Dozens of settlements in Armenia are currently uninhabited, and the overall level of settlement across the country remains low, according to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
As reported by the Operative Information Center-OMM with reference to Armenian media, the Prime Minister stressed the need for the country to focus on its existing territory. "We must end the search for a homeland outside the internationally recognized territory of our state, which covers 29,743 square kilometers. This area is not too small for development and prosperity. Today, dozens of our settlements are empty, and in general, the level of settlement in our state is low," Pashinyan stated.
The Prime Minister attributed this decline to a historical lack of peace and a failure to understand that national identity and security are fundamentally linked to the state and its internationally recognized borders. He emphasized that the current leadership is guided by the "Real Armenia" ideology, which posits that peace and security are primarily ensured through relations with neighbors based on the recognition of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the inviolability of borders.
Pashinyan also warned against nationalist rhetoric, stating that forces advocating for the "return of lost lands" or the "restoration of historical borders and justice" are pushing Armenia toward a path that could lead to the total loss of statehood. "We managed to escape this trap. Attempts to redirect Armenia in this direction are an invitation to the executioner's block for our state and people," he added.
This shift in political discourse comes as Azerbaijan continues to advocate for regional stability and the formalization of borders based on international law. The "Real Armenia" concept represents an attempt by the current administration in Yerevan to distance itself from decades of territorial claims against neighboring states, including Azerbaijan, which have historically hindered regional integration and economic development in the South Caucasus.
