Armenian President highlights peace with Azerbaijan at 7th ECAM Council Summit

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan has delivered remarks at the 7th European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East (ECAM) Council Summit in New York.

Below is the full transcript of the president’s speech as published by his office. 

“I would like to thank President Ghribi for the opportunity to participate in the 7th ECAM Council Summit. Armenia places great importance on deepening relations with African countries and strives to develop cooperation with the region in the areas of economy, trade, culture, and education. Despite the geographical distance, we are united by shared goals such as sustainable development, the formation of peaceful and inclusive societies, ensuring access to justice, and many other common goals. 

Although every sector — whether education, environmental protection, healthcare, economy, energy, or agriculture — plays a crucial role in sustainable development, we must acknowledge that in the absence of peace, we cannot speak of progress and prosperity.

Peace is the foundation upon which development is built and society flourishes.

After decades of conflict, Armenia has reshaped its approaches based on the imperative of establishing peace.
Only such a vision can foster growth and development and lift people out of the grip of poverty. It strengthens democracy and gives citizens the power of choice. It empowers freedom, justice, equality, and security.

About a month ago, the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States initialed the Peace and Interstate Relations Agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington and adopted a trilateral declaration on the peace process.
This significant achievement was made possible thanks to the personal involvement of President Trump and the consistent efforts of his administration, marking a potential end to a conflict that has lasted for three decades.

As Africa’s great son Nelson Mandela once said:

“It always seems impossible until it's done.”

Now that the conditions for peace are being shaped, the top priority of Armenia’s leadership is to build a modern, competitive, economically developed, and politically stable state.
Our greatest wealth is an educated, hardworking, and law-abiding society.

I place "being educated" at the top of the list, because I am convinced that education is the key to overcoming poverty and ensuring progress and prosperity.
The words of Nelson Mandela — “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” — best express the value and power of education.

Dear colleagues,

Armenia has been selected to host the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) on Biodiversity, which will take place in Yerevan in October 2026.
I look forward to welcoming you and your countries’ distinguished delegations to Armenia.

Armenia is ready to expand its cooperation with African partners, taking into account our mutual interests and the shared challenges we face in the field of biodiversity.
We also look forward to working with our international partners to help steer global environmental processes back on the right track.

I would also like to reaffirm Armenia’s commitment to raising the concerns of vulnerable regions, promoting inclusive cooperation, and mobilizing international financial resources within the framework of its COP17 presidency.

Allow me to also emphasize that Armenia advocates for and supports the creation of strong international mechanisms aimed at preventing and eliminating crimes against humanity.
We firmly believe that violations of human rights must receive equal and adequate responses in all conflicts.

Today, we are witnessing widespread trends of decline in democratic values, accompanied by relentless attacks on the foundations of democratic institutions.
It is essential that we join efforts to resist such pressures and threats and remain steadfast in upholding the rules and principles we aspire to live by.

Dear friends,

I began my remarks by emphasizing the importance of peace in my region, and I would like to conclude with the same message.

I wish the great African continent — the homeland of talented, determined, and ambitious men and women — lasting and sustainable peace, as a fundamental prerequisite not only for security but also for progress and prosperity.”