Yerevan: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed confidence on Monday that Armenia will achieve its goal of normalizing relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

According to Anadolu Agency, Pashinyan made his remarks in a video posted on social media, which was reported by the Armenian state news agency, Armenpress. Pashinyan reiterated Yerevan’s commitment to fully normalizing ties with both neighboring countries. He emphasized that achieving this goal would signify the completion of Armenia’s balanced foreign policy, opening new avenues for the country to enhance its international standing.

Pashinyan highlighted that the lack of diplomatic relations with Ankara has created an imbalance in Armenia’s foreign policy. He stressed the importance of establishing and maintaining ties with all countries, including Turkey and Azerbaijan, as a strategic necessity rather than a choice.

Turkey was among the first nations to recognize Armenia’s independence after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, yet it closed its border and halted diplomatic relations in 1993 following Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region. Relations between Armenia and Turkey began to improve after the Second Karabakh War in 2020, with both nations appointing special envoys to spearhead the normalization process.