A regular Cabinet meeting took place today, chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

By a government decision, an "overriding public interest" will be recognized with respect to 100% of the shares of "Electric Networks of Armenia" (ENA) CJSC. Addressing the decision, Nikol Pashinyan noted that it was both expected and predictable, as the process had already been announced. "At the same time, we expect the relevant Armenian authorities to concurrently examine the privatization process of ENA and its legality. Furthermore, we do not link these processes to one another, as they neither hinder nor preclude each other. We will proceed along this path. We have reached our next milestone," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister, in particular, noted: “Following the non-violent, velvet, popular revolution of 2018, we made a commitment to the citizens of the Republic of Armenia that we will return to the state any assets that had been stolen, plundered, or illegally alienated from Armenia. During the revolution, we stated, and affirmed, that what was taking place was a revolution of love and solidarity. We declared that there would be no vendettas, and that everyone would have the opportunity to engage with the situation that emerged in Armenia following the revolution. We have remained faithful to this strategy: we provided an opportunity to everyone, for which we have been criticized. Ultimately, the process has reached its conclusion. And please understand this as a political statement. We have determined that all reasonable and unreasonable timeframes for utilizing the available opportunities have been exhausted; consequently, the door and the window are closing. We will introduce legislative amendments to close off the remaining option within the system for the confiscation of illicit assets—namely, the possibility of a settlement (based on a 25%–75% split). From this point forward, our focus will shift to the final phase—recovering assets down to the very last detail and the smallest fraction—especially now that all the necessary legal mechanisms are in place. We are fully committed to this path. Politically speaking, this is an integral part of the process of returning illicit assets, and I consider it highly significant. This process represents a political reality: what was taken from the people is being returned to the people”.

During the Cabinet meeting, Nikol Pashinyan addressed the signing and ratification of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, noting that he considers this his most important upcoming task. "This does not mean that we are abandoning any other agenda; rather, I have set a specific objective for myself—with a clear timeline—to achieve a resolution to this issue by 2031. Naturally, this is also a task for the Government and our political team as a whole; however, as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, I personally consider it of great importance that we resolve this matter by 2031. This is not a new realization, but I also want to emphasize that I see a genuine possibility for this to happen, otherwise, I would not be speaking about it here or there. In the near future, we must remain focused on this agenda, including, I reiterate, the agendas that emerged during the revolution, without in any way relegating our strategic programs to the background. Naturally, this encompasses initiatives like the TRIPP project, the opening of communication links, and economic development; however, it is crucial to emphasize that at the very top of this agenda—at least from my perspective—lies the signing and ratification of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In my view, this will conclude a highly significant chapter in the history of Armenia and the Armenian people as a whole, while simultaneously ushering in a new era defined by fresh agendas and a new logic," the Prime Minister stated.

The Government will allocate an additional 2.35 billion drams to the science sector, to be directed toward two primary objectives: the procurement of scientific equipment and the implementation of scientific research projects funded through grants. Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the significance of this decision, noting that funding for science has tripled since 2018.

Under a Government decision, 2,070,670.9 thousand drams will be allocated from the 2026 budget to the offices of the regional governors of the Republic of Armenia. These funds are intended to fulfill financial obligations to construction firms engaged in the implementation of subvention projects.

During the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister referred to the COP17 conference beginning in Armenia, noting that a great deal of work has been carried out to host this large-scale event. The Head of the Government wished success in hosting and conducting the COP17 conference at an appropriate level.