Armenia’s Elmira Karapetyan claimed gold in the 10m Air Pistol Women final at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol in Cairo, Egypt, on 14 October, finishing with 242.4 points after a final that included a dramatic three-way shoot-off, the ISSF reported.

Karapetyan held off Bulgaria’s Miroslava Mincheva, who took silver with 240.2 points, while France’s Camille Jedrzejewski secured bronze with 219.3 points. Karapetyan also topped the qualification round with 582 points and 23 inner tens. China’s Zhang Qi matched her score but finished second with 19 inner tens.

This is Karapetyan’s second gold medal at an international competition. In 2025, she won gold at the Polish Open Kaliber international competition.

Benik Khlghatyan, Gevorg Melkonyan, and Armen Gevorgyan are also competing in the tournament as members of Armenia’s national team.

Karapetyan’s gold is Armenia’s first medal at the 2026 championship.

The Armenian government is expected to adopt a decision in the coming days recognizing the 100% shareholding of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) as being of overriding public interest.

Romanos Petrosyan, the government-appointed interim administrator of Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC, announced the planned measure on social media.

In 2025, the Armenian government enacted emergency legislation to take over the management of ENA, which is owned by Samvel Karapetyan’s Tashir Group, citing alleged mismanagement by the power distributor. It later announced plans to nationalize the company through eminent domain.

Petrosyan said he had visited an ENA branch to review ongoing work.

“I visited ENA’s Musaler branch and Armavir electric network, which serve Armavir and Aragatsotn provinces. During a working meeting, I introduced Arthur Sardaryan, the new head of the Musaler branch, to the staff. We discussed the progress of ongoing investment programs, existing problems, and efforts to address them. We also outlined upcoming tasks and priorities. During the past year of interim management, work has been carried out in Armavir Province to modernize the distribution network and improve its reliability. In particular, the following have been replaced: 841 reinforced concrete utility poles, 39 power transformers, 101 km of overhead lines, 2.7 km of cable lines, and more than 17,000 electronic meters. Listening to citizens’ concerns, responding promptly to them, and improving the quality of services provided are among our priorities. Regarding the process of nationalizing ENA, the next step will be the adoption of a decision by the Government of Armenia recognizing the company’s 100% shareholding as being of overriding public interest. This is expected to take place in the coming days,” Petrosyan said in a Facebook post.

The boldest ideas become reality when they are backed by a clearly defined goal and hard work. Sometimes, forging your own path begins with trusting your instincts.

For Artashes Stepanyan, founder and director of the X-Drive driving school network, hard work is the secret of success, people are his source of inspiration, and helping others is his mission in life. Fairness underpins his work. He cannot imagine business without innovation and loves his work because he built it through his own efforts.

For him, a car is more than a means of transport: it represents independence and freedom. Perhaps that feeling has driven him for years to set new goals, bring ideas to life and inspire others. We spoke to Stepanyan about his dream car, motorsport, the creation and development of X-Drive, and his plans for the future.

Who is Artashes Stepanyan? Tell us a little about your roots, family and childhood memories.

My roots are in Tavush, in the village of Gandzakar in Ijevan. My warmest childhood memories are connected with Tavush: its indescribable natural beauty, forests, rivers, mountains and, of course, its people. I attended school in Ijevan until the fourth grade, after which my family moved to Yerevan, where I continued my education.

Education was always important in our family, so I was among the best pupils at school. My parents envisaged a clear path for me: my father was a lawyer and my mother a mathematician, and I was presumably expected to choose one of those fields. Although I initially chose law, I eventually realised that working within an institutional system was not for me and began looking for my own path.

How did your driving skills help you during military service?

My grandfather taught me to drive, and years later those skills proved useful during my military service. In my second year, while we were at the positions, the battalion commander’s UAZ 469 encountered an obstacle on a difficult road. The driver could not manoeuvre the vehicle, so I decided to tackle the obstacle myself. I took the wheel and got the vehicle out of the situation. Afterwards, the commander appointed me as his driver at the positions.

