Monday, September 29 2025 12:08

ArmInfo. Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly

 

Dear President,

Excellencies, 

Dear Colleagues, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The main substance of speeches of all leaders of the Republic of  Armenia from this rostrum has been dedicated to the conflict between  the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. Such were  also my speeches from 2018 to 2023.

Last year, speaking at the 79th session of the General Assembly, I  tried for the first time to speak not about the conflict between the  Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, but about peace.  My speech was very cautious, very uncertain, although at that moment  already, more than 12 kilometers of the Armenia-Azerbaijan interstate  border had been demarcated for the first time, and the regulations on  the joint activities of the demarcation commissions of the two  countries had been signed by the deputy prime ministers of the two  countries.

After my speech, pivotal events have occurred in Armenia-Azerbaijan  relations. First, the regulations on the joint activities of the  demarcation commissions were ratified in both Armenia and Azerbaijan,  receiving the highest legal force.

This is the first bilateral international document signed and  ratified between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In it, the Alma Ata Declaration of December 21, 1991, is mentioned as  the basic principle of border demarcation between the two countries,  the demarcation of the interstate borders.

Thus, the optimistic processes of the preceding period continued over  the past year.

In March of this year, Armenia and Azerbaijan were able to agree upon  a draft agreement on establishing peace and interstate relations and  to conclude the negotiations on the draft with such a positive  outcome.

In that document, too, the parties, referring to the Alma Ata  Declaration, confirm their understanding that the borders between the  former Soviet Socialist Republics of the USSR have become the  international borders of the respective independent states and, on  this basis, they recognize and respect each other's sovereignty,  territorial integrity, inviolability of international borders, and  political independence.

As you have now seen, the reference to the Alma Ata Declaration means  that both countries recognize that the territory of the Republic of  Armenia is identical with the territory of the Armenian Soviet  Socialist Republic, and the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan  is identical with the territory of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist  Republic, and the borders encompassing these territories are  inviolable.

The aforementioned agreement on the establishment of peace and  interstate relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan was initialed on  August 8 of this year in the US capital, Washington DC, at the White  House, by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries, in the presence  of the US President, the President of Azerbaijan, and myself.

The culmination of the meeting that took place at the White House on  August 8 was the Declaration that we adopted as a result of the  meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, and which was also signed  as witness by US President Donald Trump.

That Declaration stated that Armenia and Azerbaijan recognize the  need to chart a course for a bright future not bound by the conflict  of the past, consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and  the 1991 Almaty Declaration, and that after the conflict that brought  immense human suffering, the conditions have finally been created for  our nations to fully embark on building good neighborly relations on  the basis of the inviolability of international borders and the  inadmissibility of the use of force for the acquisition of territory.

The Declaration reads: "This reality, which is not and should never  be subject to revision, paves the way for closing the chapter of  enmity between our two nations. We resolutely reject and exclude any  attempt of revenge, now and in the future."

In the same document, we, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan,  reaffirmed the importance of opening communications between our two  countries for intra-state, bilateral and international  transportation, for the promotion of peace, stability, and prosperity  in the region and its neighborhood on the basis of respect for the  sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction of the States.

As I indicated earlier, these efforts are to include unimpeded  connectivity between the main part of the Republic of Azerbaijan and  the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of the  Republic of Armenia, with reciprocal benefits for international and  intra-state connectivity for the Republic of Armenia.

It was also noted that the Republic of Armenia will work with the  United States of America and mutually determined third parties to set  forth a framework for the "Trump Route for International Peace and  Prosperity" (TRIPP) connectivity project in the territory of the  Republic of Armenia.

We confirmed our determination to pursue efforts in good faith to  achieve this goal in the most expeditious manner.

Dear President, Ladies and Gentlemen;

What does all this mean? All this means, and I am happy to report to  the entire international community, that peace has been established  between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan,  ladies and gentlemen.

The role of US President Donald Trump is decisive in this peace  process, whose dedication, consistency, and principledness made  possible what seemed to be impossible.  This is why we agreed with  Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev on our joint decision to nominate  President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, because we have seen  through our own example that President Trump is truly committed to  the idea of peace.

I would also like to emphasize the role of the peoples, governments  and parliaments of Armenia and Azerbaijan, without whose support, of  course, it would have been impossible to reach this point.

Peace, thus, is established. But peace is not a vacation; it is work,  everyday work.  Peace requires daily care, like a newborn baby, to be  protected from infections, the cold and the heat, the indifference  and the pessimism.

