factories being built everywhere, and even that is still not enough. For many people today, artificial intelligence may simply seem like a chatbot on a web page. But artificial intelligence is much more than that. To create artificial intelligence, you need a strong foundation,” Lebaredian said, broadly dividing the AI ecosystem into five main layers: energy, chips, computing infrastructure, models and applications.

The first layer is energy. Training and running AI systems requires large-scale computing power, which ultimately depends on electricity. According to Lebaredian, expanding energy production and the corresponding infrastructure is therefore an important task for Armenia, as the amount of available energy capacity determines the scale of computing that can be carried out.

The second layer is chips and semiconductor technologies. In Lebaredian’s assessment, Armenia occupies a distinctive position in this area relative to its size, given the presence of international technology companies operating in the country and its professional expertise.

Lebaredian pointed to NVIDIA, Synopsys, Siemens, Cadence, AMD, Broadcom and Cisco as major companies connected with Armenia’s technology ecosystem. In this context, the focus is primarily on semiconductor design, engineering, software and research capabilities.

The third layer is computing infrastructure. This includes AI factories and high-performance data centres, where large numbers of GPUs, along with networking, storage, power and cooling systems, are brought together into a single integrated infrastructure. Their purpose is to provide the computing power needed to train, refine and deploy AI models at scale.

Large-scale infrastructure is already being developed in Armenia in this area. The Eleveight AI factory, operating in Gagarin since June, runs on 512 NVIDIA Blackwell B300 GPUs. According to the company’s current figures, the first-phase investment programme amounts to up to $150 million, while the centre has a capacity of 5 MW. The next expansion is expected to increase this to 40 MW.

The first phase of Firebird’s AI factory, which opened in Hrazdan in August, includes 6,144 NVIDIA B200 GPUs and has a capacity of 15 MW. Under plans published by the company and NVIDIA, the infrastructure in Armenia is expected to be expanded significantly, reaching more than 70,000 NVIDIA Blackwell and Rubin GPUs and a capacity of 300 MW by the end of 2027.

The fourth layer is AI models – what people generally think of first when they hear artificial intelligence – systems such as GPT, Claude and other leading models.

According to Lebaredian’s reasoning, such models can be created and operated only when the preceding layers are in place: sufficient energy, the appropriate chips and large-scale computing infrastructure. The AI factories being developed in Armenia create opportunities to train, refine and run AI models locally, provided the necessary computing infrastructure is available.

The fifth and, in Lebaredian’s assessment, most important layer is applications. This is where AI’s technological capabilities are transformed into specific products and services for business, science, education, public administration, industry and other sectors.

According to Lebaredian, Armenia has a more established foundation in this area because software and technology solutions have been developed in the country for decades. In the context of this development, he also highlighted Digitec, which is being held for the 21st time this year.

At the same time, the NVIDIA Vice President said the opportunity was so significant that Armenia could not realise it in isolation. According to him, the next step is to build regional connections and partnerships that would make it possible to jointly create a technology ecosystem larger than Armenia’s own capabilities.

In this context, he attributed an important role to Digitec. This year, the event is being transformed into a conference dedicated to artificial intelligence, designed to encourage discussion and cooperation across all the layers of AI outlined above.

Lebaredian also takes a broader view of the term “region” than the South Caucasus alone, encompassing Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. In his assessment, with such broad cooperation, Armenia could become part of a larger AI ecosystem and connect its technological capabilities with international markets.

The Armenian EyeCare Project’s John and Tanya Hovanesian Regional Diagnostic Eye Clinic is now operating at the Artashat Medical Center in the city of Artashat in Ararat region. 

The clinic was established with the support of Armenian EyeCare Project Vice President Dr. John Hovanesian and his wife, Tanya Hovanesian, and is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, giving residents of the region access to advanced eye examinations and outpatient treatment.

The Armenian EyeCare Project is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization founded in 1992 and dedicated to providing eye care to the Armenian people through five primary programs. Its mission is to eliminate preventable blindness and its causes in Armenia and make quality eye care accessible to all.

According to Armenian EyeCare Project Vice President John Hovanesian, who attended the inauguration with his wife, the organization has been working in Armenia for 34 years to train medical personnel, improve the quality of services provided, and establish the necessary infrastructure throughout the country.

“This is the only facility in Ararat Province that has been established by the Armenian EyeCare Project. Our goal is to develop it to the point where the capacity of the services provided is improved. First, perhaps, the possibility of laser treatment will be added for patients with diabetes and glaucoma, and then we will also perform surgeries. It is very important for Tanya and me to invest in a place where it will serve people to the greatest possible extent,” Hovanesian told reporters.

Nune Yeghiazaryan, Armenian EyeCare Project’s Armenia Country Director, noted that the Artashat center is the 16th medical facility established by the Project in Armenia.

“I can proudly say that there is at least one such medical facility in every region of Armenia, equipped with modern equipment. They make it possible to prevent difficult and serious diseases that can lead to blindness,” Yeghiazaryan said.

According to Shahane Mnatsakanyan, Deputy Minister of Health of Armenia, the new center is not simply another medical facility, but another important step toward making quality and safe healthcare services accessible to residents of the regions.

“For years, the EyeCare Project has carried out extensive work in Armenia: hundreds of thousands of eye examinations, thousands of surgeries, training and education for young ophthalmologists, and exchange of experience. I am confident that the center will serve as a hub for good vision and improved quality of life in Ararat Province,” the deputy minister said.

Hayk Hovhannisyan, Director of the Artashat Medical Center, added that the new center is highly important because the Artashat Medical Center previously did not provide such services.

“Until now, the service was provided through mobile services, whereas from now on people will receive it right in their own community. Starting early next year, we are also planning to expand this by adding surgical services,” Hovhannisyan said.

The Armenian EyeCare Project has been implementing a large-scale program since 2015 aimed at restoring the eye healthcare system in Armenia’s regions. The establishment of the Artashat Regional Diagnostic Eye Clinic is part of this program. From 2015 to 2020, five regional eye care centers were established, equipped with the necessary equipment and capabilities for diagnosis and surgery.

Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan held a meeting with UK Ambassador to Armenia Alexandra Cole.

According to a government readout, Grigoryan and Cole discussed bilateral agenda issues stemming from the strategic partnership.

They also touched upon regional developments.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of deepening trade and economic relations between the two countries and particularly stressed the importance of the involvement of UK businesses in the development of Armenia’s economy and the establishment of a proper business culture in the country.

YEREVAN, 23 SEPTEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 23 September, USD exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 363.44 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.76 drams to 414.98 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0128 drams to 4.322 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.6 drams to 483.16 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 59 drams to 50590 drams. Silver price down by 2.84 drams to 766.94 drams.