For the rest of my service, I drove the UAZ 469 along all kinds of difficult roads, in snow and rain. I still have a special affection for that vehicle. It is fantastic.

At the time, there was also a state programme for young people approaching conscription age. If they learnt to drive and obtained a driving licence before being called up, they could serve as drivers in the army. Today, X-Drive runs that programme, equipping young people with the necessary knowledge and skills.

How did your career develop before you founded X-Drive, and what were you doing during those years?

After military service, I began working and studying at the same time. My first job was on my uncle’s farm, where I bred turkeys. Later, I worked at a shopping centre, became involved in commercial activities and established my own businesses, including a construction company specialising in energy infrastructure, particularly gas pipelines.

How did you buy your first car?

My dream car was a VAZ 21099, but I eventually bought a more modern version, the VAZ 21015.

Buying my first car was a spontaneous decision. My friends and I often talked about buying one. One day, we saw an advertisement on television, called the owner and agreed to buy the car. There was just one problem: we had no money (laughs—Ed.).

The next day, the car was in front of us. We had promised to buy it, but did not even have part of the money. We had heard about buying in instalments but did not know how it worked. At the bank, they told us they had such a scheme but had not launched it yet. That is how I became their first customer. The process was so complicated that I did not take out my next loan until about 20 years later (laughs—Ed.).

After buying the car, I constantly looked for reasons to drive, just to keep the engine running. I had a car, and it felt as though life had worked out.

How did a Jeep Wrangler go from being your dream car to the starting point for founding the 4×4 Off-road Club?

My interest in cars kept growing. Next, I bought a Mercedes E-Class, but I still thought about the Jeep Wrangler parked in its usual spot on Abovyan Street. For years, I would change my route to see it, walk further and sometimes even skip classes.

Ten years later, when I saw that same car for sale, I bought it without hesitation. It was uncomfortable, and spare parts and fuel were expensive, but it was my childhood dream.

Following the advice of people around me, I eventually sold it and bought a more upmarket car, a Mercedes-Benz CL500 (W140). But later I bought my old car back. It became one of my favourites and the beginning of a new journey.

Wranglers regularly needed repairs, and there were few specialists in Armenia who could work on them. Those of us who owned Wranglers therefore met at the same garage, where we got to know one another and became friends.

One day, after watching a programme about an off-road competition, I decided to bring those people together. I suggested starting a club to Boris, a vehicle service specialist who later became the club’s co-founder and a good friend of mine. We began contacting his customers who owned Wranglers and inviting them to join our initiative. That is how a group of friends founded the 4×4 Off-road Club in March 2009.

On 5 March, we set off for Mount Ara in around 10 off-road vehicles. We returned covered in mud from head to toe, but incredibly impressed and happy. By 24 April, we had organised a candle-lighting convoy of around 50 off-road vehicles to churches in Tavush. Despite the snow and rain, we negotiated the difficult route and reached Makaravank and Goshavank.

Did the 4×4 Off-road Club operate only in Armenia, or also abroad?

We took part in our first major competition in Georgia, followed by events in Iran, Russia and Türkiye. The journey to Trabzon was particularly memorable: we travelled 1,500 km to get there.

There was nothing unnecessary inside the vehicles: no carpets, no stereo, no air conditioning. They had been adapted to overcome obstacles, rather than travel comfortably along long stretches of tarmac. Smoke filled the cabins, and the heat from the engines literally melted our shoes (laughs—Ed.).

We reached Trabzon in the rain with open roofs, while teams from neighbouring countries travelled in comfortable minivans and transported their competition vehicles on recovery trucks. Through these experiences, we learnt the details of organising and running competitions.

I also applied the experience I gained at international competitions in Armenia. In 2013, as president of the Extreme Sports Federation, I organised the international Motul Low Range race in Ijevan, with more than 50 vehicles taking part. I personally managed all the organisational work, from designing the routes to running the race. The initiative continued for the following two years.

After the race’s success, I was invited to France to learn about the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the most prestigious events in motorsport. There, I understood the true scale of motorsport for the first time: enormous infrastructure and an airport within the circuit grounds. It was like a city within a city.

