YEREVAN — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan began when Armenia adopted a balanced and balancing foreign policy approach.
He made the remarks while presenting the election program of the ruling Civil Contract party.
According to the prime minister, this strategy has proven effective in stabilizing Armenia’s external environment by preventing or offsetting imbalances in foreign relations.
“A balanced and balancing foreign policy has demonstrated its effectiveness by allowing us to stabilize Armenia’s external environment. Its core objective is to prevent asymmetries in foreign relations or to provide tools to counterbalance them,” he said.
Pashinyan emphasized that regionalization plays a central role in this policy, aiming to make it both possible and sustainable for Armenia to operate within its immediate region without excessive reliance on external support. In this context, he highlighted the importance of strengthening relations with neighboring countries, including Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.
He noted that the full unblocking of regional transport infrastructure—including the implementation of the TRIPP project and the reopening of the Gyumri–Kars railway—would further reinforce peace and cooperation, transforming the region into a key hub of East–West and North–South connectivity, described as a “Crossroads of Peace.”
The prime minister also underscored the importance of developing the “3+3” regional format, noting that Russia’s involvement makes it significant for the constructive transformation of Armenia–Russia relations.
He added that Armenia has adopted a broader “Regionalization-2” concept, expanding engagement to Central Asia, the Middle East, and India. In recent years, Armenia has established diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and this direction is expected to gain further momentum between 2026 and 2031.
Pashinyan highlighted that Armenia has developed strategic partnerships or dialogue frameworks with countries including the United States, Georgia, the Netherlands, China, the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Germany, Luxembourg, and the European Union, while relations with Russia are undergoing a phase of constructive transformation.
Reflecting on past diplomatic practices, the prime minister said Armenia had long relied on third-party intermediaries to communicate with Turkey and Azerbaijan, which often led to distortions.
“When communication takes place through a third party, you can never be certain that your message is delivered accurately or that the response you receive is precise,” he said.
According to Pashinyan, this reliance on intermediaries was one of the key reasons peace was not achieved earlier in the region.
He explained that Armenia has since shifted toward direct communication with Turkey and Azerbaijan, while still allowing for third-party involvement when necessary.
“If we have issues to discuss with Turkey and Azerbaijan—and we clearly do—why should we not speak directly? This is the only guarantee that our message is delivered correctly and that we receive an accurate response,” he said.
Pashinyan acknowledged criticism from opposition figures accusing the government of being pro-Turkish or pro-Azerbaijani but argued that these claims stem from a misunderstanding of the new approach.
“It is precisely this change in our approach that has allowed us to achieve peace,” he concluded.
