Armenia views the SCO as an effective platform for dialogue

Over the past two decades since its establishment, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization continues to possess significant potential in jointly ensuring and maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, Anahit Karapetyan, Head of Asia-Pacific Department in Armenia's Foreign Ministry said ,while participating in the discussion “Promoting the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action” organized here at Yerevan State University, in cooperation with the Embassy of PRC to Armenia under its current chairmanship of the Organization. 

On April 16, 2016, a memorandum was signed in Beijing, by which Armenia was granted the status of dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, thus forming the legal basis for fostering cooperation between Armenia and the SCO member states in a wide range of areas, including the fight against terrorism, trade and investment, energy and transport, telecommunications and other sectors. Attaching importance to cooperation with the SCO and wishing to further deepen its involvement within the Organization, back in 2018, Armenia officially submitted an application to transition from the status of a dialogue partner to the status of an observer state in the SCO. 

She added that Armenia views the SCO as an effective platform for dialogue, within which states cooperate with each other, regardless of differences in bilateral relations. Surely, Armenia is committed to moving forward with this path of cooperation. 

“The peak of Armenia’s high-level dialogue with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in recent years was the first ever visit to Armenia of the Secretary General of the Organization back in June 2024, within the framework of which the discussions during the meetings with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Armenia created the prospects for the further deepening Armenia's cooperation with the SCO.

Armenia shares the key approach of establishing good-neighborly relations, including the promotion of mutual trust by reducing tension on border issues, which lay at the basis of the "Shanghai Five" format and consecutively at the core of SCO's activity.

Under the "Shanghai Spirit" principle, fundamental to the SCO, relations between member states are based on mutual benefit and mutual trust, equality, mutual understanding, respect for cultural diversity and a vision of joint development,” she said.

The MFA representative noted that Armenia’s commitment to the core principles of the SCO is vivid in its efforts aimed at normalization of relations with all its neighbors and ensuring lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus Region. 

“Despite the challenges and constant security threats, Armenia remains committed to the peace agenda in the South Caucasus and its implementation. As you all know, Armenia has constructively been engaged in a peace process with its neighbor Azerbaijan. Today, we are closer than ever to signing a peace treaty that will establish formal interstate relations between the sides, based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, and the obligation to refrain from the use or threat of force. Having recorded significant progress in our negotiations, we can emphasize that the Peace Treaty is now agreed upon and ready for signature. 

Trade, economic and logistical components of cooperation are among the main priority areas within the framework of the SCO as well. Historically, Armenia has always been at the crossroads connecting the North to the South and the West to the East, with all the political, economic and cultural implications that come along. Today as well, based on its geographical location, Armenia is ready to serve as a connecting link to restore the important role of the region in North-South and East-West global interactions,” the diplomat added.

“Our vision for strengthening regional ties and connectivity is clearly reflected in the “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, presented by the Prime Minister of Armenia back in 2023, considering it as an important part of the peace agenda. Pleased to emphasize that this initiative has been welcomed by many of our partners. 

The key essence of that project is the development of communications between Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Turkiye and Azerbaijan by means of renovating, building, and operating roads, railways, pipelines, cables, and electricity lines. In the negotiations on unblocking transport infrastructure in the South Caucasus, Armenia is guided by the vision of comprehensiveness, inclusiveness, non-discriminatory use of regional routes, based on the principles of sovereignty, national jurisdiction, reciprocity and equality, thus building a prosperous future for all interested parties in the region and beyond. 

With this project Armenia reaffirms its commitment to contribute its share to the region’s peace and stability. This initiative has the potential to increase trust, build confidence and foster better interaction between the countries of our region,” Karapetyan noted.

She added that the Republic of Armenia attaches great importance to the principles of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability of state borders, non-use of force or threat of force, which lay at the basis of the activities of the SCO. Peace, security and economic development - this is what Armenia is trying to bring to life in our region, and we must note with satisfaction that here our core principles and vision for peace coincide with the key approaches of the SCO. 

“Moreover, the “Crossroads of Peace” project developed by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, with its goals and potential, can be an important component of SCO’s agenda on promoting trade, economic cooperation and transport interconnection within the framework of the Organization. 

The “Crossroads of Peace” is not aimed exclusively at solving trade and logistics issues in the South Caucasus and the nearest neighborhood but has ambitions to unite different regions by integrating into existing and still under development international routes. It has a huge potential to make a serious change in international logistic chains and restore the importance of the region in terms of mobility and international cargo transportation. 

As you can see Armenia has been explicitly acting in conformity with the main principles adhered to by the SCO in terms of promoting good neighborly relations, resolving border issues through dialogue and adhering to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Armenia pursues a balanced and forward-looking foreign policy — one that seeks to maintain peace and stability, expanding economic opportunities for both its neighbors and the wider region and reinforcing our commitment to democratic values,’’ the diplomat concluded.