Later, at the Paul Ricard circuit in southern France, I had the opportunity to drive an Aston Martin DB9 racing car. When representatives of world-famous brands congratulated me and presented me with gifts, I realised I had achieved good results. It was truly impressive.

Years later, in 2019, we obtained a licence to hold the internationally significant Rainforest Challenge, an exceptional right in the history of independent Armenia. We organised the event in Tavush, in my ancestral village of Gandzakar, with the direct participation of RFC founder Luis Wee. It became one of the significant events in Armenian motorsport.

Let us talk about your work in the public sector.

My work in the public sector began in 2017. From 2017 to 2019, I was an adviser to Armenia’s Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs on technical sports. I subsequently served as an adviser to the Defence Minister, specialising in driver education and military equipment, and also taught at the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Educational Complex. As you can see, everything was connected with vehicles again.

How was X-Drive created? What principles underpinned its development, and how did you begin putting them into practice?

The name X-Drive is connected with the xDrive system used in all-wheel-drive vehicles. The company was founded on the idea of establishing a new kind of driving school in Armenia.

Our aim was to teach people to drive and help them obtain a driving licence, while also giving them the fundamental knowledge and practical skills needed to travel safely, control a vehicle in extreme conditions and respond correctly in emergencies.

Educational quality and safety are the main principles of our work. Guided by them, we chose Mini Cooper vehicles for teaching, although financially they were not the most economical option.

Building an experienced and well-trained team was also important. I brought in friends involved in motorsport, with whom I had negotiated many racing circuits, former members of the State Traffic Inspectorate’s special-purpose company, and specialists we had trained ourselves.

Our professional experience and the confidence gained through motorsport soon produced the first results. We received our first major order from Lydian Armenia and trained around 160 employees working on the Amulsar road. At the same time, we began organising the Ijevan motor races under the X-Drive name.

Driver training for young people awaiting conscription also became an important part of our work, which we approached with great responsibility. After the war, we began cooperating with the Defence Ministry in this area. During those days, our entire team worked day and night to provide the training needed for conscription.

We are pleased to have contributed to this important work. Our cooperation with the Defence Ministry continues to this day.

Today, X-Drive is one of Armenia’s largest driving schools.

What does X-Drive mean to you today, and what is its greatest achievement?

For me, X-Drive is more than a business. It is about helping people and developing a driving culture. It represents 11 years of work.

My friends and I started almost from nothing. Initially, we had no resources and did much of the work ourselves. Today, it is an established business and an organisation making a professional contribution to road safety.

For me, the greatest achievement is that the state now recognises X-Drive’s professional expertise and involves us in discussions when initiating various changes. We try to propose models that take account of the interests of the state, businesses and citizens. Ultimately, our shared goal is road safety.

What is X-Drive’s competitive advantage?

X-Drive’s main advantage is our team’s professional training. Our instructors and trainers use a method I developed, based on teaching safe driving.

Other advantages include the quality of our service, one of Armenia’s newest vehicle fleets and our accident-avoidance driving courses. We also train qualified specialists ourselves under a programme approved by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport.

The trust of major organisations is another important recognition of the quality of our work. Our partners include the UN office, ContourGlobal Hydro Cascade, the Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine, Pernod Ricard, the Red Cross and many international companies.

What are X-Drive’s upcoming plans, and how do you envisage the company’s development over the next 10 years?

Investment in X-Drive is continuous. We buy new vehicles almost every month because the fleet needs constant renewal.

In the near future, I would like to use my experience to help the state establish appropriate licensing standards for the sector, supporting its development and the provision of quality services. Looking 10 years ahead, I see X-Drive as an international brand in Europe, the CIS countries and the United States.

The greatest inspiration is the journey, with its twists and victories. When I see how an idea born years ago now guarantees the safety of thousands of people, I realise we are on the right path. This is only the beginning: greater horizons lie ahead.

A delegation led by Brigadier General Thakur Mayank Sinha, Commandant of India’s College of Defence Management, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan.

According to the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Brigadier General Thakur Mayank Sinha laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Memorial.

