For decades, Armenia’s security strategy has relied on a single pole, which has created numerous challenges. This was stated today, September 22, by Ruben Rubinyan, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, during his speech at the opening of the 108th “Rose-Roth” seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan.
According to him, the Armenian authorities are currently working on diversifying the country’s security strategy. “The diversification of political, economic, and security relations implies normalizing relations with neighbors and fostering good-neighborly relations and cooperation with all parties,” he noted.
In this context, he addressed the normalization of relations with Turkey, emphasizing that it remains one of Armenia’s foreign policy priorities. “Our dialogue with the Turkish side continues, and we are convinced that this historic opportunity to build good-neighborly relations must not be missed. Normalizing relations will not only bring stability and prosperity to our region but also contribute to strengthening global security, demonstrating that longstanding contradictions can be overcome through dialogue and diplomacy. We hope that Turkey will reciprocate our readiness to establish diplomatic relations and open borders as soon as possible. We are ready for this today,” Rubinyan stressed.
He noted that, within the context of a balanced and balancing foreign policy, Armenia is also making significant efforts in cooperation with the European Union. To this end, on March 26, 2025, the National Assembly adopted a law “On Initiating the Process of the Republic of Armenia’s Accession to the European Union.” “The draft law was introduced to the National Assembly through a civic initiative,” he recalled.
Rubinyan also highlighted recent developments in the South Caucasus, asserting that there is now a historic opportunity to overcome past conflicts and build a peaceful and good-neighborly future. “It is our duty not to lose this opportunity and to turn it into a historic reality of stability and development,” he said.
Rubinyan reminded that on August 30, 2024, the first document between Armenia and Azerbaijan was signed—a regulation on the joint activities of the delimitation commissions, which has undergone the internal ratification procedures required by the legislation of both sides and has entered into force. “The commissions have already delimited and demarcated the first 12-kilometer section of the state border, and we hope that this process will soon continue on other sections of the border,” he stated.
Rubinyan mentioned that in 2023, the Armenian government launched the “Crossroads of Peace” project, aimed at fostering regional connectivity based on the principles of state sovereignty, jurisdiction over infrastructure passing through their territories, equality, and reciprocity. From the perspective of unblocking regional infrastructure, the “Crossroads of Peace” project envisages a significant increase in capacities for cargo transportation, pipelines, power transmission lines, and internet cables through Armenia’s territory, he elaborated. “In the current situation, where countries are seeking new transport and economic opportunities, Armenia and the South Caucasus can become a new transit hub between East and West, North and South,” Rubinyan said.
The Deputy Speaker recalled that at the Washington summit, the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan, with the support and in the presence of the U.S. President, signed a joint declaration on peace. On the same day, the foreign ministers of the two countries pre-signed an agreement “On the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations.” “This was a historic step toward sustainable and long-term peace in our region. I believe that Mr. Muradov’s presence here is further evidence of this, which we naturally welcome. We hope that the agreement will be signed and ratified as soon as possible,” he said.
According to Rubinyan, the declaration emphasizes the need to open communications for the sake of peace, stability, and prosperity. A special place in this process is occupied by the Armenian-American project “Trump’s Ruth to International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP), which will be implemented on Armenia’s territory. “This initiative is more than an infrastructure project. It is a bridge of trust and cooperation, the implementation of which will bring tangible results to the entire region,” he concluded.