Category: News

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Emmanuel Macron signed a joint declaration on Tuesday establishing a strategic partnership between Armenia and France.

The signing took place during Macron’s state visit to Armenia, following the French leader’s meeting with Pashinyan.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that Armenia and the EU are making progress on visa liberalization.

“We are making progress on visa liberalisation. I know it matters to Armenians deeply. It matters to the EU too, because it draws our people closer together. I’m sure we will get there,” she said on X, posting a video from her press conference after the Armenia–EU summit in Yerevan.

Speaking at the summit, von der Leyen said that visa policy and home affairs are among priority cooperation areas. “Visa liberalisation is a priority that matters deeply to the Armenian people. And rightly so – since it is a key vehicle to bring our people closer together. So, we are pleased to present the first progress report on the implementation of the visa liberalisation action plan. And congratulations, it shows good work and progress since last November. I am absolutely convinced we are going to get there. Also today, we are setting a new working arrangement between Frontex and Armenia. It will strengthen cooperation on border and migration management,” she said.

Armenia is navigating a turbulent global landscape by adopting a more pragmatic and proactive foreign policy, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum, where he highlighted peace efforts, regional connectivity projects, and expanding partnerships with global actors.

The forum was attended by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan, French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset, among other dignitaries.

The Foreign Ministry published the transcript of FM Mirzoyan’s speech:

“Honourable Mr President of the Republic of Armenia,

Honourable Mr Prime Minister, 

Honourable Mr President of the Republic of France,

Honourable Mr President of the National Assembly,

Excellencies, distinguished guests and friends,

I am privileged to welcome you back to Yerevan for the third edition of our Dialogue. In a world that increasingly discourages stability and continuity, the fact that we are here again, that this forum has returned, already sends a powerful message. 

Forums endure when they have something real to say. I believe we do.

Last year, we met in this very room under the theme “Navigating the Unknown.” We described a world that was lost in a thick fog, as the familiar architecture was crumbling, the rules were fading, and we weren’t sure what was coming next. We brought up compasses and maps, we spoke of tectonic shifts and disorientation. We asked how any of us was navigating in this unknown environment. 

Today, that fog has partially cleared. But instead of a calm sea, we see many storms.

The storms we face today are not metaphorical; they are very real and systemic. They test nations, their sovereignty, institutions and individuals alike. Looking at today’s storms, the following broader picture emerges:

Geopolitical Storm: International law and global order are not just strained, they are being actively dismantled. We see a dangerous shift where the rule of power tends to replace the rule of law. Multilateral institutions designed to maintain order are struggling to assert their authority in a world that no longer waits for their verdict. Nuclear rhetoric, once restricted to the rooms of the Cold War, re-entered mainstream political discourse, which should alarm everybody.  Technological Storm: technology has moved much faster than our ability to manage the risks and opportunities it brings. Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic dream but a present force. Well, we all were smart enough to predict that it would reshape industries, eliminate professions and change the very nature of work. But beyond this, AI has also turned into a powerful tool of manipulation, generating disinformation at an industrial scale, creating false realities and targeting democratic societies with surgical precision.  Economic Storm: the global market is no longer stable, and recent developments have deeply shaken the belief that open trade benefits everyone. Supply chains that connect continents are easily broken. Swings in energy prices can disrupt national economies overnight. Economic sanctions have become a routine instrument of geopolitical pressure, turning trade into a battlefield. Environmental Storm: the natural systems that sustain life on Earth, our climate, water, soil, forests, and biodiversity, are no longer just changing; they are under serious strain. We have moved beyond gradual warming into a period of deep instability, where environmental damage makes every other crisis worse. The biodiversity loss, the land degradation and deforestation weaken nature’s ability to recover, while the overuse of natural resources threatens the balance needed for societies to function.

Those storms have not arrived separately. They have come together, and they reinforce one another. A geopolitical shock drives economic disruption, which fuels a technological arms race, which in turn deepens geopolitical divisions, while environmental change makes all of these challenges even harder to manage.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Armenia knows what it means to be in the centre of the storm. Let me speak openly. Challenges and hardships our country has faced in recent years would have driven many nations toward para՛lysis and the brink of collapse. So, let me share some conclusions:  

When a nation finds itself in such turbulence, history offers three broad paths:

