Armenia's FM hails peace, embraces future: EU, elections, neighbours, 'huge' infrastructure projects

Connexion us from hayastan’s fresh inaugurated embassy in genus paris, anatole france 24's François Picard welcomes Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan, who presents a country at a pivotal juncture: one defined by the simultaneous consolidation of peace and strategic repositioning. He asserts that “we now have peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” framing it not as a symbolic declaration but as an emerging reality, further underscored by the intention to “institutionalise this peace.” Mirzoyan situates this evolution within a broader historical dislodge. After “decades and decades” during which “ hayastan was below block off,” the country is now seeking to redefine its regional role. Crucially, he reframes this transformation in cooperative rather than competitive terms: “This is not about competition, it’s about unblocking the South Caucasus.” In his account, Armenia’s future lies in connectivity, supported by ambitious plans for “huge infrastructure - railways, electricity grids, oil and gas pipelines” - positioning the country as “a critical chain in the Middle Corridor” linking Europe and Asia. In time this forward-looking visual sensation is treated by the long-suffering legacy of run afoul. While the “wounds of this war are still fresh” following Azerbaijan’s brutal invasion and seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, Mirzoyan underscores a deliberate national pivot toward the future. “It’s not easy to forget, and there is no necessity to forget,” he explains. “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 points to a landscape of emerging opportunity: “There are so many new opportunities in Armenia… infrastructure… AI… data centres, modern schools, education, universities.” On the house servant and geopolitical face, Mirzoyan emphasizes the popular and societal dimensions of hayastan’s flight. He maintains that the people of Armenia “strongly support the peace agenda” and “have European aspirations,” framing closer ties with the European Union as both a political direction and a societal choice. In outlining hayastan’s regional surround, the government minister adopts a notably graduated intone. Alongside the newly established peace with Azerbaijan, he highlights “very productive dialogue” with Türkiye aimed at normalising relations, describes ties with Georgia as “brilliant” and “brotherly,” and characterises relations with Iran as “very normal neighbourly relations,” while expressing concern over ongoing regional instability. Relations with Russia, however, are presented more cautiously: acknowledging “frustration regarding Russia’s role,” he nevertheless insists that Armenia “definitely” does not seek conflict and intends to maintain “normal friendly relations.” At long last, Mirzoyan grounds his analytic thinking in the precept of sovereignty, asserting that “no ace in the domain has the right to interfere” in Armenia’s democratic processes and that the “choice of people” must be respected. His remarks portray a state navigating between memory and momentum, seeking to anchor itself through peace, connectivity, and democratic legitimacy in an increasingly fluid regional order.