YEREVAN — Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan presented Armenia’s government action plan for the next five years, outlining priorities in national security, foreign policy, economic development, energy, democratic reforms and relations with the Diaspora. The program must still be approved by parliament.
Pashinyan said the government hopes to return to reforms that were disrupted after the 2018 Velvet Revolution by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Karabakh war and its aftermath. He said progress toward peace and normalization with Azerbaijan has created new opportunities for long-term development.
In foreign policy, the government plans to continue what it calls a “balanced foreign policy,” with the institutionalization of peace with Azerbaijan and border demarcation among its highest priorities. The plan also calls for establishing diplomatic relations with Turkey and reopening the Armenian-Turkish border.
Regarding the European Union, the government intends to deepen cooperation, align Armenia with EU standards and continue efforts toward visa-free travel, though the program does not call for formally applying for EU membership during the next five years. Cooperation with the United States will include the proposed Trump Route transportation project.
Economically, the government aims to diversify Armenia’s export markets, double domestically produced exports and encourage foreign investment. The program places particular emphasis on high technology, artificial intelligence and science, including plans to increase research spending and create a national AI engineering laboratory.
The plan also calls for expanding renewable energy and beginning preparations for a new nuclear power plant to replace the aging Metsamor facility.
In domestic policy, the government proposes reforms to the prison system, stronger anti-discrimination protections and a new constitution that would eventually be submitted to a national referendum.
The government also plans to redefine Armenia-Diaspora relations around Pashinyan’s “Real Armenia” concept and introduce stricter citizenship requirements for ethnic Armenians, including a residency requirement before citizenship is granted.
