After years of ambiguity, hedging, and regional miscalculations, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has delivered what may be one of his most grounded press conferences to date. On July 16, in front of the Armenian and international press, Pashinyan laid bare the evolving contours of his foreign and domestic policy. He appears to understand the structural constraints of Armenian foreign policy given the current circumstances. More importantly, he is aware from his own experience that states suffer consequences if they ignore the changing power dynamics in their neighbourhood. His message was clear: Armenia must come to terms with regional realities or risk further isolation.

This time, unlike the evasive rhetoric of past years, Pashinyan’s words were marked by a striking level of political sobriety. "Yes, in 2022, I recognised the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and that Garabagh is part of it. This decision should have been made much earlier," the Armenian leader admitted—an admission few of his predecessors dared make. The recognition, he added, stemmed from a basic geopolitical logic: “Armenia cannot recognise its territorial integrity without recognising the territorial integrity of its neighbours.”

Indeed, for a country historically trapped in irredentism and romantic nationalism, such realism is commendable. It marks the start, not the end, of a painful but necessary recalibration.

Perhaps the most notable takeaway from the press conference was Pashinyan’s practical stance on the issue of restoring regional transport and communication corridors with Azerbaijan. “We are interested in restoring bilateral trade relations with Azerbaijan, ensuring connectivity from Azerbaijan to the territory of Armenia or to third countries, as well as ensuring Armenia's access to third countries through the territory of Azerbaijan,” he stated.

This goes beyond mere infrastructure—it’s about anchoring Armenia’s economic future in reality. Pashinyan even floated the idea of transferring the management of the route between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan to a private company, comparing it to the already outsourced management of Zvartnots airport. “I do not believe that Armenia's jurisdiction or territorial integrity has been violated in any way here,” he said.

In doing so, he is attempting to take the emotional sting........

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