Armenia’s Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan met with Khush Choksy, Senior Vice President for International Member Relations and Senior Vice President for the Middle East, Türkiye and Central Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Kostanyan and Choksy discussed prospects for “institutionalizing relations in trade and economic cooperation, as well as in the fields of agriculture, energy, and information technology,” the Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

The sides emphasized the progress achieved in Armenia-U.S. bilateral relations in recent years and the importance of implementing high-level agreements.

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the White House Peace Summit, a meeting was held in Washington between Vahan Kostanyan, Acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Elnur Mammadov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Allison Hooker, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia said in a statement.

Vahan Kostanyan highly appreciated the personal contribution of the President of the United States of America Donald Trump both to the convening of last year’s Peace Summit and to advancing the institutionalization of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the past year. 

During the meeting, the participants exchanged views on the positive developments achieved to date, regional infrastructure projects and confidence-building measures.

The importance of addressing the existing humanitarian issues was also emphasized.

The APRI Armenia analytical center organized a press conference entitled “One Year After the Washington Summit: What Do We Have Today and What Should We Expect?” to summarize the developments that have taken place in the Armenian-Azerbaijani and Armenian-Türkiye normalization processes, as well as in Armenian-American relations, following the Washington Summit, and their impact on regional stability and prosperity.

Benjamin Poghosyan, Senior Research Fellow at the APRI Armenia analytical center, singled out two factors in assessing the impact of the documents adopted on August 8, 2025.

“The first factor has a geopolitical dimension, the main point of which is the significant reduction in the likelihood of a possible new escalation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, more specifically, the likelihood of military aggression by Azerbaijan against Armenia. We all remember how tense the situation was, particularly in the first months of 2025, especially after the text of the peace agreement had been agreed upon, when Azerbaijan was spreading false reports almost every day about ceasefire violations by Armenia, and Azerbaijani media, including outlets linked to state institutions, were stating that Azerbaijan had the right to resort to retaliatory actions. After August 8, 2025, that threat decreased significantly and, as of now, is almost close to zero and, most likely, will remain so until the end of President Trump’s term in office,” Poghosyan said.

He highlighted that the documents also significantly advanced bilateral Armenian-American relations. In 2025, three memoranda of understanding were signed in various fields, including cooperation in digital technologies and artificial intelligence, while in May 2026, an agreement on comprehensive bilateral strategic cooperation was signed, replacing the document signed one year earlier, at the beginning of January.

“We now see that the aforementioned memoranda are not only on paper but are also producing certain results. Just three days ago, the opening of the first major artificial intelligence facility took place in Armenia, which was directly facilitated by the memoranda signed previously,” Poghosyan said, referring to the opening of the Firebird AI data center.

Sergey Melkonyan, a Research Fellow at the APRI Armenia analytical center, in turn, said that they had presented a relevant report on the TRIPP project, focusing on its geopolitical and economic components.

“We came to the conclusion that TRIPP is primarily a geopolitical project rather than an economic one. We also calculated how much money Armenia could earn if there were comprehensive unblocking in the South Caucasus, and what would change in purely financial terms if only TRIPP were implemented. In the latter case, Armenia’s profit would be approximately $23 million annually, which is not a large amount. Whereas if there were comprehensive unblocking, the profit could reach up to $388 million annually,” Melkonyan said.

He added that for Armenia, access to the outside world, including the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea, is extremely important, especially when diversification is being discussed.

“In that case, all railway connections should be opened. According to the Washington document, if TRIPP is implemented, all routes must necessarily be operational for this to happen. In this regard, we still do not see serious political decisions. If all sides are interested in the prospect of peace, they should focus not only on TRIPP. There is also a third component, according to which a scenario is possible in which, in the context of unblocking, only TRIPP is implemented while the other routes are not opened, or, if they are opened, it is possible to close them unilaterally. In the case of TRIPP, there is no such option, and therefore a de facto new format of blockade of Armenia could be legitimized, in which only TRIPP operates while the other routes remain closed,” Melkonyan noted.