The delegation members then laid flowers at the Eternal Flame in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The delegation members toured the Armenian Genocide museum, viewing its permanent and temporary exhibitions.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 14 October, USD exchange rate down by 0.3 drams to 361.43 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.27 drams to 404.4 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0206 drams to 4.302 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.32 drams to 479.36 drams.

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

Gold price down by 68 drams to 48451 drams. 

Preventing violent deaths, suicides, self-harm and ill-treatment in the armed forces requires systemic reforms, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan said at an expanded meeting of the Expert Council on the Protection of Servicemembers’ Rights held on October 14 at the initiative of the Human Rights Defender’s Office and in cooperation with the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF).

In her remarks, Manasyan emphasized that, despite the work carried out, problems requiring urgent solutions remain in the field of protecting servicemembers’ rights, her office said in a press release.

Manasyan noted that every death of a servicemember is a matter of serious concern. Preventing such cases, she said, requires continuous and systematic work, the implementation of effective preventive mechanisms, and consistent efforts by the competent state bodies.

“Issues related to preventing violent deaths, suicides, self-harm and ill-treatment in the armed forces require systemic reforms,” she said.

The Human Rights Defender emphasized that eliminating non-statutory relations in the armed forces is an urgent necessity. Steps in this direction should be conceptual in nature and include specific prevention mechanisms.

Manasyan also stressed the importance of proper, comprehensive and objective investigations into criminal proceedings concerning relevant cases and of holding those responsible accountable.

The meeting discussed the main risk factors for deaths in non-combat circumstances, suicides, self-harm, violence and ill-treatment, as well as opportunities to prevent them.

The meeting addressed the development of a healthy moral and psychological environment in the armed forces, improvements in organizational and leadership culture, the protection of mental health, and the provision of psychological support. The participants also discussed the effectiveness of mechanisms for the early identification of problems and an appropriate response to them.

Particular attention was paid to cooperation among state bodies, the role of independent oversight bodies, and international experience.

Manasyan stressed the importance of continued cooperation with state bodies, international partners, civil society, human rights defenders and independent experts to identify problems and develop measures to address them. She emphasized that the protection of human rights in the armed forces remains a matter of her direct attention.

Speakers included representatives of the Human Rights Defender’s Office Aram Minasyan and Andranik Yeghoyan; Aram Torosyan, spokesperson for the Minister of Defense; Artur Adamyan, acting head of the Ministry of Defense’s Morale and Psychological Support Department; military expert Grigor Sahakyan; and human rights defenders Siranush Sahakyan and Ara Gharagyozyan.

Other speakers included Joanna Harvey, a military mental health specialist from the United Kingdom; Eka Chkonia, a mental health and suicide prevention expert from Georgia; Emmanuel Jacob, president of EUROMIL; Luka Glušac, a senior research fellow at the University of Belgrade; and other experts.

The meeting was attended by representatives of state bodies, international organizations and civil society, members of the Expert Council, and Armenian and international specialists.

A concert marking the 75th anniversary of the birth of the late Gegham Grigoryan, the celebrated tenor and legend of world opera, will bring a constellation of stars together on one stage.

The concert will take place on 16 October at the Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet. Performers will include world-renowned tenor Plácido Domingo, Grigoryan’s daughter, the acclaimed singer Asmik Grigorian, Barsegh Tumanyan, Hovhannes Ayvazyan, Liparit Avetisyan, Evgeny Nikitin, Tatiana Pavlovskaya, Irena Milkevičiūtė and others.

Grigoryan’s eldest son, conductor Vardan Grigoryan, will lead the concert.

On 14 October, journalists met the guests, organisers and members of Grigoryan’s family to discuss the forthcoming evening and their memories of the singer.

Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan stressed the importance of properly marking anniversaries that recognise the contributions of distinguished artists and the cultural values that guide progress.

“It is important that Gegham Grigoryan’s 75th anniversary is being marked at the opera theatre with an event like this, particularly at a time when Yerevan is becoming a global capital, welcoming many guests arriving in our country for COP17. This wonderful concert dedicated to Gegham Grigoryan also makes our capital a centre of world classical music,” the minister said.

