Spanish MP Jon Iñarritu believes that the deepening of relations between Armenia and the European Union is a natural and continuing process, but that Yerevan’s European path requires careful political calculation.

He said that, should Armenia apply for EU membership in the future and meet the necessary conditions, Brussels should assess the application on its merits.

In an interview with Armenpress, Iñarritu discussed key issues on the Armenia-EU agenda, stressing that Yerevan must take the regional balance of power into account, as closer ties with Europe could create new opportunities while also generating tensions, particularly in relations with Russia.

In your opinion, what is the reason for the current unprecedented activation of Armenia-EU relations and the deepening of cooperation, how would you assess the current level of these relations? 

Given the resolutions adopted by the European institutions, as well as the initiatives taken by the Armenian Parliament, it is only natural that relations between Armenia and the European Union continue to deepen. We should also remember Armenia’s long-standing historical and cultural ties with Europe, together with the important role played by the Armenian diaspora in many EU Member States. These communities have often acted as a bridge between Armenia and Europe. Ultimately, the future of this relationship should be decided by the Armenian people. If they decide to move closer to the European Union, that choice should be respected. If, in the future, Armenia formally applies for membership and fulfils the necessary conditions, then the European Union should assess that application on its merits, like any other candidate country.

The President of the European Commission visited Azerbaijan and Armenia on July 2. To what extent is Ursula von der Leyen’s visit symbolic and to what extent of practical significance, what can it bring to bilateral relations? 

I believe the visit was intended, above all, to reaffirm the European Commission’s commitment to stability, dialogue and lasting peace in the South Caucasus. Its significance was both symbolic and practical. It sent a clear message that the European Union intends to remain actively engaged in the region, while also creating an opportunity to deepen political dialogue, encourage regional cooperation and explore new areas of economic, institutional and diplomatic cooperation with Armenia. We have seen similar messages from other European leaders. During his recent visit to the region, the German President also underlined the importance of concluding a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. That shows there is a broad European consensus that a lasting peace agreement is essential for the stability and prosperity of the South Caucasus.

In your opinion, how can the activation of Armenia’s European direction change the balance of power in the South Caucasus? 

A stronger European orientation on Armenia’s part could contribute to a gradual diversification of political and economic influence in the South Caucasus. Traditionally, the region has been strongly shaped by Russia, while Turkey and Iran have also played significant roles. Greater European engagement would introduce an additional partner capable of supporting institutional reform, economic development, regional connectivity and diplomatic dialogue. However, this process would need to be managed with considerable care. A closer relationship between Armenia and the EU could provide Yerevan with greater strategic autonomy, but it might also generate tensions with other regional powers, particularly Russia. We should not forget the lessons learned from Ukraine. The ultimate effect on the regional balance will therefore depend on whether Armenia’s European rapprochement is perceived as a cooperative process that contributes to regional stability, rather than as part of a wider geopolitical confrontation.

Do you consider it possible for Armenia to successfully maintain a balanced foreign policy while simultaneously deepening relations with the EU and maintaining cooperation with Russia? 

To be entirely honest, I believe this would be extremely difficult. Russia has traditionally regarded the South Caucasus as part of its sphere of influence, and previous attempts by countries such as Georgia to move closer to the West have had serious consequences. The war in Ukraine has made these geopolitical tensions even more evident. Could Armenia face similar pressure? We cannot ignore the lessons learned from Ukraine, nor forget that Armenia has already paid a very high price in Artsakh. The European Union is not NATO, and closer relations with Brussels should not automatically be interpreted as a military or security realignment. However, we should also remember that Turkey is a key member of NATO and a major regional actor, which inevitably adds another layer of complexity to Armenia’s strategic choices. Nevertheless, I fear that Vladimir Putin’s Russia would not look favorably upon a decisive Armenian shift towards Europe. Armenia cannot change its geographical location and must take the regional balance of power into account. At the same time, it is a sovereign state and must be free to determine its own future. These two principles are not contradictory, but Armenian policymakers will need to assess all the relevant political, economic and security considerations with great caution.

To what extent can the economic support packages and trade privileges announced by the EU change Armenia’s economic opportunities? 

