Press conference with Federal Chancellor Merz and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan
Federal Chancellor Merz received Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Berlin. Both governments want to strengthen their joint relations. Merz praised the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a “sign of hope”.
- Transcript of press conference
- Tuesday, 9 December 2025
Germany and Armenia want to cooperate more closely on multiple levels.
Photo: Federal Government/Henning Schacht
During the visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Federal Chancellor Merz congratulated him on the peace developments achieved in the southern Caucasus. Federal Chancellor Merz said that the understanding reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan sent, “in these troubled times, a positive signal far beyond the region”. Germany will continue to support both sides on their chosen path.
The two heads of government, Mr Pashinyan and Mr Merz, signed a joint declaration PDF, 105 KB, barrier-free aimed at further strengthening relations between Germany and Armenia. Armenia plays a key role on the trade routes between Asia and Europe. “Together, we want to make full use of the potential that lies here,” says Merz.
Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev succeeded in negotiating a peace treaty following the military hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2023. It was signed in the USA in August 2025.
The most important points from the press conference in brief:
- Joint declaration in favour of more intensive cooperation: By signing a joint declaration, Merz and Pashinyan laid the foundation for a further deepening of relations between Germany and Armenia. Germany is currently in the process of opening a Goethe-Institut in Yerevan, the Federal Chancellor explained. There are also co-operations with universities and city partnerships. There is also a lot of potential in learning digital technology and in the area of sustainable economic development – this also applies to the growing interest of German companies in Armenia.
- Strengthening Armenia’s resilience: Russia is not just trying to destabilise Europe; Armenia is also a target with hybrid measures such as disinformation, sabotage and drones. The Federal Chancellor therefore also spoke with Pashinyan about projects in which Germany is contributing to Armenia’s resilience. It goes without saying that Armenia should be supported in becoming “more independent and more broadly based on key issues relating to its sovereignty, prosperity and security,” said the Federal Chancellor.
Read the full press statement here (in German only):