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In 2025, the sum of money to be allocated from the state budget to Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be 17 billion 441 million AMD, which will be from the allocation of the current year by 378 million AMD or 2.2%. The RA Minister of Finance Vahe Hovhannisyan said this at the joint sitting of the NA Standing Committees on Foreign Relations and on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs on October 31, presenting for debate the RA draft budget On State Budget of the Republic of Armenia 2025. “We’ll have 2.4% growth on current costs, - reduction by 15 million AMD on capital expenditures,” the Minister specified. He added that the monetary funds, which were provided to buy a building for the RA Embassy in France, are not included in these sums. The purchase was done with reserve funds.

Afterwards, the Foreign Minister touched upon the works, current activity and programmes done by the Ministry. He spoke about the issue of the regulation of the relations with the regional countries, particularly Azerbaijan. “In 2024, here there was very tangible result, first of all, on the delimitation of the inter-state border, or direction, or in the context. In April, 23 signed a document between the heads of two Committees, Deputy Ministers, and then the rules of procedure of the joint work of the Committees, which has already ratified in the Republic of Armenia, by the National Assembly, their relevant procedure has passed by the Azerbaijani side. In the near future, basically, the sides officially will notify each other on the Rules of Procedure entering into force, after which during the remaining period of 2024, and in 2025, I hope that the delimitation works will continue,” the Minister said, adding that at this moment he does not see anything disturbing us.

Ararat Mirzoyan reflected on the ongoing works over the peace treaty. As the Minister informed, there are about 1-2 formulations on the treaty text, on which the works will continue. “I have to be cautiously optimistic about the fact that in the near future we’ll succeed to reach an agreement also on those 1-2 formulations, after which the treaty will already be ready for signing,” he said and added that the Armenian side considers that the Armenian side considers the assertions regularly voiced by the Azerbaijani side to be groundless that the RA Constitution contains regional certain demand towards the territory of Azerbaijan. “We deem this thesis perfectly groundless. And her, as a very powerful and distinct proof, we have the decision of the Constitutional Court, which recorded that on the basis of the Alma Ata Declaration the delimitation of the borders fully corresponds with the RA Constitution. This comes to dispel all possible concerns,” the Foreign Minister underscored.

According to Ararat Mirzoyan, the other direction is the unblocking of the transport infrastructure of the region, on which steps have been taken.

“We conveyed proposals to the Azerbaijani side, which, basically, at semi-official level haven welcomed. Here also there is certain positive atmosphere, as in the near future we’ll continue the works with the Azerbaijani side. Our principles, in this aspect, are that all the infrastructures, which should be unblocked, should remain under the sovereignty of the countries and operate in accordance with the legislation, through which they pass. Everything should be done on the basis of the principles of reciprocity and equality.

This is reflected in the Crossroads of peace project presented by the Government. I am glad to say that many countries and international partners welcomed the Crossroads of peace,” the Minister said.

Ararat Mirzoyan answered the deputies’ questions.