Conflict, indeed, poses far fewer questions before us, and the  options for answers in the case of conflict are not many. While peace  brings with it questions, new questions, more questions, questions  continuously, and peaceful life is about answering those questions  with care and not with disdain life; thinking diligently about those  questions and formulating the answers in good faith is the  institutionalization of peace, which is a continuous necessity and  something we ought to deal with every day.

In this context, it is extremely important to clarify the fate of  persons whose whereabouts are unknown and to address the issue of  persons deprived of their liberty as a result of the long-standing  conflict, which is also part of our daily work agenda.

The TRIPP Route infrastructure project will operate through the  territory of the Republic of Armenia, with a business model agreed  upon in a bilateral US-Armenia format.  Consisting of several dozen  kilometers of various infrastructures, the TRIPP Route will have both  regional and global significance and impact.

By the way, in the context of caring for and nurturing the  established peace, it is very important to use a pro-peace,  legitimate, and agreed-upon narrative when speaking about this  project, as well.

The President of Azerbaijan, with whom we adopted the Washington  Declaration, has used the so-called "Zangezur Corridor" expression  several times since then, including from this rostrum.

Such an expression does not exist in the documents agreed upon in  Washington, it has never been in the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations  or documents. I think it makes sense for my Azerbaijani counterpart  to clarify what he means by using that expression, because in the  Armenian reality it is perceived as a territorial claim on Armenia  and is associated with conflict narrative.

In the documents of August 8, we agreed upon clear content and  narrative, and it is not possible to understand casting doubt on  commitment to those agreements in any way- through the narratives I  mentioned and/or through other narratives expressed from this  rostrum. Such narratives do not increase people's faith in peace; nor  do they stem from the atmosphere of peace and the agreements reached  at the highest level.  At various rostrums, the President of  Azerbaijan speaks about the alleged capitulation of Armenia.

To be frank, I do not understand, in the presence of such a huge  positive content, achieved through joint heavy efforts, why engage  aggressive subtexts that are not connected with objective reality.  Doesn't peace bring enough joy and satisfaction? To me, for example,  it does.

What also brings me joy is the fact that the Republic of Armenia is a  democratic state that is developing at an impressive pace,  independent, sovereign, and building its own future today, a state  that does not harbor or spread hatred towards its neighbors or  towards anyone.

I invite the attention of the international community to the fact  that the so-called "Zangezur Corridor" and similar narratives do not  stem from the agreements reached, have no connection with the  agreements, have an irritating and negative impact, and are perceived  as a territorial claim against a sovereign country, despite the  agreements reached and declared.

But this will certainly not divert us one millimeter from the  practice of celebrating the peace achieved and implementing the  agreements declared.

In my speech today, by the way, you will not find even one relevant  provision or phrase, the justification for which I could not point to  in the written agreements reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan in  various formats or in the documents signed and published in  Washington on August 8. I suggest that my Azerbaijani counterpart  focus on the prompt and precise implementation of the agreements  reached, for which the use of legitimate narratives is essential.

And so, under the TRIPP route project announced in Washington on  August 8, a railway, a highway, pipelines, and electricity  transmission lines will pass through the territory of Armenia,  connecting the East to the West. As a result of this agreement, the  North will also be connected to the South.

The mere geographic enumeration is enough to conclude that this is an  accurate reflection of the "Crossroads of Peace" project, which I had  the opportunity to present from this rostrum. The TRIPP route  infrastructure project stems from the "Crossroads of Peace" program,  about the capacity development of which we signed a bilateral  memorandum with President Trump on August 8 in Washington DC.

I consider it necessary to note that, in accordance with the  Washington Declaration, the opening of communications between Armenia  and Azerbaijan for intra-state, bilateral and international  transportation will take place on the basis of respect for the  sovereignty, territorial integrity and jurisdiction of the states.

As I mentioned already, these efforts are to include unimpeded  connectivity between the main part of the Republic of Azerbaijan and  the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of the  Republic of Armenia, with reciprocal benefits for international and  intra-state connectivity for the Republic of Armenia.

These agreements are a good opportunity for the Republic of Armenia  to implement state-of-the-art technologies for border, customs and  other controls, not only on the TRIPP route, but also at other border  crossings, which will comply with the most advanced modern standards.

The opening of the Armenia-Turkey border is important for the TRIPP  route infrastructure project: meaning, the opening of the existing  railway, the highways, with the prospect of developing pipelines,  electricity transmission lines, and cables.

