Canada officially inaugurated its embassy in Armenia. The opening ceremony saw the Canadian national flag raised in Yerevan, and Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan attended the event.

During a joint press conference in Yerevan, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly reiterated Canada’s support for the territorial integrity of Armenia and emphasized the importance of upholding the principle of non-use of force. She also called on Azerbaijani authorities to respect the rights of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh to return to their homes.

Melanie Joly pointed out the Azerbaijani military aggression on September 19, followed by an illegal blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. She also mentioned that Canada will increase aid to Armenian refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. Regarding the possibility of imposing sanctions on Azerbaijan, Joly stated that all options are on the table. She emphasized that they expect the territorial integrity of Armenia to be respected, and they are closely monitoring the situation in this aspect.

Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan, in his turn, mentioned that this embassy is being opened based on the results of the report on the promotion of Armenia’s democracy. According to him, the relations between Armenia and Canada are based on shared values, such as democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. This creates a broad arena for the strengthening of democratic institutions in Armenia, and the two parties see opportunities for the intensification of trade and economic relations.

Ararat Mirzoyan also welcomed Canada’s joining the EU monitoring mission in Armenia, stressing that the region needs effective steps to establish peace. He highlighted that it is essential for both Armenia and Azerbaijan to mutually recognize each other's territorial integrity, refrain from pursuing maximalist goals, and proceed with the demarcation of their borders using the maps provided by the General Staff of the former USSR.

“We [Armenia] are interested also in unblocking [regional] communications based on the principles of equality, reciprocity of sovereignty, thus creating a crossroads of peace,” he added. 

Nikol Pashinyan Received Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan also had a meeting with the Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly.

In his welcoming speech, PM Pashinyan mentioned that it’s a significant event for bilateral relations and will facilitate ongoing dialogue, especially in the current circumstances. He highlighted the series of negotiations and visits that led to this development, dating back to 2018 when Prime Minister Trudeau visited Armenia.

The Canadian Foreign Minister expressed Canada’s commitment to helping Armenia during this challenging period and working towards a more peaceful and stable region. Canada’s involvement in the EU mission in Armenia is an important step in this direction, and they announced new funding for EU humanitarian aid to address the issues stemming from the forced displacement of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. Furthermore, she expressed her intention to visit the south of Armenia to meet with local authorities and the people who were forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh.

During their meeting, the leaders of the two countries discussed topics related to normalizing Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, with a focus on unblocking regional transport routes. They emphasized the importance of adhering to principles such as territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity, all while working towards peace and stability in the region.