Within the framework of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, David Karapetyan, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Armenia, participated in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Leaders Roundtable “OGP at 15: Openness, Resilience and Prosperity.”

According to the Armenian ministry’s press release, during the panel discussion on “Prosperous and Competitive Economies,” the Secretary General addressed the challenges facing Armenia in recent years and the importance of ensuring sustainable economic growth under these circumstances, emphasizing the role of strong democratic foundations, the rule of law and effective institutions.

David Karapetyan presented the reforms being implemented in Armenia in the areas of digitalization, expanding public and civic participation, and combating corruption.

Addressing Armenia’s foreign policy priorities, including economic priorities, the Secretary General emphasized the importance of diversifying trade ties, attracting investment and expanding mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

Karapetyan also spoke about the expansion of the mandate of Armenia’s foreign ministry to include international trade.

“It was emphasized that, under conditions of established peace, foreign policy should also contribute to creating economic opportunities, expanding international trade ties and improving citizens’ standard of living. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade also highlighted the potential for cooperation within the framework of the Open Government Partnership in terms of promoting international trade, helping local businesses access international markets and developing capacities to attract foreign investment,” the ministry said in the press release.

Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesperson Ani Badalyan said the EU’s trade liberalization measures for Armenian products will help diversify Armenia’s foreign trade, expand access to the EU market for Armenian goods and further deepen Armenia-EU economic and trade cooperation.

Badalyan commented after the EU Council formally adopted temporary trade-liberalization measures for Armenian products.

“Today, September 24, the EU Council’s Competitiveness Council gave final approval to the proposal for a regulation on the application of autonomous trade measures to Armenian products. Following its signing by the Presidents of the European Parliament and the EU Council, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force the following day. Under this EU regulation, around 80% of Armenia’s exports to the EU will be liberalized, with import duties suspended on a wide range of products, including certain agricultural products. These measures will contribute to the diversification of Armenia’s foreign trade, expand access to the EU market for Armenian products, and further deepen Armenia-EU economic and trade cooperation. Once it enters into force, the preferential regime will apply for a period of two years. Earlier, on September 2, the EU Council gave its approval to the proposal without amendments. Then, on September 15, the European Parliament approved the document in a plenary session. Yesterday, September 23, the proposal was also adopted by the EU Council’s Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States. With the adoption of this regulation, Armenia becomes the only country that, without EU candidate status or a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement with the EU, receives such an economic benefit. This once again demonstrates the unprecedentedly high level of Armenia-EU partnership and is in line with the spirit of the declaration of the first Armenia-EU summit and the strategic agenda of the partnership,” the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesperson said.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan thanked EU member states for supporting Armenia.

Mirzoyan expressed gratitude after the EU Council formally adopted temporary trade-liberalization measures for Armenian products.

“A warm welcome & sincere thanks to EU Member States for endorsing EU Commission proposal on Autonomous Trade Measures for Made in Armenia products. A powerful token of solidarity & support, & another milestone in Armenia-EU Partnership, in line with our Summit Declaration & Strategic Agenda,” Mirzoyan said on X.

Armenian envoy to the EU, Ambassador Tigran Balayan, also commented on the EU Council decision. “Yet another manifestation of solidarity with Armenia by the EU & all its Member States,” he said.

Secretary General of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Davit Karapetyan met representatives of the American Jewish Committee in New York.

According to a statement issued by Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the meeting addressed prospects for developing cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. The sides also exchanged views on Armenia-Israel relations.

Davit Karapetyan also presented to the interlocutors the new realities that have emerged in the South Caucasus and the opportunities that have opened up following the outcomes of the Washington Peace Summit of August 8, 2025.

Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan rejected suggestions that the process of opening the Armenia-Türkiye border has stalled.

“Armenia’s border with Türkiye is open. The process has not stopped; it has slowed down. I tend to associate this more with the completion of the processes between Armenia and Azerbaijan and reaching the point of no return, which, in my assessment, is definitely a matter for the near future,” he said at a press briefing.

“I mean both the point of no return, which we crossed long ago in terms of peace, and the issue of opening the border. There is no reason for me to think that this issue will not be resolved or will be delayed further,” Simonyan said.

The Security Council Secretary added that work is also underway on the Turkish side aimed at restoring infrastructure in this direction.

“We also hold meetings, and our businesspeople go there. It is a process that is progressing positively,” Simonyan said.

Türkiye unilaterally closed its land border with Armenia in 1993. The two countries have intensified normalization efforts in recent years, and Armenia has said it stands ready for Türkiye to open the border at any time. The border checkpoints have been upgraded and are ready to operate.

On September 22, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in his address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York that Türkiye and Armenia had made progress in the process of normalizing bilateral relations.

Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan addressed speculation about a possible increase in the price of imported Russian gas.

