Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and French President Emmanuel Macron laid a wreath at the memorial in Gyumri commemorating the victims of the December 7, 1988 earthquake. 

They then toured the city and spoke with residents.

Macron attended the 8th Summit of the European Political Community in Yerevan on May 4. His state visit to Armenia began on May 5.

The European Commission (DG ENEST) and Firebird AI have announced the signing of a declaration on strategic cooperation in the digital and energy sectors, aimed at strengthening Armenia’s position as a regional hub for technology, artificial intelligence and sustainable infrastructure.

According to a statement released by Firebird, the parties reaffirmed their shared goal of advancing EU–Armenia cooperation through strategic investments in digital and energy infrastructure, supporting resilience, innovation, competitiveness and sustainable growth.

The document was signed in Yerevan during the EU–Armenia summit by Adrienn Király, Director for Neighbourhood East and Türkiye at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood, and Firebird AI co-founder Alexander Yesayan. It reflects a joint commitment to promote cooperation in artificial intelligence infrastructure and energy sustainability through large-scale investments, contributing to innovation, competitiveness and long-term economic growth.

Firebird AI has announced plans to establish in Armenia one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence computing centres, based on high-performance graphics processing units from Nvidia. The project aims to position Armenia among global leaders in AI data centre capacity.

In parallel, the deployment of a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of up to 1 GW is planned, which will support the stability of the electricity infrastructure and the integration of renewable energy. The European Commission recognises and welcomes the significant impact of this initiative on Armenia’s energy system and encourages its successful preparation and implementation as a contribution to EU–Armenia partnership.

The European Commission will consider and examine how to mobilise its financial instruments, in particular under the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), in support of this initiative and its alignment with EU policy.

Key documents aimed at developing bilateral cooperation in high technologies and the defence industry were signed on 5 May during the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Armenia.

A memorandum of understanding between the governments of Armenia and France was signed on cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and semiconductors. The document was signed by Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan and France’s Minister Delegate for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad.

According to Armenia’s Ministry of High-Tech Industry, the memorandum aims to promote cooperation between the two countries in these strategic areas by developing research and innovation capacities, as well as supporting the implementation of joint projects. It covers a wide range of cooperation, including the development of high-performance computing infrastructure, data science and machine learning, the digitalisation of public services, and the application of artificial intelligence across various sectors of the economy.

Another memorandum of understanding was signed between Armenia’s Ministry of High-Tech Industry and France’s Ministry of Defence on cooperation. The document was signed by Mkhitar Hayrapetyan and France’s Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces and Veterans Alice Rufo.

The memorandum is aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries in research, development and innovation in military technologies and defence systems. It sets out a framework for joint activities focused on the exchange of experience, the implementation of joint programmes and the development of the defence industry.

The signed documents create new opportunities to deepen Armenia–France cooperation in the high-tech sector, contributing to technological progress, the development of innovative ecosystems and the strengthening of bilateral strategic partnership.

Europe must exist in historical and geographical terms, not only within institutional frameworks, and Armenia has a European history.

French President Emmanuel Macron said this at a press conference following his meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in response to a journalist’s question about Armenia’s prospects for EU integration and becoming part of a greater Europe.

“Of course, the EU plays an important role when we speak about Europe, with its power, its complexity and its degree of integration. But that does not define everything. Europe is also geography, history and civilisation. We can note that Armenia has a European history. And the European Political Community is precisely the recognition of that greater Europe,” the French president said.

According to him, the key issue is building common foundations. Macron expressed the view that when it comes to defence, security, the fight against trafficking, energy and the protection of democratic regions, this is where the full meaning of the European community lies.

“Both Europe and the South Caucasus were in the past victims of empires. With the creation of the EU, Western Europe seemed to gain immunity against this, and since the 1990s, Central European countries have also joined it. And now this is a shared emancipation. Must there necessarily be integration or EU enlargement? That depends on the choice of each country. This is a very demanding process. I am convinced that we should not wait for it. That is to say, from this very moment, taking into account the situation in the world, we must act. And this is exactly what we have done in recent years. We built a greater Europe, and Armenia has followed this path with us. A European future is the only path that can guarantee peace and balance for Armenia. Europe is a common project,” Macron concluded.

Türkiye’s Special Representative for Normalization with Armenia, Serdar Kılıç, lauded on Tuesday what he described as “huge achievements” in the normalization process. 

Speaking at a panel discussion during the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum, he emphasized that the Armenia-Türkiye normalization process is, first and foremost, not simply a matter of restoring relations, but a process of building and strengthening trust between the sides.

