The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 11 August, USD exchange rate up by 0.19 drams to 366.07 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.58 drams to 422.23 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0137 drams to 4.4217 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.07 drams to 494.08 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 104 drams to 50896 drams. 

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed an order Tuesday dismissing Gevorg Meliksetyan, acting deputy minister of high-tech industry, effective August 17, his office reported.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed an order Tuesday dismissing Acting Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arayik Yesayan, his office reported.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office said.

Pashinyan congratulated Sinkevičius on his appointment as Prime Minister of Lithuania and wished him success in carrying out his responsibilities.

For his part, Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius also congratulated Nikol Pashinyan on his reappointment as Prime Minister of Armenia, expressing confidence that joint efforts would give new impetus to bilateral cooperation in the near future.

The two prime ministers discussed ongoing work aimed at the practical implementation of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Armenia and Lithuania.

Both sides emphasised the importance of expanding and deepening ties across various sectors.

They also discussed issues related to the development of Armenia-European Union relations.

United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has congratulated Ararat Mirzoyan on his reappointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

“I would like to extend to Your Excellency my sincere congratulations and warmest wishes on your reappointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, wishing you good health and happiness, and the government and people of the friendly Republic of Armenia further progress and prosperity,” the UAE foreign minister said.

The Armenian government resigned on August 2, when the first session of the parliament formed following the June 7 parliamentary elections in Armenia began. Under the Constitution of Armenia, the government must submit its resignation to the President of the Republic on the day the first session of the newly elected parliament begins.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the government’s resignation on August 2, and it was submitted to the Office of the President. The President accepted the government’s resignation, after which the Civil Contract party, which secured a majority in the newly formed parliament, nominated Nikol Pashinyan for the post of prime minister. On that basis, the President reappointed Pashinyan as Prime Minister.

On August 3, at the proposal of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan also appointed the ministers and deputy prime ministers. Ararat Mirzoyan was reappointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has congratulated Ararat Mirzoyan on his reappointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

“I look forward to continuing our close cooperation in areas of mutual interest and working together to advance our shared commitment to peace, stability and international partnership,” the Jordanian foreign minister said in his message.

The Armenian government resigned on August 2, when the first session of the parliament formed following the June 7 parliamentary elections in Armenia began. Under the Constitution of Armenia, the government must submit its resignation to the President of the Republic on the day the first session of the newly elected parliament begins.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the government’s resignation on August 2, and it was submitted to the Office of the President. The President accepted the government’s resignation, after which the Civil Contract party, which secured a majority in the newly formed parliament, nominated Nikol Pashinyan for the post of prime minister. On that basis, the President reappointed Pashinyan as Prime Minister.

On August 3, at the proposal of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan also appointed the ministers and deputy prime ministers. Ararat Mirzoyan was reappointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

Vahan Kostanyan, Acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, who is on a working visit to Washington, met with representatives of leading U.S. think tanks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia said in a statement.

During the meeting, Kostanyan presented Armenia’s key foreign policy priorities, addressed prospects for developing the Armenia-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and outlined Armenia’s positions on regional and international developments.

Participants were also briefed on efforts to strengthen peace and stability in the region, particularly the implementation of bilateral and trilateral agreements reached within the framework of the Peace Summit held in Washington on August 8, 2025, including ongoing work to develop regional connectivity and economic cooperation.

The meeting continued with a question-and-answer session, during which a wide range of issues of interest to the participants were discussed.

The 13th Fresco International Inclusive Festival of Modern Art and Spiritual Films will take place in Spitak and Yerevan from August 21 to 28, with the support of Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.

Organized by the Children’s Special Creative Center, the festival has become one of the most anticipated events on Armenia’s cultural calendar. It brings together theater, film, music, photography and creative educational programs, creating a platform for cultural dialogue and new ideas.

The festival will officially open on August 21 at Spitak City Park with “Tiruhiner” (“Queens”), a theatrical dance performance by Vanadzor’s Horovel State Song and Dance Ensemble. The performance was created and directed by Arayik Gevorgyan, while the ensemble is headed by director and artistic director Armen Nersisyan.