Speaking at a press briefing, Simonyan was asked what the Armenian authorities would do if Russia decided to raise the gas price.

“We have said, and will maintain, the position that we have four neighboring countries, and if a fifth country offers to supply us with gas through transit, we will consider that offer. The price of gas also includes a political component. We are not prepared, and will no longer be prepared, to depend on a single pipeline or a single pressure point, and we will pursue the process of diversifying all sectors of Armenia’s economy,” Simonyan said.

The Security Council Secretary emphasized that the Republic of Armenia is an independent country that forms its government through the choice of its people and has no conflict that could be used to generate political processes in Armenia or steer political processes in any direction.

“The Republic of Armenia will preserve its sovereignty. Our partners in the Russian Federation also constantly say that this is your sovereign right to decide. The Republic of Armenia has not compromised and will not compromise its interests,” he said.

Consumers in Armenia currently pay AMD 143.7 per cubic meter of gas. Socially vulnerable groups pay a subsidized tariff of AMD 100.

Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan said he sees no threat to the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia from Türkiye.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday after the Cabinet meeting, Simonyan addressed discussions about the possible withdrawal of the Russian 102nd Military Base from Armenia and the potential risks in that context.

“I see no threat to the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia from Türkiye. Since August 8, 2025, I see no threat at all,” Simonyan said.

The Security Council Secretary reaffirmed that Armenia has never raised the issue of withdrawing the Russian military base from Armenia, and that it was the Russian side that raised it.

“We are not discussing and have not discussed such an issue. It is an issue that they have put on their agenda, and we are prepared to accept any outcome,” Simonyan said.

Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan held a meeting with British Ambassador to Armenia Alexandra Cole.

According to the Security Council Office readout, the meeting addressed various agenda items related to bilateral cooperation within the framework of the strategic partnership.

“Questions related to regional developments and other topics of bilateral interest were also discussed,” the office said in a statement.

The Armenian government approved the 2026 state standardization program and the list of standardization activities. The standards included in the program must be developed by the end of the year.

Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan presented the measures at a Cabinet meeting.

He said the program envisages updating existing standards and harmonizing them with international and regional standards. The list of activities was prepared taking into account requirements received from various state bodies.

“Within the framework of state support in the field of standardization, the work being carried out makes it possible to have standards that meet international requirements. Products, services or certain processes that comply with those requirements do not face any problems when policies are subsequently developed or work is carried out, because they are already harmonized with the best practices accepted around the world,” Papoyan said.

The minister noted that requirements for bodies conducting audits and certification of food safety management systems are to be developed, along with standards related to the assessment and certification of products, processes and services.

In the environmental sector, a national standard will be developed establishing a method for determining the levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water. In the field of geospatial data, national standards related to geographic information will also be brought into line with modern requirements.

In response to Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan’s question about how long it would take to develop the standards, Papoyan said:

“Since the scope is not very large, we should complete all of them during this year and submit them, as stipulated by the annual program.”

The standards will also cover road construction, cybersecurity and privacy protection, corruption prevention, energy management, healthcare, space debris reduction, tourism and food safety.

Exports of Armenian products to several major markets increased significantly in January-August 2026, while a substantial decline was recorded in exports to the Eurasian Economic Union market, Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said at a Cabinet meeting.

Exports to the European Union increased by around 70%, while exports to India grew 2.1-fold and those to the United Arab Emirates rose by around 45-46%, Papoyan said.

“The only direction where we have a significant decline in exports of Armenian-origin products is the Eurasian Economic Union market,” Papoyan said, adding that export market diversification continues actively in other directions. The decline is due to the Russian restrictions on Armenian goods. 

According to data presented by the minister, products worth around $990 million were exported in January-August 2025, compared with around $943 million in the same period of 2026. The decline was around 5%.

He said the figure was “not bad” considering Russia’s restrictions.

But aside from the restrictions, Papoyan said the decline in exports to the EAEU market was also due to crop volumes. In particular, more than 40,000 tons of apricots were exported last year, compared with around 12,000-13,000 tons this year, as the harvest was smaller due to weather conditions.

At the same time, exports of canned fruits and vegetables increased by 18%, dried fruits and vegetables by 64%, Armenian brandy by 10%, and live animals by 21%.

Businesses are expected to receive AMD 4.59 billion in compensation for products exported in August. The program provides support for exports of greenhouse products, fresh fruit, flowers, food products and certain types of beverages.

According to Papoyan, under the support program, around 3,000 tons of tomatoes, more than 2,200 tons of peppers, 3.9 million flowers, more than 2,200 tons of peaches, 292,000 liters of bottled wine and 336,000 liters of fruit and berry wine were exported.

Earlier in September, officials said Armenia had lodged a complaint within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) over restrictions imposed by Russia on Armenian products and expected the obstacles to be removed through the application of existing mechanisms.