Addressing the existing challenges, Poghosyan said that Azerbaijan is delaying the signing of the peace agreement in order to prevent the normalization of Armenian-Türkiye relations, because messages are continuously being sent from Azerbaijan to Türkiye according to which the full normalization of Armenian-Türkiye relations, including the opening of the land border and the launch of the railway, can take place exclusively after the signing of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement.

“At APRI Armenia, we call this process a ‘vicious circle,’ and this term has already begun to be used in Azerbaijani and Türkiye expert circles. On the one hand, Azerbaijan is doing everything to avoid signing the peace agreement; on the other hand, it is doing everything to prevent the normalization of Armenian-Türkiye relations without the signing of the peace agreement. For now, it is impossible to speak of institutionalized peace as long as the peace agreement has not been signed. External engagement is necessary to break the ‘vicious circle.’ There is a window of opportunity that the United States can use by becoming more actively involved in regional processes in order to break that ‘vicious circle.’ The United States should take steps so that the normalization of Armenian-Türkiye relations becomes an integral part of US-Türkiye relations,” Poghosyan noted.

Speaking about the problematic issue related to the Russian concession management of the Armenian railways, Poghosyan emphasized that, in order to determine whether this concession is an obstacle to unblocking, there must first be clear guarantees that the Armenia-Türkiye and Armenia-Nakhchivan borders will be opened.

“As long as those decisions do not exist, it is difficult to make clear assertions. At least in the presence of decisions concerning the opening of the borders, it would be possible to speak of the Russian concession potentially being an obstacle for Armenia on its path to becoming a component of the Middle Corridor. The discussions currently are more political than practical in nature,” Poghosyan said.

The researchers of the APRI Armenia analytical center argued that, in the event of comprehensive unblocking in the South Caucasus, the railway connecting Armenia to Iran through the territory of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan would also be put into operation, in which case Armenia would also become a component of the North-South transit corridor; for this, hostilities in Iran would also need to cease.

Moscow has once again insisted that Armenia should decide whether to hold a referendum on remaining part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) or pursuing EU membership, despite Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan making clear as recently as last week that no such agenda exists.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told the TASS news agency that Moscow expects Armenia to make a decision regarding the proposed referendum by December this year, when potential actions against Armenia will be discussed at an EAEU summit.

“It is obvious that if the call for a referendum is ignored by that time, the leaders will take this fact into consideration when deciding on further joint steps,” Galuzin said.

“Moreover, it has already been indicated that the issue will be discussed at the December meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, when the leaders of the member states are expected to receive a report on the possible consequences of suspending the provisions of the EAEU treaty with regard to Armenia,” Galuzin said.

Amid Yerevan’s deepening ties with the EU, as well as the parliament’s adoption of a law calling on the government to start the process of EU integration, Armenia’s fellow EAEU members, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, announced earlier this year that Yerevan should hold a referendum on the matter to clarify its stance, arguing that simultaneous membership in both unions is incompatible. However, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan rejected the proposal, insisting that putting a theoretical matter to a referendum is not possible at this stage, as Yerevan has not even officially applied for EU membership.

“A referendum, of course, will take place, but only after Armenia officially applies for EU membership, and institutional work must be carried out in that direction. Holding a referendum today is impossible because the subject of such a referendum does not exist,” Pashinyan said last week.

Yerevan will host the Global Conference on Medical Tourism, “Travel for Care, Stay for Healing: When Patients Become Guests,” in September, the Tourism Committee has announced.

Expected to take place on September 21–23, 2026, the event is organized by the Tourism Committee of Armenia in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

“The Conference will bring together leaders from healthcare, tourism, international organizations, insurance, investment, and the private sector to explore trends, share best practices, and strengthen cooperation in medical tourism,” the Tourism Committee said in a press release.

More information on the programme, speakers, and registration will be announced soon.

Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract parliamentary faction has nominated lawmaker Arusyak Julhakyan as a candidate for chair of the Parliamentary Committee on State and Legal Affairs.

The parliament is debating the Civil Contract MP’s candidacy in a plenary session ahead of a confirmation vote.

The ruling Civil Contract faction’s candidate for chair of the parliamentary Committee on State and Legal Affairs, MP Arusyak Julhakyan, said on Tuesday that organizing discussions on a new Constitution should be one of the committee’s key upcoming tasks.

Speaking in parliament during the debate on her candidacy, she said the committee discusses issues related to the organization of the state and political system, constitutional and electoral systems, the activities of political parties, the judiciary, the law enforcement system, as well as criminal, administrative and civil legislation.

“For me, this committee is not simply a body that discusses bills. The committee is a platform where the legal architecture of the state is shaped, democratic institutions are strengthened, and the legal guarantees on which citizens’ trust in the state is built are created,” Julhakyan said.

She singled out reforms in the justice sector as one of the committee’s main areas of activity, noting that despite the work carried out, problems related to the duration of judicial proceedings, court caseloads and the predictability of judicial decisions continue to exist.

According to Julhakyan, another important area is the fight against corruption. She said political will is a necessary but not sufficient condition for an effective fight against corruption.

The MP noted that the committee’s priorities should include monitoring the activities of anti-corruption bodies, assessing the effectiveness of law enforcement and, when necessary, initiating prompt legislative amendments.

Julhakyan also addressed the law on confiscation of property of illicit origin, describing it as one of the most important laws adopted in recent years.

“It is already in effect and is producing results, albeit slowly,” she said, noting that the problems identified during the application of the law and the positions of the Constitutional Court have been addressed, and relevant amendments will be submitted to the National Assembly in the near future.

Addressing the proposed new Constitution, Julhakyan emphasized that democratic legitimacy must receive full constitutional _expression_.

“We must have a Constitution whose author is truly the people, a Constitution whose public legitimacy will no longer be called into question, a Constitution that will become not a document belonging to any one political force, but a document of general agreement among the citizens of the Republic of Armenia,” she said.

According to her, the new Constitution should strengthen human dignity as a key value of the constitutional order, more clearly define the limits of state power, ensure an effective system of checks and balances, as well as the stability of public administration and democratic oversight.

Julhakyan also listed strengthening the independence of the judiciary, improving access to justice, enhancing the quality of legislation and conducting post-legislative scrutiny of laws already adopted among the committee’s other priorities.

She assured that, if elected, she is ready to cooperate with all parliamentary factions and lawmakers, regardless of their political positions.

“The establishment of a state governed by the rule of law transcends party interests,” Julhakyan concluded.

Civil Contract MP Vilen Gabrielyan, nominated to chair the parliament’s Defense and Security Affairs, has urged opposition factions to consider allowing their members a free vote on his candidacy.

Addressing representatives of the Strong Armenia and Hayastan (Armenia) factions in parliament, Gabrielyan said some opposition MPs might personally support his candidacy despite their factions’ potential decision to vote against him.

He pledged to work constructively with the opposition, saying legitimate concerns raised by opposition MPs should be addressed rather than dismissed.

The United States of America, the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan have issued a joint statement marking the one-year anniversary of the Peace Summit held at the White House on August 8, 2025.  

According to Armenpress, the statement reads:

One year ago, President Trump hosted a historic White House summit with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia where President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan signed the Joint Declaration for peace.  Witnessed by the three leaders, the draft “Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan” was initialed by the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers. On this first anniversary, there is deep pride in what our countries have achieved together and great resolve to build upon the foundation that ended decades of conflict and put the South Caucasus on a path towards a more prosperous future.  In recognition of these historic and tremendous efforts to secure peace, President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan jointly nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Joint Declaration provided a concrete roadmap for Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the support of the United States, to strengthen peace, achieve prosperity, and deepen partnership.  In the year since these courageous leaders gathered, the countries have laid the groundwork for continued success.

