During his address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on January 28, Ararat Mirzoyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, described the return of Armenians held in Baku as an important contribution to reconciliation. Mirzoyan emphasized Armenia’s commitment to the full normalization of relations with Türkiye, noting that opening borders and restoring rail links would contribute to regional stability. The Armenian Foreign Minister also addressed recent remarks regarding the Armenian Apostolic Church, dismissing claims of persecution of clergy as "gossip" and emphasizing the rule of law. "I want to state that Armenia is a democratic country where the rule of law is the highest value. This also applies to the internal affairs of the church and the state’s role in ensuring security and justice," Mirzoyan stated. Additionally, Mirzoyan highlighted Armenia’s ongoing efforts toward European integration and the importance of international support in addressing hybrid threats where diplomacy might not suffice. "A country without a strong army is vulnerable and can be a temptation for aggression. The Republic of Armenia should never be like this," he stated.