I am pleased to note that in recent years, an unprecedented positive  dialogue has been established between Armenia and Turkey. My meetings  with President Erdogan are regular, with a continuously growing level  of trust.

This is an achievement that I highly value and am confident will  bring positive results in the foreseeable future, namely the  establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and  the full opening of the interstate border.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

In recent years, the geography of diplomatic relations of the  Republic of Armenia has been visibly and pleasantly expanding.

During the 30 years of independence, the Republic of Armenia did not  have diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. I am happy  to note that now, diplomatic relations have been established between  our countries, and a dialogue is taking place.  And the traditional  ties of the Republic of Armenia are developing noticeably. Our  dialogue and brotherhood with the Islamic Republic of Iran and  Georgia are becoming more visible. These relations, along with our  relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, are extremely important for  seeing the South Caucasus region as a peaceful, stable and developing  environment.  In this sense, I also value the 3+3 format, which is an  important platform for us to engage in dialogue with the countries of  our region and to develop our traditional dialogue with the Russian  Federation, although we always have active contacts with Russia in a  bilateral format.

We have recently established a strategic partnership with China, and  we have active political and trade-economic ties with India. A  balanced and balancing foreign policy opens up new horizons for us.  We are intensifying our relations with Japan, Mongolia, the Middle  East, and Central Asian countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

In March of this year, the National Assembly of the Republic of  Armenia adopted the Law on Initiating the Process of Armenia's  Accession to the European Union, which is of great significance for  our agenda.

This law is not only the manifestation of our unprecedented high  level of relations with the European Union, but also a direct  testament to our commitment to democratic values.  Many ask when  Armenia will become a member of the European Union and how realistic  it is. Firstly, two of our four neighbors are candidate countries for  EU membership. And secondly, the law on starting the process of  becoming a member of the European Union is, above all, an incentive  for us to consistently continue the democratic reforms.

We want to be institutionally and substantively compliant with EU  standards. Short of such compliance, it is impossible to become an EU  member. Therefore, when Armenia objectively complies with the  standards of the European Union, from that point on, we will have two  paths: either we will be accepted into the EU as a member state, or  we will not be accepted.

If they accept us, fine. If they do not, we will have accomplished a  very important task set before us: Armenia will be a country that  complies with the advanced modern standards.  Our aspiration to  comply with European Union standards is a matter of not geopolitical,  but rather democratic choice, because since the People's non-violent  Velvet Revolution that took place in Armenia in 2018, we have  adopted, as a matter of strategy, democracy, the rule of law, human  rights, and an independent judiciary.  In order to make our  achievements in the field of democracy more institutional and pro-  people, we intend to take the next step in the near future: after  receiving the people's mandate once again in the 2026 parliamentary  elections, we will initiate a nationwide referendum to adopt a new  Constitution, as a result of which all branches of government and the  legal system established in the country will be organically linked to  the constitution-maker, that is, with the people, making Armenia's  statehood long-lasting and people-centered.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The year 2026 will be unprecedented in terms of the international  engagement of the Republic of Armenia.

In May, the Republic of Armenia will host the 8th Summit of the  European Political Community, and I cordially invite the heads of  state and government of all the members of the Community to  participate in this crucial event.

This summit is a key platform for European political dialogue, the  format of which enables us all to act as a large team connected by  shared responsibility for European and global harmony.

By the way, it was at the first summit of the European Political  Community held in Prague on October 6, 2022, where Armenia and  Azerbaijan, as a result of a meeting organized by France and the  European Union, for the first time agreed to recognize each other's  territorial integrity and sovereignty on the basis of the Alma-Ata  Declaration. As you have seen from my text, this agreement had a  decisive role. It is an extremely important agreement, and in the  matter of reaching these agreements in Prague, I would like to  emphasize the special role of French President Emmanuel Macron, his  personal contribution.

Dear President, 

Excellencies, 

Dear Colleagues, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological  Diversity will be held in Armenia from October 18 to 30, 2026, and it  is my honor to invite all heads of state and government to  participate in that conference in Yerevan.

I hope that by then, I will have reported at the 81st session of the  UN General Assembly that the agreement on peace and the establishment  of interstate relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been at  least signed, the border between Armenia and Turkey has been opened,  and a large part of the TRIPP route investment project has already  been implemented.

The Republic of Armenia reaffirms its commitment to the peace agenda  and the achieved peace.

I am convinced that with close dialogue with Azerbaijan, and the  support of regional countries and the international community, we  will never again deviate from the path of peace.

Long live dialogue, long live diplomacy, long leave peace!