• Armenia and Azerbaijan maintained stability along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and the two sides are taking concrete steps to normalize relations, delimit borders, and build confidence through measures essential to lasting stability.

• The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) – a multimodal transit route – is moving from vision to reality, with concrete progress such as the U.S.-Armenia agreement to form the TRIPP Development Company to lead infrastructure development.  Engineering surveys in Armenia are already underway.  Azerbaijan has nearly completed in its territory a highway and railroad to connect to TRIPP in Armenia. The three countries also support the building of an electricity transmission line through the TRIPP.

• The United States granted $201 million to the Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund to help bring private sector investment to the Trans-Caspian Trade Route (Middle Corridor) in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

• The United States has deepened ties with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, signing charters outlining new, bilateral strategic partnerships, as well as Memoranda of Understanding on energy security, border infrastructure and security, AI and semiconductor innovation, and critical minerals, which are investments in the long-term prosperity of all three nations and have already produced tangible results.

• Following the spirit of the White House peace summit, Azerbaijan has unilaterally lifted all transit restrictions with respect to Armenia.  Within one year, close to 60,000 tons of goods have been transported to and from Armenia through Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan also supplied 20,000 tons of oil products supplied by Azerbaijan to Armenia. The two countries continue to work to increase bilateral trade.

• Telecom operators in the two countries signed an internet agreement that will diversify regional connectivity routes, enhance reliability and resilience in the South Caucasus, and support infrastructure development in Eurasian telecom networks.

• The OSCE Minsk Group and related structures were dissolved at the joint request of Armenia and Azerbaijan – a recognition that the era of unresolved conflict is over.

• Upon the invitation of the United States, Armenia and Azerbaijan joined the Board of Peace, demonstrating that they stand side by side with the United States in efforts to create a more peaceful and prosperous world.

The United States, Armenia, and Azerbaijan reaffirm their unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction of both Armenia and Azerbaijan within their internationally recognized borders. 

The three states remain committed to the full implementation of the August 8 Joint Declaration in both letter and spirit, as well as unlocking the extraordinary economic potential of the region.  Additionally, the United States remains committed to the full implementation of the bilateral Charters and Memoranda of Understanding signed with Armenia and Azerbaijan and to strengthening its bilateral relationships with both countries.

True peace is never achieved in just one day, but as President Trump says – Promises Made, Promises Kept.  Azerbaijan and Armenia’s steps toward a lasting peace are a model for the world – and we look forward to the region’s bright and prosperous future.

The case involving Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Karekin II and other high-ranking clergymen has been assigned to Judge Serzh Rushanyan of the Armavir Regional Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction after the initial judge withdrew from the case, citing a potential conflict of interest related to the lawyer representing the Catholicos, according to online court documents. 

The initial hearing in the trial of Karekin II and six other high-ranking archbishops — members of the Supreme Spiritual Council — began last week in a court in Vagharshapat, a city in Armavir Province that is home to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Shortly after the hearing began, Judge Hakob Manukyan withdrew from the case. He cited as the basis for his recusal the fact that he had received his license to practice law from lawyer Ara Zohrabyan, who at the time was serving as president of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia. Zohrabyan is representing Karekin II in court.

Catholicos Karekin II has been charged with obstructing the enforcement of a legally binding court ruling by using his official powers in his capacity as both Catholicos and Chairman of the Supreme Spiritual Council.

On January 10, 2026, by order of Karekin II, Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, the Primate of the Diocese of Masyatsotn, was removed from his position as diocesan leader.

Bishop Gevorg Saroyan challenged the decision to remove him from office in court. On January 17, the court ruled that he should be reinstated as Primate of the Diocese until a final judicial decision is issued in the case.

Charges have been brought against the Catholicos and six bishops for failing to comply with the court’s ruling. The clergy members have denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the court does not have jurisdiction over such matters.