On October 20, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan participated in the Ministerial Meeting organized by the European Union on the topic of Cross-regional Security and Connectivity.

Within the Ministerial Meeting, Minister Mirzoyan delivered remarks at the discussion on security, stability, and resilience in the Black Sea region.

Excellencies, Colleagues,

The Black Sea region has always been a crossroads of cultures, commerce, and geopolitical interests. It is an essential link between Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia – one where enhanced interaction can foster interconnectivity, sustainable growth, and mutually beneficial partnerships, significantly changing the geopolitical and economic landscape. These are not merely words, not only an ambitious vision, but today’s imperative. 

Having said this, we of course know that realization of this vision requires peace and stability.

While the broader Black Sea faces profound challenges, primarily due to the war in Ukraine, with its immense human suffering, the South Caucasus has recently embarked on a journey toward lasting peace. On August 8, 2025, a historic step was taken in Washington, DC, where the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the US signed the already well-known Joint Peace Declaration, and the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan was initialled by the Azerbaijani foreign minister and myself.

Hence, peace has been established, and the three leaders have expressed a strong commitment to enhance it. This lays a strong foundation for closing the chapter of hostility, for opening a new era of good-neighbourly relations based on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders consistent with the UN Charter and the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration.

The path forward is a process that requires patience, care, addressing practical matters and building mutual trust. Armenia engages in good faith towards transforming the space of confrontation into one of constructive engagement and cooperation. 

Dear colleagues,

History teaches us a powerful lesson. The European Union was born from the ashes of war, built on the vision that shared economic interests — first in coal and steel — could make future conflict irrational. 

Being at the crossroads, Armenia can play a crucial role in the chain connecting Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. The unblocking of transport communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as agreed upon on August 8, will foster mutually beneficial transport links — including Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” project and its integral part – the TRIPP route (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) in Armenia, all operating under the full sovereignty, territorial integrity and jurisdiction of states. By strengthening this chain, we can advance mutual trust, interdependence and sustainable growth. As European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen coined it at the EU-Central Asia summit, “opening the borders of Armenia with Azerbaijan and Türkiye will be a game-changer.” 

This is also why we welcome the establishment of the EU Coordination Platform on the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, and Armenia stands ready to be an active and constructive partner in its success, including via involvement of our “Crossroads of Peace” project and TRIPP route in the EU’s Global Gateway. 

Dear colleagues,

​This new era of security and stability in the South Caucasus is underpinned by Armenia’s commitment to further enhancing the country’s resilience, and our partnership with the European Union is central to this endeavor. We have added a robust security dimension to the Armenia-EU bilateral agenda, moving our relationship beyond political and economic cooperation into the realm of strategic partnership.

High-level Political and Security Dialogue, regular Security and Defence Consultations, the EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia, the agreement establishing a framework for Armenia's participation in EU CSDP missions, support through the European Peace Facility, the “Growth and Resilience Plan,” the Strategic Partnership agenda, which is yet to be signed: all these contribute to further strengthening Armenia’s resilience.  

At the same time, like many democracies, today Armenia is confronting a surge in hybrid threats, particularly Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference. 

These are not random acts of disruption. These are targeted, systematic, hostile campaigns designed to achieve specific goals, including undermining our sovereignty and trust in democratic institutions, and sabotaging the aspirations for cooperation and like-minded partnerships. 

Countering this requires robust, trust-based cooperation among states that share a commitment to fundamental principles and norms of international law and democratic way of life.

Dear colleagues,

In this endeavor, you can rely on Armenia as a trustworthy partner.

Thank you.