The first is detachment and disassociation: It is the choice to stay on the sidelines, avoid taking actions and hope that remaining detached, the storms will spare you, and your comfort zone and status quo will be preserved. While it may look like a safe choice in the short run, history shows that such detachment doesn’t protect. It merely leaves nations cut from reality, unprepared and more vulnerable, thus strengthening the shock of the strike when the crisis reaches them, and bubble eventually blows up. The second is the surrender to the storm: Here you make inefficient, wrong and exhaustive movements, movements that are predictable or even worse – are prescribed by scriptwriters, and ultimately you only help the storm to carry you wherever it chooses. This way, you give up control, you no longer decide your own fate. You become an object rather than a subject of your own history. And merely driven by the current or trying to drift with it, you inevitably risk becoming a victim of decisions made by others and face existential challenges. And the third choice: riding through the storm with pragmatism and forward-looking strategy. Looking into the eyes of reality directly instead of avoiding to acknowledge it. Realising that in a volatile world, the only way to ensure at least some stability is to take the steering wheel into your hands and to keep moving forward with a clear, active strategy. And yes, although success is still uncertain, the first two options are certain to be destructive

We, ladies and gentlemen, the Republic of Armenia, we walked through all three paths, we passed all three stages, only in our most recent history. For several decades, we thought we were successfully avoiding storms and preserving our usual zone of comfort by remaining detached. When the crises came, and the imaginary safety collapsed, we found ourselves in a whirlpool, where we were being pulled into the aby՛ss despite all our hard efforts. 

And somewhere at that point, we decided to break out of that vicious spiral of history. Not to follow what others have prescribed for us, but to take the responsibility to make our sovereign decisions for our own fate. Not to remain in the past, but to look forward, to build a modern, democratic and prosperous society, a state with real sovereignty, and integrity of precise territory, with its peaceful modus vivendi in this given environment. And this is the exact moment when the concept of Real Armenia was born. 

Excellencies, Dear guests,

At a time when everything around us seemed to be falling apart from various storms, we established peace. The Washington Peace Summit on August 8, 2025, marked a historical turning point with the signing of the Joint Declaration by Armenia’s Prime Minister and Azerbaijan’s President, and the US President as a witness. On the very same day, my colleague from Azerbaijan and I initialled the Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. By committing to the mutual recognition of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the inviolability of internationally recognized borders, Armenia and Azerbaijan took a historic step toward closing decades of conflict and opening a new era of peace and stability in our region. 

Of course, peace must never be treated as a one-time achievement. It requires constant care, attention and reflection, because if you fail to invest in it, you will risk losing it. Peace, therefore, is not an event but an active choice we must make every single day. This, understandably, also involves addressing humanitarian issues, thus contributing to restoring trust and true reconciliation between societies. 

But diplomacy alone does not sustain peace. Thus, we create a practical guarantee for peace by making our prosperities interconnected and interdependent. When we share trade routes, energy grids, pipelines, digital links, we share risks and rewards. Therefore, together with our neighbours, by building infrastructure that connects East to West and North to South, we are creating a reality where, in our region, every actor has a personal stake in the stability of its neighbour. This is the foundation of our Crossroads of Peace initiative and the TRIPP project.

The commitment to peace, cooperation and prosperity guides our approach towards our neighbours. The normalisation process with Türkiye reflects our belief that open borders and neighbourly relations will serve our nations’ interests better. With Georgia, we continue to deepen strategic partnership built on mutual interests. With Iran, we have always maintained friendly ties and close partnership. 

The strategy of storm-riding has led to a profound transformation in our partnerships beyond our region as well. Armenia has made a sovereign choice to pursue a balanced and balancing foreign policy, based not on dependence on one centre, but on building meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships in many directions. The United States, France, Kazakhstan, China and a growing number of European partners are now present in Armenia’s strategic partnership portfolio, not as alternatives to one another, but as pillars of a diversified and cooperative foreign policy architecture.

Nowhere beyond our immediate neighborhood has this transformation been more visible than in our relations with the European Union. The Strategic Agenda adopted in December 2025 provides a structured framework for cooperation across political, security, and economic dimensions. The launch of the visa liberalisation dialogue opens a door that matters not only to governments but to the daily lives of Armenian citizens. Just during the last couple of days, heads of state and government from across Europe, spanning from Dublin to Tbilisi, gathered in Yerevan for the European Political Community summit, alongside with the first-ever Armenia-EU summit. 

Excellencies, friends,

To conclude: Storms may never be fully tamed. New uncertainties will always emerge to replace the ones we have already overcome. 

But the lesson we draw from our experience is not one of fatalism. It is about freedom to choose and power to act. With strategic vision and proper action, small nations can find their way through storms and shape their sovereign, peaceful and prosperous futures. 

So, the storms, ladies and gentlemen, are always there. Let us ride together then. 