“Tiruhiner” portrays five prominent queens from Armenian history — Zaruhi, Satenik, Parandzem, Khosrovanuysh and Keran — highlighting their strength, wisdom and sacrifice, as well as their role in preserving Armenian statehood and national identity. The production combines historical, musical and dance elements to offer a contemporary interpretation of Armenia’s cultural heritage.

According to festival artistic director Anna Karapetyan, Fresco has for 13 years provided a unique meeting place where art addresses universal values, memory, identity and equality. She said this year’s multidisciplinary program is designed to appeal to audiences of different ages and interests while bringing artists and audiences together for dialogue, discovery and cultural cooperation.

Festival organizers said opening the event with “Tiruhiner” was a symbolic choice, emphasizing the strength, dignity and wisdom of Armenian women and their contribution to the development and preservation of national identity, statehood and culture.

The eight-day program will feature concerts, international film screenings and discussions, masterclasses, theatrical performances and creative meetings, offering audiences an opportunity to explore a wide range of contemporary artistic practices.

One of the highlights of this year’s festival will be “A Unique Concert in Total Darkness.” For the first time in Armenia, audiences will be invited to completely give up their sense of sight and experience music through their other senses. Organizers describe the project as a sensory experience that seeks to rethink the boundaries of how music is perceived.

The festival will also host an experience-sharing session with Anna Skočdopolová, a representative of the Czech Republic’s One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival. She will speak on “Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Inclusion: Ethics, Cinema and Cultural Festivals,” focusing on the use of emerging technologies and ethical standards in the cultural sector.

On August 23 in Spitak and August 24 in Yerevan, the festival will host a masterclass by Israeli photographer D. Brikman, as well as a meeting with audiences based on the popular program “Children’s Non-Childish Questions.” The events will bring together photography enthusiasts for professional exchange and skills development. Georgian photographer Yuri Mechitov will also hold a masterclass in Yerevan on August 24.

Spitak will also host a concert program featuring the popular Ethno Colors band.

The festival will screen 30 films from 12 countries, featuring works that address important social issues, humanitarian values and inclusion.

The Fresco International Festival will conclude on August 28 in Vanadzor with “The Dancer,” a performance by the Gyumri Youth Theatre.

The Dalan Fest rock festival held in Armenia’s city of Gyumri could become an annual event, organizers and city officials said, citing strong interest from both local residents and tourists.

During the three-day festival, Gyumri became a center of rock music, with the city’s historic dalans — arched passageways — transformed into open-air concert venues.

The festival, initiated by the Manukyan Company with the support of Armenia’s Tourism Committee, also helped revive a long-standing musical tradition in the city, said Lilit Tovmasyan, head of the Culture and Youth Affairs Department at Gyumri City Hall.

“Judging by the overall picture, we can say that the festival has attracted interest from both locals and tourists,” Tovmasyan told Armenpress.

She said participating bands had cited the influential Armenian rock band Bambir as an important influence on their musical development and welcomed the revival of the tradition of performing under the city’s arches.

According to Tovmasyan, the enthusiasm shown by both older generations and young rock fans provides grounds to make the festival an annual event.

“The organizers will do everything possible for the festival to establish itself in Gyumri and for the meeting of rock fans and rock bands to take place every year,” she said.

The tradition of rock music and gatherings under Gyumri’s arches dates back to the 1970s, when the Bambir rock band would gather with music enthusiasts under the arches to play and sing. The band also has a song titled “Kamari Tak” (“Under the Arch”), which is an invitation to sing together in that setting.

“This is not only about organizing a festival, but also about reviving a tradition. The tradition of singing under the arches established by Bambir is being passed on to a new generation of musicians. Rock music is once again being played under the arched entrances of the city’s buildings, as it was in Leninakan in the 1970s,” Tovmasyan said.

She added that festivals such as Dalan Fest bring music out of concert halls, offer residents and visitors distinctive evenings, provide a platform for young artists and contribute to the development of the city’s cultural environment.

The festival featured performances by the rock bands Kangun, URU, TIEZERK and KOUCHI BLUES.

Organizers said they plan to continue working to make Dalan Fest an annual rock music event in Gyumri.