Wednesday, December 10 2025 12:14

ArmInfo.  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the German Council on Foreign Affairs in Berlin within the framework of his official visit to Germany.

The Vice President of the Council, Ambassador Rolf Nickel, thanked  the Prime Minister for accepting the invitation and expressed  confidence that today's meeting will provide an opportunity to get  acquainted with the views and observations of the Prime Minister of  Armenia on regional processes. A group of political scientists,  experts, diplomats, and students participated in the meeting.

Prime Minister Pashinyan made a speech, in which, in particular, he  noted:

'Dear colleagues,

  Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

It is my absolute privilege to return to the German Council on  Foreign Relations after two years.  

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for welcoming me for the  second time. If we try to compare the titles of today's discussion,  "Armenia's perspectives on peace institutionalization, regional  connectivity and relations with the EU" with the previous one -  "Security and stability in the South Caucasus", it will show the  historic developments and further perspectives in our region of the  South Caucasus.

Today I can announce with confidence that on August 8th in Washington  D.C., peace was established between Armenia and Azerbaijan, when with  the President of Azerbaijan we signed a Joint Declaration, witnessed  by the President of the United States Donald Trump.

According to the Declaration, Armenia and Azerbaijan highlighted the  need to chart a course for a bright future not bound by the conflict  of the past and consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and  the 1991 Almaty Declaration.

We committed ourselves to pave the way for closing the chapter of  enmity between our two countries. We resolutely reject and exclude  any attempt of revenge, now and in the future.  

The agreed upon text of the Agreement on Establishment of Peace and  Inter-State relations between the Republic of Armenia and the  Republic of Azerbaijan was initialed by the Ministers of Foreign  Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the presense of President Trump,  President Aliev and myself.

One of the key breakthroughs reached in Washington was the agreement  to open communications between the two countries for intra-state,  bilateral, and international transportation, on the basis of respect  for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction of the  States. These efforts are to include unimpeded connectivity between  the main part of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its 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.

Now, together with our American counterparts, we are engaged in  intensive negotiations on the general terms of implementation of  "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP Route)  connectivity project.

"TRIPP Company" - an Armenian-American joint venture will be  registered in Armenia and will be granted a right to develop the  necessary infrastructure of railway, road, oil and gas pipelines and  fiber optics.

We will move to the actual implementation and construction phase as  early as next year.  The implementation of this project, which is  fully in line with our Government's "Crossroads of Peace" initiative,  will create additional interlinks and interdependencies in the  region, becoming yet another very important factor for peace.

In fact, the "TRIPP Route" project, together with the opening of  communications between Armenia and Turkiye, have full potential to  become an important component of the Middle Corridor providing  unimpeded connectivity between Europe, South Caucasus and Central  Asia.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would also like to inform you that the political agreement to open  communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan is already becoming a  reality.

In October Azerbaijan announced that is lifting restrictions on the  transit of goods through its territory to Armenia. This is a very  significant and positive development.  Something that appeared  impossible only months ago is now a reality: grain has been  transported from Kazakhstan to Armenia through Azerbaijan and Georgia  by railway which is unprecedented event since our independence.

On our turn, as we have announced publicly, Armenia is ready both  politically and technically to enable the transit of cargo between  Turkiye and Azerbaijan through its territory.

With all this being said, I am confident that, through daily care for  established peace, adherence to the text and spirit of the Washington  Declaration, and the rejection of narratives that could derail the  process, the Armenian and Azerbaijani governments will be able to  institutionalize, lasting peace between the two countries.

Of course, speaking about our region, I should also update this  distinguished audience on the current state of play between Armenia  and Turkiye.

Since our previous meeting at the German Council on Foreign  Relations, we have witnessed an intensification of contacts between  Armenia and Turkiye. These contacts are taking place at nearly all  levels: between myself and President Erdogan, our Foreign Ministers  and special representatives, the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs,  as well as relevant line ministries. In practice, we maintain very  active talks and relations with official Ankara, even in the absence  of de jure diplomatic relations.  

And I hope that Turkiye will make the long-awaited political decision  to open its border with Armenia and establish diplomatic relations.

The normalization of Armenia-Turkiye relations, peace between Armenia  and Azerbaijan, the "TRIPP Route" project, Armenia's and Azerbaijani  good-neighbourly relations with Georgia and Iran, constructive  dialogue with Russia, can position the South Caucasus as one of the  most attractive transit corridors, alongside both the North-South and  East-West routes. And we are working hardly to realize this historic  opportunity.  Distinguished colleagues,

In March of this year, the National Assembly of Armenia adopted the  "Law on Initiating the Process of Armenia's Accession to the European  Union". Many ask - when Armenia will become a member of the European  Union and how realistic this goal is. The "Law on Initiating the  Process of Armenia's Accession to the European Union" is, above all,  an incentive for us to consistently pursue democratic reforms. Our  aim is to be institutionally and practically compliant with EU  standards, because without such compliance, EU membership is  impossible.

Once Armenia objectively meets these European standards, two paths  will lie ahead:  either we will be accepted as an EU member state, or  we will not.  

Of course, our preferred scenario is the first one. But even if  membership is not granted, we will have achieved a major milestone:  Armenia will be a country that meets the most advanced modern  standards.

Our aspiration to comply with European Union standards is not driven  by geopolitics, but by a democratic choice: since the peaceful Velvet  Revolution of 2018, Armenia has committed, as a matter of strategy,  to democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and an independent  judiciary.  On this path, just a week ago, Armenia and the European  Union adopted the "Strategic Agenda of the Armenia-EU Partnership",  which complements the already existing Comprehensive and Enhanced  Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

We are currently exploring opportunities for sectoral integration in  areas such as digital and telecommunications, energy, and  connectivity.  Ladies and gentlemen,

We paid special attention to the economic component of my visit to  Germany, while also making use of the occasion to strengthen dialogue  between representatives of the Armenian and German business  communities. To support such contacts, our government must foster the  mobility of our businesspeople; and accordingly, I am pleased to note  that we have successfully launched the Visa Liberalization Dialogue  with European Union.

This marks an important step toward enhancing mobility, intensifying  people-to-people contacts, and developing inter-cultural ties.  Recently, we received the Visa Liberalization Action Plan, which  outlines the main benchmarks and key commitments of the Government of  Armenia. Upon its successful implementation, a visa-free regime will  be established, further promoting active exchanges between Armenia  and the European Union.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is difficult to fully cover the topic of Armenia-EU relations in  these opening remarks, as today it is truly comprehensive,  encompassing nearly all possible areas.

I am confident that the 8th European Political Community Summit and  the Armenia-EU Summit, to be held in Yerevan next May, will provide a  new opportunity both to assess the progress of our relations and to  set even more ambitious targets for the years ahead.  Allow me to  conclude my speech by emphasizing the importance of strengthening  relations with EU member states as well, which provides additional  opportunities to learn and cooperate on a bilateral basis.

Of course, alongside other like-minded partners, Germany plays a  central role for Armenia, and the adoption of the Strategic Agenda  between our countries elevates our relations to a new level, creating  new conditions for our strategic partnership.

Thank you"

The Prime Minister then participated in a panel discussion titled  "Armenia's Vision for Peace Institutionalization, Regional  Connectivity, and EU Integration."