“We are trying to take all possible steps to normalize relations between our countries. However, we cannot separate the Armenia–Türkiye normalization process from the broader context of interconnectivity. Nor can we limit connectivity only to transport links, communication routes, or railways. There are many other important areas where we need to invest efforts. Internet connections, transport routes, and air routes are very important. We must adopt a broader approach to connectivity in order to establish peace and stability in this region,” Kılıç said.

He also said that ideas to expand and develop relations anywhere, and to build long-term, lasting peace, must first and foremost originate in the region itself; in other words, the people of the region must be the ones who own these ideas.

French President Emmanuel Macron thanked the Armenian people for the warm reception during his state visit to Armenia, speaking at the “Musical Bridge: Armenia–France” concert in Gyumri.

Macron said no one has forgotten the disaster of December 1988, when France stood by Armenia.

“Charles Aznavour sang, France united, more than 500 firefighters, soldiers and sappers came to help you, and Gyumri was reborn. We know all the difficulties you have gone through in recent years. And just as we stood by your side in December 1988, we will stand by your side now. Thank you, Gyumri, thank you, Armenia, never forget, France loves you. Long live Armenia, long live France and long live Gyumri,” Macron said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the concert in Gyumri was the final event organised as part of the French president’s state visit.

“The reception is so warm that President Macron could not imagine leaving without greeting all of you. On my behalf, I thank you for the warm reception. In France, I told him that he enjoys great popularity in Armenia, and he said I was exaggerating. Now every time we see such a scene, I tell him, you see, I was not exaggerating,” Pashinyan said.

The French president attended the 8th European Political Community summit in Yerevan on 4 May.

On 5 May, French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Armenia began.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and French President Emmanuel Macron attended the “Musical Bridge: Armenia–France” concert in Gyumri.

The concert was dedicated to the 34th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and to the French president’s state visit to Armenia.

The event began with live performances of the national anthems of France and Armenia. Works by the world-renowned chansonnier of French birth and Armenian origin, Charles Aznavour, were performed on stage.

Performances were delivered by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, the National Academic Choir of Armenia named after Hovhannes Chekijian, as well as singers representing Armenia and France.

The concert, held at Vardanants Square in Gyumri, was also attended by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan, ministers from Armenia and France, other senior officials, and members of the public.

French President Emmanuel Macron has made a post in Armenian on his social media page.

Macron published a video from his speech at Vardanants Square in Gyumri with the caption “France loves you.”

In the video, the French president thanks the Armenian people for the warm reception and embraces Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The French president attended the 8th European Political Community summit in Yerevan on 4 May. His state visit to Armenia took place on 5 May.

On 5 May, a meeting took place between the special representatives for the Armenia–Turkey normalisation process — Deputy Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan and Ambassador Serdar Kılıç — within the framework of the third “Yerevan Dialogue” conference.

The sides exchanged views on the current progress of the normalisation process and welcomed the recent meeting of the joint working group on the restoration and operation of the Gyumri–Kars railway.

In that context, they underlined the mutual interest of Armenia and Turkey in ensuring the railway’s earliest possible launch.

In addition, the special representatives noted the signing of a protocol on the joint restoration of the historical Ani (Silk Road) bridge. They stressed that this initiative would activate bilateral cooperation, expand institutional ties and make a significant contribution to regional tourism.

Armenia sees a “historic opportunity” to accelerate the normalization process with Türkiye.

“It is time to move forward in leaps in the Armenia–Türkiye normalization process,” Armenia’s Special Representative for Normalization with Türkiye and Vice Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan said at a panel discussion during the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum.

He noted that the process began in early 2022 together with Türkiye’s Special Representative Serdar Kılıç, and that some progress has already been achieved during this period.

“It is not the case that nothing has happened. Yerevan–Istanbul flights have been restored, and since this year Turkish Airlines has also started operating flights to Yerevan. Their expansion is being discussed,” Rubinyan said.

He also stressed that the sides have opened the possibility of air transit.

Rubinyan recalled that a joint protocol has also been signed on the restoration of the historic Ani Bridge.

At the same time, he noted that the Armenia–Azerbaijan normalization process is currently more advanced than the Armenia–Türkiye track.

“This is good, but we have a historic opportunity to achieve greater progress in the Armenia–Türkiye normalization process,” he said.

Rubinyan also referred to the broader regional situation, noting that new realities are emerging in the South Caucasus.

He highlighted that relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have already taken shape.