Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its peace agenda with Azerbaijan, warning that any attempt within Armenia to revive the Karabakh issue would provoke responses from Baku and undermine regional stability. Speaking at a press briefing, Pashinyan argued that opposition rhetoric on Nagorno-Karabakh feeds similar narratives in Azerbaijan, including claims about “Western Azerbaijan” and the return of Azerbaijanis.

Referring to opposition MPs, Pashinyan said that as long as lawmakers display Karabakh symbols and question Armenia’s internationally recognized borders, Azerbaijan will respond in kind. He specifically criticized former president Robert Kocharyan’s statement that Armenia should not be satisfied with its recognized territory of 29,743 square kilometres, arguing that such positions fuel tensions. Pashinyan said the government would use all legal means to prevent attempts to revive the Karabakh movement, stressing that voters had endorsed the government’s peace policy in the June elections. He warned that any effort to continue the Karabakh agenda would be treated as an attempt to draw Armenia into a new conflict.

Addressing Armenia’s relations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Pashinyan questioned the bloc’s effectiveness if its core principles are not upheld in practice. Pointing to recent Russian restrictions on Armenian exports and transit, he argued that the EAEU’s fundamental freedoms – the movement of goods, services, labour, and capital – must function in reality, not only on paper. While acknowledging that temporary disruptions may occur, he warned that prolonged trade restrictions would call into question the union’s very existence. He said Armenia continues to diversify its export markets while remaining in the EAEU, but expects clear explanations for the ongoing Russian restrictions, and cautioned that such measures risk undermining confidence in the bloc among other member states.

Pashinyan also updated on TRIPP — the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity — saying the project has entered an active working phase with no political or financial obstacles remaining. Armenian and U.S. experts are holding regular discussions on engineering, financial, logistical, and design questions. He expressed hope that construction could begin before year-end if no technical difficulties arise, and said a key bilateral agreement with the United States is expected to be ratified soon, allowing the project to move from planning to implementation.