Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has signaled a strategic shift toward regional connectivity and closer ties with the European Union, according to a report by France 24.
Speaking from Armenia’s newly inaugurated embassy in Paris, Mirzoyan emphasized that the country is moving toward a period of stability and economic integration. He asserted that "we now have peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan," framing the development as an emerging reality that the nation intends to institutionalize.
Mirzoyan described the current era as a departure from decades of blockade. He stated that Armenia's new focus is not on competition but on "unrollment of the South Caucasus" through unblocking regional routes.
To achieve this, the minister highlighted ambitious plans for massive infrastructure projects, including new railways, electricity grids, and oil and gas pipelines. He positioned Armenia as a vital link in the "Middle Corridor" connecting European and Asian markets.
Regional diplomacy and economic growth
Despite these forward-looking goals, Mirzoyan acknowledged the lingering trauma of the 2023 Azerbaijani invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh. He noted that while the wounds of the war remain fresh, the nation must focus on the future.
"It’s not easy to forget, and there is no necessity to forget," Mirzoyan said. "We will, of course, remember. But we also should analyse… that our nation… should now focus on the present and future rather than remain in the past."
He pointed to emerging opportunities in high-tech sectors, including artificial intelligence, data centers, and modern educational institutions.
On the geopolitical front, the minister described a complex web of regional relations. He noted productive dialogue with Türkiye regarding the normalization of relations and characterized ties with Georgia as "brilliant" and "brotherly."
Mirzoyan described relations with Iran as "very normal neighbourly relations," though he expressed concern over broader regional instability. Regarding Russia, he admitted to "frustration regarding Russia’s role" but maintained that Armenia does not seek conflict and intends to keep relations friendly.
Addressing the domestic landscape, the minister stated that the Armenian people strongly support a peace agenda and hold "European aspirations." He concluded by asserting that the nation's democratic processes and political choices remain a matter of sovereignty, stating that "no one in the world has the right to interfere."