Thank you and welcome to Yerevan Dialogue!”

EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas has lauded the progress in the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process as a ‘historic opportunity.’

“The progress on the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia represents a historic opportunity, and it’s important to sustain momentum. The EU has a range of tools to support this, from supporting confidence-building measures to demining, where we’re already the biggest donor,” Kallas, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan after visiting Armenia, said, according to the APA news agency.

“Strengthening connectivity between the EU, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia is in our shared strategic interest and we’re open to discuss a more structured partnership with Azerbaijan,” she added.

French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s strong support for Armenia’s European integration and praised the country’s progress toward democracy, peace, and economic development during a press conference in Yerevan following his meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

He said that Armenia is moving confidently toward Europe, emphasizing that it is a full member of the European family.

“Armenia has decisively chosen the path of peace and prosperity, and has strengthened its democracy despite challenges,” he said.

“Armenia is decisively moving toward Europe and has always been a full member of the European family. This progress in the field of European policy, I can say, has been evident to me over these past two days,” Macron, who is on a state visit to Armenia, said.

The President of France noted that relations between France and Armenia are based on historical ties and brotherhood and are now entering a new phase.

“The friendship between France and Armenia has been formed on the basis of a shared history and unwavering brotherhood, and these relations are now experiencing a new turning point,” he said.

The French President emphasized that since his last visit in 2018, Armenia has made significant progress, overcoming the consequences of war and moving toward a phase of peace and development.

“Armenia has gone through war, then established peace, and then prosperity,” Macron said, recalling that in recent years Armenia’s economy has recorded an average annual growth of around 6 percent.

Macron stressed that recent international events held in Yerevan demonstrate Armenia’s European orientation.

“All of this was unthinkable eight years ago—to organize a European Political Community summit in Yerevan, to organize an Armenia–European Union summit,” he said.

The French President also highlighted the deepening cooperation between Armenia and the European Union, emphasizing the need to expand investments, infrastructure, and economic ties.

According to Macron, within the framework of European programs, investments are expected to increase, cooperation in the defense sector will deepen, and the visa liberalization process will advance.

Macron noted that in recent years Armenian–French relations have developed significantly across many sectors.

He recalled France’s support for Armenia in different periods, including after the 1988 earthquake and after the events of 2020, when France provided humanitarian assistance.

The French President also emphasized the expansion of economic cooperation, highlighting infrastructure projects.

He referred to projects implemented with the participation of French companies, including the construction of the Bargushat tunnel, as well as initiatives in the water sector involving Veolia in the development of reservoirs and irrigation systems.

He said France also plays an active role in Armenia through the French Development Agency, supporting inclusive and sustainable development programs.

Macron noted that a new phase has also opened in bilateral relations in the defense sector, emphasizing the importance of the strategic partnership agreement.

“We wanted to support the modernization of Armenia’s armed forces and the strengthening of its sovereignty,” he said.

The French President also highlighted cooperation in education, science, and culture.

He singled out the role of the French University in Armenia as a high-level educational institution, as well as cultural cooperation agreements signed between the National Library of France, the Museum of Art and Literature of Yerevan, and Matenadaran.

Macron also emphasized the involvement of local self-government bodies and civil society organizations in the development of bilateral relations, noting that Armenia holds an important place in French community cooperation programs.

The French President reaffirmed support for Armenia’s peace agenda and regional stability.

“We want and are determined to accompany you on the path to sustainable peace,” he said.

At the end of his speech, Macron thanked the Armenian Prime Minister and reaffirmed France’s support for Armenia’s chosen strategic path.

“The agreements signed today open a new path for the coming years,” the French President emphasized.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Armenia is experiencing a pivotal moment in its modern history, describing the phase as “Armenia’s moment.”

In his speech at the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum, Macron, who is on a state visit to Armenia, emphasized the country’s peace agenda, economic progress, and growing regional significance.

Macron stressed that recent days show this is truly Armenia’s moment.

He reiterated his earlier remarks that four or eight years ago no one could have imagined it would be possible to bring together around 40 heads of state in Yerevan within the framework of the European Political Community, or to hold a summit between the European Union and Armenia.

In his view, it is clear that changes have taken place, especially considering that Armenia went through a severe war in the autumn of 2020 with serious consequences.

In Macron’s assessment, this moment opens a new path for Armenia, which in itself is already a success. He emphasized that it is first and foremost about the path of peace, noting that Armenia had the courage to choose peace and to find the necessary formats for normalizing relations with Azerbaijan. He added that the Prague and Washington summits in 2022 contributed to this process.

