US and Armenia Address Bilateral Cooperation and Regional Peace Strategies

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on November 29. The meeting took place in Skopje on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council, as reported by the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

Security and stability issues in the South Caucasus were touched upon during the meeting. The latest developments in normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations were also discussed. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that despite Azerbaijan's non-constructive attitude, the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the existing humanitarian problems, the Armenian side submitted proposals for the draft peace agreement to Azerbaijan based on well-known principles. He indicated that significant progress in this direction could be achieved with a clear commitment from Azerbaijan.

The discussion also covered regional programs, with Armenian Minister Mirzoyan highlighting the “Crossroads of Peace” project developed by the Armenian government. He emphasized the anticipated advantages of its implementation for regional stability.

Furthermore, the interlocutors delved into the Armenia-U.S. bilateral, along with discussions on prospects for enhancing this cooperation.

Yerevan and NATO Explore Deepening Partnership Amid South Caucasus Dynamics

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also held discussions with Javier Colomina, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy and NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia. Mirzoyan updated on the ongoing efforts to strengthen Yerevan’s partnership with the alliance. 

They met on the sidelines of the 30th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje. The Armenian FM positively assessed these talks with the NATO special representative.

“Sovereignty and territorial integrity, clarity for state borders are key and should be unequivocally upheld by all stakeholders to reach lasting stability & peace in South Caucasus,” Ararat Mirzoyan added.

Armenian Foreign Minister and EU High Representative Discuss Partnership Expansion and Regional Security in Skopje Meeting

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with Josep Borrell, the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on November 29 in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, as reported by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

During their meeting, they discussed the expansion of the Armenia-EU partnership agenda. Mirzoyan and Borrell extensively explored the current prospects in this regard, focusing on the ongoing efforts to foster closer ties between Armenia and the EU. 

Borrell characterized the meeting in Skopje as “substantial.” In a post on the X social media platform, he mentioned that the discussions involved exploring ways to deepen bilateral relations and EU support.

Building on the previous meeting in Granada in October, Mirzoyan and Borrell talked about security issues in the South Caucasus. Ararat Mirzoyan underscored the significance of diplomatic initiatives to prevent any challenges to Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He also emphasized the importance of implementing inclusive regional programs to establish lasting stability. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan presented the “Crossroads of Peace” project developed by the Armenian government.

The discussions also included considerations of the measures taken to address the needs and rights of over 100,000 people forcibly displaced people from Nagorno-Karabakh with the support of international partners. 

Ararat Mirzoyan also met with Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia reported in a short statement. During the meeting, Mirzoyan reiterated the positions of the Armenian side to his Russian counterpart, discussing Russia’s policy and steps on various bilateral and regional agenda topics.