Category: News

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan reiterated that peace has been established with Azerbaijan, even though the treaty initialed at a US-brokered summit in 2025 has not yet been signed.

“We already have real peace,” Mirzoyan said at a panel discussion at the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 international forum.

“We do not have unfortunate incidents on the border with Azerbaijan, and for more than a year there have been no casualties caused by shootings at the border. Moreover, Azerbaijan has lifted restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia through its territory. This is already a major step toward peace. We have also started bilateral trade with Azerbaijan; we are purchasing petroleum products from Azerbaijan, and we will also sell certain goods to Azerbaijani companies. This is truly proof of peace. I cannot say that all issues have been resolved. We have had a very bloody conflict; the wounds are still very fresh, and both peoples still need real reconciliation. There are unresolved issues, particularly of a humanitarian nature; there are detainees. But the path is very optimistic,” Mirzoyan said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan believes that dialogue between Armenia and Türkiye has matured sufficiently to produce positive results. He described the dialogue between the two countries as “excellent.”

“We have excellent dialogue with Türkiye,” Mirzoyan said at a panel discussion during the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum.

“There have been many opportunities for cooperation. Just yesterday, our representatives [for normalization] signed a memorandum to jointly restore the historic Ani Bridge, which is on the Armenia–Türkiye border. A week ago, the third meeting of the working group took place, which is trying to restore the railway connection between Armenia and Türkiye via the Gyumri–Kars route. So, we have many cases of cooperation, but the [land] border remains generally closed. We have expressed mutual readiness to establish diplomatic relations, and we have expressed our mutual interest and willingness to fully open the border. There was an agreement in the first stage to open the border for third-country nationals and diplomats, but to this day the border remains closed. Some agreements are being implemented, some are still being developed, but I can say with confidence that this will happen, because Armenia–Türkiye dialogue has reached a sufficient level for positive results,” Mirzoyan said.

Türkiye unilaterally closed its land border with Armenia in 1993. The two countries have intensified normalization efforts in recent years and reached an agreement that the first phase would envisage opening the border to citizens of third countries as well as diplomats. The parties are also exploring the relaunch of the Gyumri–Kars railway.

On May 4, on the margins of the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia and Türkiye signed a memorandum of understanding on the restoration of the historic Ani Bridge.

FlyOne Armenia will acquire two Airbus A321neo aircraft pursuant to an agreement formalized during the document-signing ceremony held as part of French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit.

The agreement between FlyOne Armenia and Airbus was signed in the presence of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and French President Emmanuel Macron, by FlyOne Armenia CEO Aram Khachatryan and Airbus Head of Commercial Services for Europe Charbel Youzkatli, highlighting the high level of cooperation and its international significance.

The airline said in a press release that the agreement covers not only the acquisition of next-generation Airbus A321neo aircraft, but also long-term cooperation and professional development programs.

“This is a historic milestone for both our company and Armenian aviation,” said Aram Khachatryan, CEO of FlyOne Armenia.

“We highly value FlyOne Armenia’s trust in the A320 family, especially its choice of the A321neo,” Charbel Youzkatli, Airbus Head of Commercial Services for Europe, said.

“This milestone marks an important step in the company’s strategic growth—expanding its fleet, strengthening its route network, and reinforcing its position in the international aviation market,” FlyOne Armenia said.

Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan has said that global geopolitics is changing, with countries increasingly focusing on strengthening their own defense capabilities, although alliances remain important.

“I would not say that alliances do not work. Alliances are still important, but it is also important to focus on one’s own capabilities,” Grigoryan said at the Yerevan Dialogue 2026, emphasizing the importance of national capabilities and partnerships in addressing the challenges facing states today.

He spoke at the “Europe Between New Forms of Power and Dominance: Geopolitical Agency in a Fragmenting World” panel discussion.

He noted that in recent years Armenia has placed great emphasis on diversification in order to have as many alternatives as possible, since monopolies in geopolitics also pose challenges.

“There must always be alternatives. This is the main message of the modern world,” the Security Council Secretary said.

In this context, in what appeared to be a reference to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Grigoryan pointed to an interesting reality—how $110 trillion of global GDP can depend on a single strait, which could call into question the entire concept of energy security, forcing its reassessment and the search for alternatives.

Grigoryan said that, given the current geopolitical situation, international relations, and the challenges facing states, it is difficult to predict anything. Nevertheless, he stressed that the most important factor for Armenia is having sufficient state capacity to address these challenges.

Evocabank press release 

Evocabank and Proparco-AFD sign a €20 mln credit agreement to advance women’s entrepreneurship and renewable energy in Armenia.

As France and Armenia mark a new chapter in their bilateral relationship during President Emmanuel Macron’s State Visit to Armenia, Evocabank and Proparco-AFD (Groupe Agence française de développement) signed a €20 million credit agreement targeting two of Armenia’s most pressing development priorities: the economic empowerment of women and the country’s energy transition.

In Armenia, women represent only 17% of business owners. A structural gap that limits the country’s economic potential and social cohesion. At the same time, Armenia is actively seeking to reduce its dependence on energy imports and accelerate its transition towards renewable sources. This agreement, signed in the presence of President Macron and Prime Minister Pashinyan, responds to both challenges at once.

