Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan says progress in talks with Azerbaijan is helping the country manage economic and security pressures as regional conflicts and alliances shift.
Speaking at the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece on Wednesday (22 April), he pointed to recent diplomatic steps, including a draft peace agreement and the Washington Declaration, aimed at normalising relations after years of tension between the neighbours.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought intermittently since the late Soviet period, including wars over Nagorno-Garabagh. In recent years, both sides have moved towards a formal peace framework, backed by international mediation.
"Yerevan has come close to signing a peace agreement with Baku. The Washington Peace Declaration signed with Azerbaijan brought real peace to our region. It also increased our ability to deal with the difficulties created by regional conflicts that affect us negatively," Grigoryan said.
Grigoryan said Armenia’s energy market has remained relatively stable despite volatility in global prices.
Fuel costs rose earlier this year but have broadly returned to end-of-last-year levels, he said.
He said the stability was partly due to growing economic cooperation with Azerbaijan, including fuel imports that have supported domestic supply.
Armenia has limited domestic energy resources and has traditionally relied on Russia and Iran for gas, oil products and electricity.
That dependence has left the country exposed to external shocks.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s energy sector has come under greater strain, including from infrastructure strikes and rising domestic demand, which have affected export capacity.
Sanctions and restrictions linked to Iran have added further uncertainty over supply routes and pricing.
Grigoryan said broader geopolitical tensions continue to shape energy markets.
He said developments in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran, have had a direct impact on global oil flows.
He highlighted disruptions such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for a large share of the world’s oil shipments.
Such disruptions can quickly affect fuel prices in smaller, import-dependent economies like Armenia.
According to Grigoryan, closer economic ties with Azerbaijan have helped ease some of these pressures.
Fuel imports linked to this cooperation have supported supply and reduced the impact of global price swings on the domestic market.
This comes as both countries explore broader economic links alongside political negotiations.
Oil prices fell after the U.S. expanded economic sanctions on Iran, as Tehran vowed to retaliate and warned it had tools to respond, raising concer...
Kyiv has recently received a small number of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors capable of downing Russian ballistic miss...
Country music legend Dolly Parton, whose songs, unmistakable style and warmth made her one of America’s most enduring entertainers, has died ...
Oil prices fell after the U.S. expanded economic sanctions on Iran, as Tehran vowed to retaliate and warned it had tools to respond, raising concerns over potential disruption to regional oil supplies.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
A newly created pro-government political party has secured a commanding victory in Kazakhstan's snap parliamentary election, according to exit polls, strengthening President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's influence at a pivotal moment in the country's political transition.
Kyiv has recently received a small number of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors capable of downing Russian ballistic missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. It comes as Britain and France pledged stronger military support for Ukraine.
Türkiye has established four sub-commissions to oversee the implementation of a new legal framework tied to the disarmament of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Central Asia is moving beyond experiments with digital assets as governments begin putting new forms of digital money into practice.
Parents in Gaza are being urged to stop their children flying kites after Israel threatened tougher military action over those drifting across the border.
Armenia is “free” to leave the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said. He made the remarks after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he would be “very pleased” if the Russian-led military alliance expelled Armenia.
Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee has disclosed details of a criminal case involving former President Robert Kocharyan, saying he and five other people - including his son - have been detained as part of a corruption investigation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment