European Political Community summit planned with Turkey support

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated during a meeting with representatives of the Armenian community in Turkey that the European Political Community summit, scheduled for 2026 in Yerevan, will be held with Turkey’s support, and he plans to invite President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to attend.

He added that his government has effectively begun relations with Turkey from a zero baseline, as reported by Sputnik Armenia.

“We’ve had contacts between Armenian and Turkish representatives, though not at this intensity, in the early 1990s and 2000s. Since those did not develop further, and despite the lack of diplomatic relations and closed borders, we are now at a kind of neutral zero or starting point. This is about establishing new relations and a fresh agenda,” he emphasized.

According to Pashinyan, something significant—but not immediately visible—has changed recently in relations with Turkey: whereas a few years ago, outside public statements, clarifications between the two sides required third-country mediation, now there is direct communication. That is important for forming specific agendas.

“It’s a good opportunity to present our nuanced positions and ideas to our Turkish partners in full, which will influence further developments and give new impetus to Armenia–Turkey relations,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan made a one-day working visit to Turkey on June 20. The visit’s agenda was not publicized in advance by mutual agreement, as the prime minister noted. In Istanbul, he met with members of the local Armenian community.