Armenia outlines plans to normalize ties with Azerbaijan, Türkiye

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday presented a comprehensive five-year government program to parliament that aims to normalize relations with Azerbaijan and Türkiye through diplomatic engagement, border openings, and institutionalized peace agreements, according to the document published ahead of legislative debates.

Government unveils 2026-2031 agenda

The 2026-2031 agenda, presented to lawmakers for debate, outlines Yerevan's intention to pursue what officials described as a "balanced and balancing" foreign policy centered on stabilizing ties with neighboring states. The document emphasizes the development of relations with Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Georgia, and Iran as key strategic priorities for the coming years, according to the published text.

Normalization with Türkiye and Azerbaijan

Regarding Türkiye, the government plans to establish full diplomatic relations with Ankara and reopen the land border between the two countries, including the construction of at least two modern border crossing points. The program also calls for restoring and expanding transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure linking Armenia with Türkiye.

On Azerbaijan, Yerevan intends to continue technical work on delimiting the shared border while pushing to institutionalize peace through a formal treaty and associated legal agreements. Officials also aim to expand contacts between civil society organizations and business communities in both countries to foster bilateral trust.

Regional cooperation priorities

The program was published on Thursday ahead of parliamentary debates, outlining Pashinyan's strategy to anchor regional stability through enhanced ties with Ankara and Baku. The five-year agenda identifies the development of neighborly relations as essential to national security and long-term economic growth.