Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan reiterated Armenia’s commitment to constructive efforts to establish lasting and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus during the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations meeting. He made these remarks while discussing the report on the progress and outcomes of the implementation of the Armenian government program (2021-2026).

“We have certainly managed to advance on some terms of the draft peace treaty, but no tangible progress has been made towards the principal issues,” Mirzoyan said.

The minister further highlighted that those informal discussions took place during the ministerial meeting in Tehran in the 3+2 format. He remarked that following the Azerbaijani president’s rejection of the series of meetings, which began in Granada, discussions among foreign ministers were also halted. However, in 2024, these meetings resumed, with further talks conducted in Munich and Berlin. 

Ararat Mirzoyan further stated that Armenia and Azerbaijan are nearing a mutual understanding regarding the recognition of the borders between the two countries, as delineated in 1991 during the dissolution of the USSR. This recognition is seen as a foundational step for border delimitation and the mutual acknowledgment of territorial integrity between the two states. In this context, Mirzoyan mentioned that the positions of Armenia and Azerbaijan on this issue are closer than they were, for instance, a month ago.

Armenian Foreign Minister emphasized that Armenia faces significant, even existential, threats. He pointed out that there are international actors with interests in Armenia’s dissolution and ambitions regarding its sovereign territories.

Ararat Mirzoyan also highlighted developments in Armenian-Turkish relations, stating that on January 6, Turkey informed Armenia about lifting previous bans on direct air cargo transportation between the two countries. Following a devastating earthquake in Turkey, Armenia responded on February 8, 2023, by sending a rescue squad and humanitarian aid to the affected area in Adiyaman. Symbolically, humanitarian aid, transported via seven trucks, crossed the Armenian-Turkish border through the Margara bridge. During this period, Mirzoyan visited Turkey, including Ankara, where he engaged in private discussions with the Turkish foreign minister, followed by an extended meeting. Additionally, during this visit, an agreement was reached to partially open the Armenian-Turkish border for citizens of third countries and diplomatic passport holders.

“Unfortunately, this partial opening has not been implemented to this day. Also, we reached an agreement on the joint repair of the Ani bridge [between Armenia and Turkey],” he added.

Referring to the CSTO membership freezing talks, Mirzoyan first assured that Armenia made very active efforts to have minimal mutually acceptable wording with its CSTO partners, by which the CSTO was obligated to address what happened with Armenia. Then he added, “Ultimately, we have seen that the efforts did not bring results.”