I believe these measures could provide a significant economic boost and create valuable opportunities for both Armenia and the European Union. They could facilitate investment, improve access to European markets, support infrastructure and institutional modernisation, and encourage the development of new sectors in the Armenian economy. More broadly, such initiatives could help build lasting partnerships and lay the foundations for future joint projects. The benefits need not be limited to Armenia alone; they could also contribute to greater prosperity, connectivity and stability throughout the South Caucasus, while strengthening the EU’s economic and political presence in the region. That said, we should not overlook the fact that Russia remains Armenia’s main economic partner and that Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. These are structural realities that cannot be ignored, and any further rapprochement with the European Union will have to take them into account.

YEREVAN, Armenia —  On 5–6 October 2026, Yerevan will host the inaugural Armenia-UK Business Forum 2026, strengthening business, investment and institutional ties between Armenia and the United Kingdom, opening with a Gala Concert on 5 October and continuing with the main business programme on 6 October.

Organised by the Oxford Alumni Business Club of Armenia (OABCA) in partnership with Government of Armenia, represented by the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Enterprise Armenia as well as the British-Armenian Chamber of Commerce (BACC), the Forum comes at a defining moment as Armenia continues to strengthen its position as a strategic destination for investment, trade and innovation. Amid deepening EU cooperation and initiatives such as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), Armenia is reinforcing its role as an emerging gateway linking Europe, the Middle East and Asia, creating new opportunities for investors seeking resilient, long-term growth markets.

The Forum will bring together 800+ invited participants, including 100+ UK delegates, 25+ featured speakers and 10+ institutional partners, spanning government, finance, infrastructure, nature resources and energy,  AI, education and culture.

“Strong economic partnerships are built through trust, continuity and meaningful dialogue. Our ambition is to establish a platform that brings together the right people – not only to discuss opportunities, but to create them. We believe the Armenia–UK Business Forum can become a long-term catalyst for new investments, stronger institutional relationships and deeper business cooperation between our two countries,” said Aleksandr Shagikyan, Chair of the Board of the Oxford Alumni Business Club of Armenia.

Held under the theme “Building Bridges for Capital, Talent and Innovation,” the Forum is a curated platform for senior decision-makers, built around six pillars — Capital, Talent, Innovation, Infrastructure, Nature Resources and Energy, Partnership and Culture — bringing together government leaders, investors, executives, innovators and academics to foster dialogue, build strategic partnerships and unlock new opportunities for Armenian–British cooperation.

The programme opens on 5 October with an invitation-only Gala Concert at the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall — the Forum’s first act of bridge-building, translating the theme into culture. British cellist Guy Johnston performs Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, founded by Sergey Smbatyan, conducted by Dr Marios Papadopoulos MBE, Founder and Music Director of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. The theme continues on 6 October with a dedicated panel, “The Cultural Bridge: Heritage, Music and Cultural Diplomacy.”

The business programme will take place on 6 October at Dvin Music Hall, featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions, fireside conversations and curated business matchmaking. Speakers include Dr Alex Connock, Senior Fellow in Management Practice at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Bringing together public and private sector leaders, the programme will highlight successful partnerships, showcase practical case studies and explore new avenues for bilateral cooperation. The programme will culminate in the presentation of the Armenian–British Bridge Builder Award.

“Business leaders don’t need another agenda full of panels — they need the right room, the right people, and the right moment to turn conversation into commitment. Through curated programming, structured networking and targeted B2B and B2G meetings, we are designing an environment where dialogue turns into partnership — and partnership into results,” said Hayk Karapetyan, Founding Board Member of OABCA and Chair of the Organising Committee.

Following the Forum, selected UK delegates and Armenian counterparts will join curated B2B and B2G meetings on 7–8 October to advance sector-specific discussions and long-term commercial partnerships.

Registration is now open: forum.oabc.am. 

About OABCA

The Oxford Alumni Business Club of Armenia is an NGO uniting Armenian graduates of the University of Oxford, including Saïd Business School alumni, across finance, telecommunications, consulting, data science and international relations. Founded by Oxford alumni who returned to Armenia, the Club applies international expertise locally, launches impact-driven projects, and expands access to education and global opportunities. The Club is governed by a Board of Directors and chaired by Aleksandr Shaghikyan.