The French President also referred to economic developments, noting that over the past eight years Armenia has recorded average economic growth of around 6 percent, with even more impressive growth in the last two years. In his words, this reflects the effectiveness of a model that combines peace and prosperity.

“Armenia has become an important platform for European discussions. The 8th summit of the European Political Community is being held in Yerevan, as well as high-level EU–Armenia meetings, where infrastructure, security, and development programs are being discussed,” Macron said.

He added that developments in Armenia were unexpected for many, but they became possible thanks to the great courage shown in recent years, which is opening new opportunities for the country.

Macron also stressed that he wants the “Armenian moment” to become a “Caucasian moment,” encompassing the entire region. He said he has two fundamental convictions regarding the South Caucasus:

“The region should not become a field of imperial competition; it can become a crossroads thanks to its geographical location,” the French President said.

He also highlighted the importance of opening borders, noting that doing so would allow the region to fully benefit from economic and political opportunities. In this context, he welcomed Azerbaijan’s removal of trade restrictions with Armenia and the gradual opening of logistical routes.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has praised France and President Emmanuel Macron personally for their continued support to Armenia across the economy, security, defence, diplomacy, culture and education, as well as in Armenia–European Union relations.

Pashinyan made the remarks during joint statements with Macron, who is on a state visit to Armenia, following a series of agreement-signing ceremonies.

As an example of ongoing support, the Armenian prime minister highlighted a French agreement to construct the Bargushat tunnel as part of the North–South highway project. He said this would not only mark a new phase in the road’s construction but also set a new qualitative standard for road building in Armenia.

“We constantly speak about the need to adopt European standards across various sectors. On paper, there is no great difficulty in enshrining those standards, but we also need companies with the capacity, skills and knowledge to implement them. In this case, the involvement of French construction companies in the North–South road project, which I am confident will also engage local contractors, will create a serious opportunity not only to adopt new standards but also to expand and spread them within Armenia’s economic life,” Pashinyan said.

He added that the agreement on the Bargushat tunnel concerns one of the most complex sections of the North–South highway, requiring specialised expertise and capabilities.

“As in many such cases, France and President Macron stood by Armenia, and today we can say that this vast, megaproject of the North–South highway is already taking shape. We can now see the steps by which the road will be fully completed and put into operation,” the prime minister said.

French President Emmanuel Macron called on the parties to the conflict in the Middle East to halt hostilities and sit down at the negotiating table, while respecting the interests of the countries in the region.

“I will speak with the President of Iran. However, France has had the same position from the outset. We call for an end to all military operations and for diplomatic negotiations to begin, while respecting the interests of all countries in the region. Yes, the Strait of Hormuz must be open to all ships, without any fees or restrictive measures. Any escalation against any country or vessel is a mistake; it leads to an even greater increase in tensions,” said the President of France at a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, when asked by a French reporter on the matter.

Addressing a question about US President Donald Trump’s statements on increasing tariffs on the EU, Macron said:

“We want fair and free trade based on rules and agreements. Signed agreements must be respected. If they are called into question, or if any country issues threats, then the EU must respond. Yes, everything is on the table, and I believe that in this geopolitical period, allies such as the United States and the EU have other things to do than try to destabilize the situation. Our companies, our families, and our societies need a message of stability and trust. Everything is on the table, but let us hope that reason will return so that everything can remain in harmony.”

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 5 May, USD exchange rate down by 0.34 drams to 370.44 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.51 drams to 432.9 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0372 drams to 4.9006 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.24 drams to 501.65 drams.

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

Gold price up by 1318 drams to 55225 drams.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said a newly signed strategic partnership document with France will enable more effective use of the current level of bilateral relations.

Speaking at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Pashinyan noted that Armenia and France already maintain a broad and established agenda, and the document both reflects this reality and creates additional opportunities to deepen cooperation.

Responding to a journalist’s question, Pashinyan stressed that agreements signed at the highest level send a strong signal to various sectors in both countries that favourable political conditions have been created.

“The most important point is that documents signed at the highest level ultimately send a message to various sectors in both countries that favourable political conditions have been created and that all the prerequisites exist for establishing partnerships and reaching agreements. The role of governments is to create opportunities and a favourable environment so that companies in both the private and public sectors begin to act. We signed the document and, practically two minutes later, many new opportunities opened up and were realised, and this process will be continuous,” Pashinyan said.

Armenia and France have signed a joint declaration establishing a strategic partnership.

The declaration was signed by Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Macron during Macron’s state visit to Armenia.