Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan today held a press briefing following his speech at the Comprehensive Security & Resilience 2026 International Conference in Yerevan.

The primary highlights from his speech and media interactions include:

Moving Away from "Ping-Pong" Peace Talks: Pashinyan announced that peace negotiations with Azerbaijan successfully advanced only when both nations abandoned a policy of mechanical reciprocity. He noted that trying to match the other side step-for-step—which he compared to a game of "ping-pong"—had reached its limit in improving the text of the treaty. The breakthrough came by adopting a different diplomatic logic to break the deadlock.

Security Threats and "Western Azerbaijan" Rhetoric: He labeled the "Western Azerbaijan" narrative being pushed by Baku as a severe security challenge and a direct threat to Armenia's territorial integrity and regional peace. Simultaneously, he cautioned against domestic political narratives within Armenia that advocate for military buildup to "liberate" lost territories, stating that peace must be actively nurtured and protected.

CSTO Deficiencies: He labeled Armenia’s pre-2022 security model centered on the Moscow-backed Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as "primitive" and a failure. 

Russian Military Base: He clarified that while Armenia does not strictly "need" the Russian 102nd Military Base in Gyumri, his administration has never officially initiated discussions regarding its withdrawal.

International Legitimacy & Arms Markets: He emphasized that aligning foreign policy with internationally recognized legal frameworks has successfully opened global arms markets for Armenia.