As political negotiations on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Türkiye continue, business communities in the two countries have also launched an active dialogue.

Although the Armenia-Türkiye border, which was unilaterally closed by Türkiye in 1993, remains closed, business representatives are seeking avenues for cooperation, taking into account the agreements reached in the normalization process and the ongoing negotiations on their implementation.

As part of the Armenia-Türkiye normalization process, and with the support of the governments of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Türkiye, representatives of Armenia’s business community crossed the Armenia-Türkiye land border on June 2 and traveled to Kars to meet with representatives of Türkiye’s business community.

The information released by the two sides following the meeting was limited. It only stated that the participants represented the food, beverages, bottled water, juice, fruit, tobacco, construction, tourism, floriculture and other sectors. They emphasized the considerable potential for trade cooperation between Armenia and Türkiye and exchanged views on prospects for future cooperation.

The participants welcomed the completion in Türkiye of the administrative procedures required to launch direct trade between Armenia and Türkiye. As a result, goods transported between the two countries via the territory of a third country can now officially indicate “Armenia/Türkiye” as the country of origin or final destination, and vice versa. They also underscored the importance of granting Armenian goods access to the Akhalkalaki (Georgia)-Kars (Türkiye) railway, which would create new opportunities for bilateral and regional trade.

However, no information was released on any specific agreements reached at the meeting or on whether the meetings would continue on a regular basis.

It was precisely these questions that journalists visiting Türkiye from Armenia under an exchange program sought to answer. An Armenpress correspondent was among them.

The journalists participating in the exchange program were received by Kadir Bozan, Chairman of the Board of the Kars Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who had also taken part in the June 2 meeting in Kars.

Bozan said 57 business representatives from Armenia had attended the meeting, representing the textile, construction, food, beverage and floriculture sectors.

“We had very productive discussions. Many of our companies are still in negotiations,” he said.

According to Bozan, following the meeting in Kars, the two sides have continued negotiations in several areas, and further developments may be announced in the near future.

He also said that the second Armenia-Türkiye Business Forum is scheduled to take place in September, this time in Yerevan. In Bozan’s view, the Yerevan forum could have a significant economic impact not only on Kars, but also on Iğdır, Ardahan, and possibly Van.

The Chairman of the Board of the Kars Chamber of Commerce and Industry added that he had set two preconditions for participating in the meeting and had informed the foreign ministries of both Armenia and Türkiye accordingly.

The first precondition is that there should be no limit on the number of business representatives from Kars wishing to attend the meeting. The second is that the Kars business delegation should cross the border through the Akyaka and Akhurik border crossing points as a symbolic gesture.

It should be recalled that the Armenia-Türkiye border has previously been opened several times for short periods for humanitarian purposes. However, those openings took place through the Margara and Alican border crossing points.

Bozan also addressed the prospects for opening the Armenia-Türkiye border in response to a question on whether the authorities of Kars Province raise the issue with Türkiye’s central government and whether they have noticed any recent changes in Ankara’s position.

He said that active work is currently underway on the eastern border with Armenia, particularly with regard to the railway and the road connection.

“The railway will open first,” he said, referring to the Gyumri-Kars railway. “There is information that the eastern border will subsequently also be opened for road transport. Of course, these are not official reports but information we have heard from the authorities. I hope we will see results in the near future, and I believe this will be highly beneficial for our region.”

Bozan was unable to say whether Armenia currently exports or imports goods via the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway. He only noted that freight traffic on the railway line has increased by 400 percent in recent months.

It should be recalled that in May 2026, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway had been opened for exports from Armenia and imports into Armenia, thanking partners in Georgia and Türkiye.

One of the key items on the agenda of the Armenia-Türkiye normalization process is the reopening of the Gyumri-Kars railway.

Armenia and Türkiye reached an agreement on reopening the railway as early as September 2025, when Serdar Kılıç, Türkiye’s Special Representative for the normalization process, visited Armenia.

