August 29

Mansur Yavaş, Mayor of Ankara from Turkey’s main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), known for his nationalist stance, has responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement on recognizing the Armenian Genocide. “Netanyahu, who will go down in history as a perpetrator of crimes against humanity through years of occupation, massacre, and oppression against the Palestinian people, targets our country by distorting the events of 1915 — an act that represents the clearest example of hypocrisy, corruption, and shamelessness,” Yavaş wrote in a post on X. According to him, “a person who has massacred thousands of innocent children, women, and civilians in Gaza, used starvation and thirst as weapons, and destroyed hospitals and schools has no right to speak a word about humanity.” “The Turkish nation will never reconcile with the distortion of its history. I strongly condemn Netanyahu’s statements and once again stress that lies cannot wash away the blood of innocent people from his hands,” declared the Ankara mayor, as reported by Factor.am. Earlier, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry had also sharply responded to Netanyahu’s comments, once again rejecting the Armenian Genocide.

August 29

The governments of Armenia and the United States have signed a series of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) in the fields of technology, energy, and infrastructure to deepen cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties. Recognizing their shared interest in innovation, economic progress, and technological advancement — especially in semiconductors — both governments agreed to enhance collaboration under a new framework. According to the agreement: "The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Armenia (hereinafter 'Participants'), recognizing their shared interest in promoting innovation, economic development, and technological progress, and expressing mutual interest in investing in Armenia's semiconductor ecosystem to support commercialization and mutual economic benefit, affirming a joint desire to enhance resilient supply chains for semiconductors, and acknowledging the complementary nature of their efforts and the strategic benefits of closer cooperation, have reached the following understanding." The aim of the MOU is to deepen the U.S.-Armenia strategic partnership by focusing on secure supply chain development, including semiconductor manufacturing and the integrated circuit industry. It also seeks to boost commercialization of artificial intelligence (AI) and assess Armenia’s potential for improved status within the U.S. export control framework. The parties intend to prioritize: Development of Armenia’s semiconductor sector Encouragement of private investments through joint programs Effective knowledge exchange on semiconductors and AI Promotion of collaboration with research institutions for innovation and tech transfer The cooperation covers raising awareness about Armenia’s semiconductor ecosystem in the U.S. private sector, strengthening export control mechanisms, enhancing AI application security, and advancing Armenia’s technological infrastructure. The MOU is set for one year, renewable three times. It clearly states: "This MOU does not create any rights or obligations under domestic or international law. The Participants acknowledge that it does not entail any funding commitments..." A second MOU focuses on expanding cooperation in energy security. "The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Armenia (hereinafter 'Participants'), expressing mutual interest in investing in Armenia’s energy sector to promote diversification, security, resilience, and modernization, and affirming a shared desire to expand civilian nuclear cooperation..." The agreement outlines goals to align Armenia’s energy market with international standards, advance a low-carbon economy, and build workforce capabilities. It also includes cooperation on small modular reactor technology transfer, energy storage facility development, and modernization of power grids. Cybersecurity of energy infrastructure is also highlighted as a priority. The document has a one-year term and will be monitored through ongoing consultations. Each side covers its own expenses. The third MOU addresses the Crossroads of Peace project aimed at strengthening Armenia’s infrastructure and border security. "The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Armenia (hereinafter 'Participants'), emphasizing unwavering support for Armenia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of its internationally recognized borders, and expressing mutual interest in investing in the ‘Crossroads of Peace’ initiative..." The MOU outlines enhanced support for border protection, customs capacity, and cybersecurity, as well as promotion of private investment to advance infrastructure development. The partnership includes training programs and resource sharing to build Armenia’s institutional capabilities. Each of the MOUs explicitly states that no legal obligations or formal partnerships are established, and the parties retain their full sovereign powers while operating independently.

August 29

A number of agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as between Azerbaijan and the United States, have shaped a rather promising situation for the entire region. This was stated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in an interview with TGRT Haber. He said that prior to talks in Washington, the Azerbaijani side held consultations with Turkey, discussing the details of the meeting and the agreements. Fidan emphasized that Turkey's position on the so-called "Zangezur corridor" is based on mutual trust, and noted that Ankara maintains close cooperation with Baku on this issue. "Currently, there is nothing concrete about the Zangezur corridor. The parties will discuss what will happen and how the situation will develop. Our position is based on trust. We trust our Azerbaijani brothers," the minister said. He also spoke positively about Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s stance on this issue.

August 29

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will pay a working visit to China from August 30 to September 3, accompanied by his wife Anna Hakobyan. During the visit, the Prime Minister will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the SCO+ format, as well as in various related events. The trip will include several high-level meetings, including talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vice President Han Zheng. The Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with representatives from other foreign states. On September 4, Pashinyan will begin a two-day official working visit to Japan. In Tokyo, a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is scheduled. On September 5, the Prime Minister will attend an event in Osaka dedicated to Armenia’s National Day, held within the framework of Expo 2025.

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