Pashinyan says route through Azerbaijan opens new trade prospects for Armenia

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the opening of a transport route through Azerbaijan creates major new opportunities for Armenia’s trade with Central Asian countries.

According to Pashinyan, Armenia has so far been unable to fully use some markets within the Eurasian Economic Union in practical terms, despite having formal access to them.

“There are markets in the EAEU that we have not properly entered — not de jure, but de facto. These include Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. They are huge markets, but due to transport restrictions our exports there have been very limited. Now a transport opportunity has opened through Azerbaijan, and this creates a new chance to develop bilateral trade between Armenia and Kazakhstan. The same applies to Kyrgyzstan,” he said.

Pashinyan also noted that the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway creates additional opportunities for Armenia in the direction of the European Union and Türkiye. He added that trade with Türkiye has now been legally formalized.

Commenting on relations with Russia, the Armenian prime minister said Yerevan intends to discuss all outstanding issues calmly and in a bilateral format.

“We will discuss matters with the Russian Federation in a brotherly, friendly and patient manner for as long as necessary, without disputes, without tension, calmly and peacefully,” Pashinyan said.

Asked about a possible increase in gas prices, he noted that long-term agreements are in place and said it was difficult for him to imagine a refusal to fulfil existing commitments. At the same time, he stressed that the Armenian authorities are considering different scenarios and are ready to discuss emerging issues within the framework of the EAEU.