On September 18, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking at the World Armenian Summit, expressed concerns regarding Armenia's security, sovereignty, and statehood, emphasizing the potential threats posed by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). 

Pashinyan reminded the audience that Armenia had suspended its CSTO membership and stated, "We see a lot of discussions around the question of whether Armenia is trying or thinking of returning to the CSTO. We will fully restore our activities in the CSTO only if the questions posed to us are given concrete answers." He noted that despite two years passing since Armenia raised its concerns, no answers had been provided, adding, "As long as these answers are not voiced, Armenia is moving further away from the CSTO with every second." Pashinyan warned that Armenia could soon reach a "point of no return" regarding its relations with the CSTO, and should that point be passed, no one could legitimately accuse Armenia.

Addressing the reform of Armenia's armed forces, Pashinyan refuted claims, particularly from Azerbaijan, that these reforms indicate a rejection of peace. Citing the UN Charter, he reiterated Armenia's right to acquire arms to safeguard its security, stating, "Armenia recognizes the territorial integrity of all countries in the region. We have no territorial demands to any country." He added that Armenia would not seek the return of the more than 200 square kilometers of occupied territory through military means, believing that demarcation negotiations with Azerbaijan offer the possibility to resolve the issue peacefully.

Further, Pashinyan discussed Armenia's vision of statehood. He described two competing views: "historical Armenia," which positions the country as a pillar for a greater homeland, and "real Armenia," which prioritizes the well-being, freedom, justice, and security of Armenia’s citizens. Pashinyan asserted that the government subscribes to the latter view, as the former would lead to Armenia's eventual loss of statehood.

Pashinyan also stressed the need for Armenia to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey and open land borders. He pointed to a "small but obvious change" in Turkish perceptions and highlighted the importance of ongoing negotiations between the special envoys of Armenia and Turkey, even if significant progress had yet to be achieved.

Turning to security architecture, Pashinyan noted the effectiveness of Armenia’s current strategy, stating that security was not merely about military assets but also about the rules of living in a complex environment. He emphasized that no country or military bloc could guarantee Armenia's security, underscoring that peace in the region is the only true security guarantee. He concluded by stating, "The policy of our government has created this guarantee, realizing how difficult it is."

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, speaking at the World Armenian Summit, addressed the notion of learning from history, suggesting that the lessons of history have often been imposed by others rather than derived from Armenia's own experiences. He remarked, "They said: read, dear Armenians, the lessons of your history are as follows - point one, learn by heart, and come back." He criticized this approach, claiming that it has led to a misinterpretation of Armenian history.

Pashinyan also discussed the challenges he faced as Prime Minister regarding patriotism. He described a model of patriotism imported through various media that he believes undermines Armenia's sovereignty and statehood. He noted, "As of 2018, the biggest problem for me as Prime Minister was patriotism... This model of patriotism is that there should not be a state of the Republic of Armenia."

Regarding energy policy, Pashinyan commented on Armenia's current dependence on gas imports from Russia and Iran. He acknowledged the potential for future gas imports from Azerbaijan, noting, "If we imagine that a transit gas pipeline to Nakhijevan or Turkey passes through Armenia's territory, this option cannot be ruled out." He emphasized that no country has complete energy independence, stating, "There is not a single energy-secure country. We can only talk about energy diversification."

On the topic of Armenia's potential integration into BRICS, Pashinyan confirmed his acceptance of the Russian President's invitation to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan but did not provide further details.

Pashinyan also discussed Armenia's efforts to diversify its security relations, including developing military-technical cooperation with various countries. He assured that these reforms are not intended to be aggressive but are aimed at protecting Armenia’s sovereign territory. He added, "The reforms of our army have no aggressive connotation in them."

Regarding visa liberalization, Pashinyan addressed concerns about migration, stating that studies from countries like Georgia show no significant increase in migration following visa liberalization. He emphasized that Armenia’s visa liberalization efforts are part of a broader strategy to improve opportunities for its citizens, noting, "The constant fear of opening our borders and the constant suffering from the consequences of closing our borders... If we have a project that unites us as a state and society, these problems will not exist."

Pashinyan also advocated for a shift in how Armenia is perceived, urging that it should not be seen as an outpost but as a sovereign state focused on the security and well-being of its citizens. He expressed a desire for Armenia to be viewed as a nation capable of providing for its own needs and not as a recipient of aid, stating, "I have banned sending used clothes, cars, half-worn tires to Armenia. The Armenian government is capable of providing a certain minimum for the institutions under its responsibility."

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the World Armenian Summit regarding perceptions of the peace treaty with Azerbaijan. He noted that both Armenian and Azerbaijani viewpoints often mirror each other in expecting the treaty to resolve all issues. Pashinyan emphasized that the peace treaty should foster a new atmosphere and relations, regardless of whether every detail is explicitly agreed upon. He stated, "In my opinion, it is the peace treaty that should solve this issue regardless of whether everything is written there literally or not." Pashinyan also mentioned that the peace treaty should address the return of prisoners.

Pashinyan discussed regional communications, stating that Armenia is prepared to facilitate passage through its territory under conditions similar to those offered by Iran. He refuted claims that Armenia opposes such projects and clarified that Armenia is ready to ensure transparent and fair conditions for regional transit. He commented, "We do not exclude certain simplification of procedures, and we perceive it in the logic of bilateral approach."

Regarding the peace treaty’s content, Pashinyan argued that the treaty should be signed based on agreed terms, even if not all articles are finalized. He noted that the number of articles in a treaty is not fixed and emphasized the importance of political will in concluding the agreement. "Nowhere is it written that a peace treaty must have 25 articles and cannot have 14 or 17 articles. The issue here is political will," Pashinyan stated.

Additionally, Pashinyan addressed concerns about Armenia’s military-technical cooperation, particularly accusations from Azerbaijan about Western arms. He pointed out that Azerbaijan imports weapons from various Western countries, questioning why Armenia should be restricted from buying arms from certain nations. Pashinyan remarked, "Excuse me, but Azerbaijan buys weapons from the Czech Republic and Italy, since when are the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Italy not the West anymore?" He stressed that Armenia’s military reforms are aimed at defense rather than aggression.