Half of the credit line: €10 million, will finance women-led businesses, strengthening women’s access to formal financing and entrepreneurship. The transaction is eligible under the 2X Challenge, an international initiative by development finance institutions that sets standards for gender-lens investing. The remaining €10 million will support the development of Evocabank’s renewable energy portfolio, contributing to Armenia’s clean energy ambitions. In total, nearly 17,000 jobs will be sustained and over 300 MSMEs supported.

This agreement reflects a shared ambition: Evocabank, as one of Armenia’s most forward-looking financial institutions, and Proparco-AFD, as a committed partner of the country’s private sector development, are joining forces to put finance at the service of those who are too often left behind — women entrepreneurs and communities seeking access to clean energy.

The signing ceremony took place within the framework of the EPC 2026 Summit (European Political Community), in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Evocabank CEO Karen Yeghiazaryan said: “This agreement marks a significant milestone for Evocabank and an important step toward advancing long-term economic growth in Armenia. Our partnership with Proparco-AFD reflects our continued focus on scaling impact by combining global expertise with deep local knowledge. Over the years, Evocabank has consistently supported women-led businesses by expanding access to finance and fostering entrepreneurship, and this agreement enables us to further strengthen that commitment. We remain dedicated to delivering innovative financial solutions that create tangible value for our clients and help shape a more sustainable and equitable future.”

About Proparco

Proparco – a subsidiary of the Agence française de développement (AFD) – conducts its action within the framework of France’s international development and solidarity program. It operates in more than 115 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eurasia, and the Middle East. 

With a specific focus on supporting innovation in sustainable development and working alongside the innovators who are shaping the private sector of tomorrow, Proparco helps to create decent jobs, provide essential goods and services, and combat climate change.

Proparco actively contributes to France’s international partnership and sustainable investment policy.

About Evocabank

Evocabank, as the first registered commercial bank in Armenia, not only provides fast, convenient, and innovative banking services but also shapes a modern banking culture.

The Bank places special emphasis on the development of mobile services, creating an environment where any financial transaction can be completed without visiting the bank, directly via the EvocaTOUCH app.

Evocabank remains fully committed to its vision: “To be the most innovative and progressive commercial bank in Armenia whose services will be available online without visiting the Bank.”

All this is evidenced by the numerous awards Evocabank has received from prestigious international magazines and organizations over the years, such as “Best Bank in Armenia,” “Best Digital Bank in Armenia,” “Best SME Bank in Armenia,” “Best Mobile Banking App in Armenia,” and more.

Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia has said that relations with Armenia are exemplary and important for the development of the entire South Caucasus.

“Armenia–Georgia bilateral relations are officially strategic, but I think the word ‘strategic’ is not sufficient to describe the brotherly relations that exist between Georgia and Armenia. Today they are very strong in all respects,” the Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister told Armenpress on the margins of the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum.

He pointed to very good cooperation in economic, political, and other fields, as well as in international organizations.

“The cooperation between Armenia and Georgia is exemplary, and it is truly very important for the development of the whole region. As for the prospects for further development of relations, I can say that there is still a lot of potential that we need to explore; perhaps there is more room to further deepen economic ties. There are many areas where we can deepen our relations, and this is actually our main goal. We have very good cooperation not only between states, but also at the inter-agency level. Almost all agencies of Georgia and Armenia cooperate very well and very closely, but there are areas where many things can still be improved in the future,” Darsalia emphasized.

Referring to the importance and significance of the already traditional Yerevan Dialogue international forum, Darsalia noted that it is becoming a very important platform not only for the region but also for other actors.

“There were very good discussions during the conference, and I myself participated in the discussion on connectivity in the South Caucasus. We were talking about the importance of our region and the role that it can play in connecting the wider region and different parts of the world,” the Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister said.

According to him, the transit role of the South Caucasus is increasing, and the region’s importance is rising, especially in today’s turbulent world, when many developments are taking place around the South Caucasus.

“Our region now has the opportunity to become a truly connecting region, and regional cooperation is something that Georgia strongly promotes. We have all been searching for and waiting for this opportunity for the past 35 years. This region went through many tragedies, wars, conflicts, and a great deal of chaos in the 1990s, and today we truly have the opportunity to turn it into a space of cooperation and peace. This will make our region an important hub for international trade, investment, and connectivity,” Darsalia emphasized.

The new cooperation agreement signed between Armenia and France will enable the two countries to deepen their already three-year-long cooperation in research and innovation, particularly in the fields of unmanned aerial vehicles, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.

Alice Rufo, Minister Delegate to the French Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, hailed the signing of the memorandum of understanding during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Armenia.

“I am pleased with the signing of the memorandum of understanding with Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan. It formalized the cooperation between the ministry he leads and the Defense Innovation Agency of the [French] Ministry of the Armed Forces. This agreement will allow us to deepen the cooperation between our two countries, which began in 2023, in the fields of research and innovation, particularly in unmanned aerial vehicles, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing,” Rufo said on X.

Within the framework of French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Armenia, important documents aimed at developing bilateral cooperation in the fields of high technology and the defense industry were signed on May 5.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the French Republic on cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and semiconductors.