French President Emmanuel Macron said Armenia is living through a historic “Armenian moment,” praising the country’s democratic transformation, peace agenda and growing integration with Europe during a keynote address at the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 forum.
Speaking in Yerevan after attending the European Political Community summit and the first-ever Armenia–EU summit, Macron said few could have imagined such developments even several years ago.
“Who could have imagined, eight years ago – even four years ago – gathering in Yerevan for a meeting of the European Political Community with more than 40 heads of state and government, along with an EU–Armenia summit held here?” Macron said. “Very few people.”
According to the French president, Armenia has undergone a profound transformation since the 2020 war and the period of uncertainty that followed.
“What we are witnessing now is this Armenian moment,” Macron stated, describing it as the culmination of a path Armenia opened through democratic reforms, peace efforts and economic development.
Macron praised Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for pursuing peace with Azerbaijan, calling the process “courageous” and “indispensable.” He referenced the diplomatic process stretching from the Prague Summit in 2022 to the Washington peace summit in 2025, which led to the finalization of the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace agreement.
The French leader also pointed to Armenia’s economic performance, noting that the country recorded average growth of around 6 percent over the past eight years, with even stronger figures in recent years.
According to Macron, the combination of peace and prosperity has created a “virtuous cycle” that has accelerated Armenia’s transformation and strengthened its attractiveness to international partners and investors.
He said the decision to hold both the European Political Community summit and the EU–Armenia summit in Yerevan reflected Armenia’s return “to the heart of Europe.”
Macron also expressed hope that the “Armenian moment” could evolve into a broader “Caucasian moment,” leading to peace, regional cooperation and open borders across the South Caucasus.
“The South Caucasus can become a crossroads between Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East,” Macron said, arguing that the region should move beyond the historical logic of imperial rivalries.
The French president called for the full reopening of borders in the region, including between Armenia and Azerbaijan and between Armenia and Turkey, saying this would create “routes of peace rather than conflicts of empire.”
Macron further argued that Armenia’s trajectory demonstrates an alternative model for the region — one based on democracy, sovereignty and peace rather than dependence on outside powers.
He said the experience of the 2020 war showed that Armenia could not rely solely on the “supposedly protective wing” of another power, in an apparent reference to Russia.
“What the Armenian moment demonstrates is that there is another path,” Macron said, describing it as a path of democratic governance, realistic peace and prosperity without imperial domination.
The French president also declared that Armenia has a “European vocation,” emphasizing that Europe represents Armenia’s most natural partner because of shared values rooted in democracy, the rule of law and international cooperation.
Macron emphasized that Armenia’s current trajectory is not only important for the country itself but could also shape the future of the wider South Caucasus and strengthen a broader European vision based on peace, openness and respect for international law.
