Kapan Will Receive Honorary Status in 2026: Pashinyan at the CIS Heads of Government Meeting

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS in Sochi. Initially, a photographic ceremony took place, followed by narrow and broad format meetings. During the narrow format meeting, Prime Minister Pashinyan delivered a speech in which he notably stated:

“Esteemed leaders of delegations, dear Sergey Nikolayevich, I am happy to welcome my colleagues at the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS. First of all, I would like to thank our Russian friends and personally Mikhail Vladimirovich for traditionally warm hospitality and for organizing today’s meeting at a high level.

Today’s meeting takes place in the year marking the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the CIS Regulations, and in this context, I would like to emphasize that the Republic of Armenia has consistently acted in line with the goals and principles enshrined in the charter of the CIS since its establishment, advocating for the structured development of mutually beneficial and equal cooperation, as well as for increased effectiveness and practical impact of its activities.

Overall, I positively assess the work done this year within the framework of cooperation aimed at strengthening collaboration from the perspective of consolidating efforts. I would also like to note with satisfaction that the list of documents included in today’s agenda covers a wide range of our countries’ activities, the effective implementation of which is ultimately aimed at further developing mutually beneficial cooperation for the well-being and quality of life improvement of the citizens of CIS member states.

The Republic of Armenia sees the agreement on "Free trade in services, establishment, activity, and implementation of investments" as a significant opportunity to revitalize investment activities in the member countries of the CIS and expresses its readiness for the practical application of the provisions of this Agreement.

One of our important tasks is to create favorable conditions for enhancing industrial cooperation ties between the economic entities of our countries to establish innovative industrial clusters and science-production zones.

The creation of knowledge-intensive new sectors and the modernization of high-tech industrial potential are essential factors for achieving sustainable and innovative economic development, as well as necessary conditions for improving our economies’ competitiveness. In this context, I would like to highlight the importance of adopting a Concept for the Development of Industrial Cooperation and a comprehensive set of measures.

Against the backdrop of rapid advancements in scientific and technological fields, environmental problems are becoming increasingly acute, and the demand for creating effective mechanisms to reduce environmental risks is growing. Therefore, the development of environmentally clean nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is of significant importance in ensuring sustainable development and minimizing negative impacts on the environment.

In this context, the Armenian side supports the signing of an agreement on cooperation in the field of data exchange for radiation situation monitoring, aimed at non-energy purposes, particularly regarding the development of optimized approaches for the use of nuclear technologies in the fields of science, medicine, and agriculture.

Dear colleagues, in contemporary realities, the fight against fraud in telecommunications networks is also timely, and we must undertake joint measures to protect the confidentiality and security of data, including through the application of modern encryption methods, multifunctional identification, and monitoring systems aimed at detecting suspicious activities.

The fight against fraud in telecommunications networks requires an integrated approach that unites telecommunications operators, law enforcement agencies, the state, and users. The signing of an appropriate memorandum will create conditions for the effective functioning and development of the international telecommunications services market, as well as to prevent the spread of fraud in telecommunications networks.

Emphasizing the humanitarian component of cooperation within the CIS framework, I would like to mention that the Armenian government continually supports programs to integrate people with disabilities into various spheres of social life, as well as programs to promote a healthy lifestyle among the younger generation.

The Armenian side welcomes the implementation of the Spartakiad program for children with disabilities from CIS countries, aimed at involving them in an active lifestyle. I particularly want to highlight the implementation of the "CIS Youth Capital" intergovernmental program as an effective tool for providing conditions for the development of youth, supporting their creative potential, and active participation in public life. Such initiatives contribute to the formation of a new generation of leaders capable of addressing the challenges of our time and contributing to the development of our countries. In this regard, I would like to affirm the readiness for Kapan city to receive this honorary status in 2026.

In summary, it is clear that the opportunities of our Cooperation, as a multifunctional platform for interaction, have not yet been fully realized. I am confident that our joint constructive efforts should be directed toward achieving significant progress in utilizing the full potential of cooperation.

Taking this opportunity, I want to reaffirm the Armenian side's unwavering constructive intention to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, within the framework of implementing the priorities of Kyrgyzstan's presidency in the CIS this year. Thank you for your attention.”

Prime Minister Pashinyan also toured the exhibition halls titled "Eurasia: Our Home" with CIS partners, getting acquainted with the production of companies from CIS countries across various sectors.