Following the meeting between Kılıç and Ruben Rubinyan, who was then Armenia’s Special Representative for the normalization process, the Armenian Foreign Ministry announced that the special representatives had agreed that the relevant authorities of the two countries would carry out the necessary technical assessments for the restoration and reopening of the Gyumri-Kars railway and the electricity transmission line.

On April 28, 2026, Kars hosted a meeting of the Armenia-Türkiye Joint Working Group on the restoration and reopening of the Gyumri-Kars railway. In the context of expanding regional transport connectivity, the two sides emphasized the importance of reopening the railway as soon as possible.

On May 7, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told reporters that technical assessment work was underway to reopen the Kars-Gyumri railway.

As part of the journalists’ exchange program, the group of Armenian journalists visiting Türkiye had the opportunity to see firsthand what work is underway on the Turkish side to prepare the railway for operation.

The Armenian journalists traveled by train from Kars to Akyaka. The journey of about 57 kilometers took around 50 minutes. From Akyaka railway station to Gyumri is just 18 to 20 kilometers by rail, a distance that could be covered in 30 to 40 minutes. However, with the border still closed, it is currently impossible to travel from Akyaka to Gyumri.

Speaking to Armenpress, Ergüder Toptaş, Mayor of Akyaka, said he remains optimistic about the normalization of Armenia-Türkiye relations.

According to Toptaş, once relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are normalized, they expect there will be no obstacles to opening the Armenia-Türkiye border.

He said that, under the instructions of the President of Türkiye and coordinated by the Ministry of Transport, work has already begun to prepare the border crossing points and railway infrastructure for the opening of the border.

Apart from the closed border, which currently remains the main obstacle to reopening the railway, the infrastructure itself also requires rehabilitation. The mayor explained that construction is already underway to restore the railway infrastructure along the Akyaka-Gyumri section, adding that the work is expected to be completed within two to three months. Restoration work is in progress, and public tenders have already been announced for the construction.

“Construction has already begun, and the work is underway,” the mayor said, once again stressing that the ongoing construction is part of the preparations for opening the Armenia-Türkiye border.

But that is not all. A tender has also been announced for the construction of the road linking Akyaka and Gyumri.

“The tender for the road from Akyaka to Gyumri has already been announced, and we expect work there to begin as well. This is part of our governments’ policy aimed at promoting good-neighborly and friendly relations,” Ergüder Toptaş said.

The mayor believes that both countries stand to benefit economically from the opening of the Armenia-Türkiye border. According to him, there is broad potential for cooperation in agriculture and industry.

“When our President and Armenia’s leader make the right decisions regarding state policy, we are convinced that this region will benefit. I firmly believe that both Armenia and Türkiye will greatly benefit from the opening of the border and from the economic cooperation that will follow. Once the border is opened, Türkiye will gain another route to the Caucasus, while Armenia will have the opportunity to connect to the Middle East through Türkiye,” Toptaş stressed.

It was also important to hear the views of residents of the Turkish communities bordering Armenia on the possible opening of the border and what they expect from it. Armenpress therefore also spoke with a group of residents of Akyaka. Most of them expressed hope that the border would reopen as soon as possible, saying it would create new economic opportunities, particularly for the Turkish communities located along the Armenian border.

Armenia’s Foreign Intelligence Service is expected to be involved in the licensing of imports, exports, transit shipments and brokerage activities involving military goods.

The draft decision was prepared by the Armenian Ministry of High-Tech Industry. The proposal would amend Government Decision No. 1308-N of November 12, 2009, which establishes the list of military goods and the procedures for licensing their import, export, transit and related brokerage activities.

Under the current regulations, the Foreign Intelligence Service is not included among the state bodies authorised to provide relevant conclusions and information.

The draft proposes adding the Foreign Intelligence Service to the relevant annexes after the State Revenue Committee. 

“The adoption of the draft is necessitated by the need to ensure the involvement of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Republic of Armenia in the licensing of imports, exports, transit shipments and brokerage activities involving military goods, which stems from national security interests,” the explanatory note said. 

Following the adoption of the amendments, the Foreign Intelligence Service will participate in regulatory procedures related to the licensing of the circulation of military goods. 

The draft is not expected to result in any changes to the revenues or expenditures of state or local government budgets. 

The decision will enter into force on the tenth day following its official publication.