Andreasyan said Yerevan’s opera theatre had flourished in recent years. The forthcoming appearance of distinguished artists on its stage was therefore no coincidence, she said, but evidence that the Armenian government’s cultural policy was producing excellent results.

The minister gave Domingo a special welcome, saying they were always pleased to see him in Armenia.

Domingo said this was his second visit to Armenia. He had been greatly impressed by the audience during his first visit and had enjoyed his time in the country. He admitted that he had been in Yerevan for only four hours and was a little tired, but would be fully ready for the concert.

Gegham Grigoryan and Plácido Domingo shared creative collaborations, a longstanding friendship and mutual respect. Their collaboration forms a significant chapter in international opera history. Domingo conducted Verdi’s Aida, in which Grigoryan sang the role of Radamès.

“Gegham Grigoryan was a great singer. I remember his performances at Covent Garden, La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera and the Mariinsky Theatre,” Domingo said.

Asmik Grigorian is one of today’s best-known opera singers. She has performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan, the Vienna State Opera, London’s Royal Opera, the Paris Opera and the Salzburg Festival.

She is a recipient of an International Opera Award and an Opus Klassik award, and has twice been named Singer of the Year by Opernwelt magazine.

“My father was like a sunrise to me. He was a radiant person. I have Armenian and Lithuanian blood. The Armenian part is the warmth. He taught us to live life to the full every day. He told me that singing was important, as was fame; doing what you love was important, as was a career. But the most important thing was to remain a human being. He was a wonderful person, and that is probably why he is so loved,” Grigorian said.

Conductor Vardan Grigoryan said he had, unfortunately, not had many opportunities for professional discussions with his father. However, his father had taught him to understand singers readily and appreciate their nature.

The opera theatre’s director, Karen Durgaryan, described Vardan Grigoryan as a highly independent artist who was forging his own path. He said Gegham Grigoryan would have told his son that he was on the right path and would have been proud of his achievements.

Gegham Grigoryan’s younger son, Tigran Grigoryan, who will also sing at the concert, attended the meeting. He recalled that his father had led Yerevan’s opera theatre during his childhood and had often taken him there instead of to nursery.

“I can say that I grew up in this building. I remember the rehearsals and the joyful atmosphere. When we entered the theatre, I noticed that people sensed Gegham Grigoryan was a great maestro. That brought joy and cheerfulness to everyone. My father wanted to give a great deal to the theatre and develop it. He was very devoted,” Tigran said.

Before the meeting ended, Karen Durgaryan thanked Domingo for coming to Armenia and presented him with a commemorative medal. He presented another commemorative medal to Asmik Grigorian, emphasising that she was always there for the theatre.

Armenian weightlifters continue to perform successfully at the European Junior and Under-23 Championships.

According to the Armenian Weightlifting Federation’s press service, national team member Aleksandra Grigoryan won gold in the women’s 57 kg category at the championships taking place in Albania.

Grigoryan lifted 85 kg and 90 kg in the snatch, winning gold in the discipline. She also finished first in the clean and jerk, lifting 106 kg, 109 kg and 112 kg.

With a combined total of 202 kg, Grigoryan has once again won gold at the European Championships.

Lusine Badalyan, an MP from the Armenian National Assembly’s Civil Contract faction and chair of its Standing Committee on Health Care, has been denied entry to Russia, where she was due to attend a regular meeting of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly’s Standing Commission on Social Policy and Human Rights on 15 October.

Badalyan announced this in a post on her Facebook page.

“Today, 14 October, I planned to travel to St Petersburg to attend tomorrow’s regular meeting of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly’s Standing Commission on Social Policy and Human Rights.

“As a member of the Armenian National Assembly’s delegation to the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, I was due to take part in the meeting, which has 16 items on its agenda.

“However, I was denied entry to the Russian Federation on the grounds that I was banned from entering the country. The reason is unknown.

“It is a strange and concerning situation when a member of a national parliamentary delegation is not allowed to travel to the headquarters of an international parliamentary organisation to perform their official duties and participate in the commission’s work,” the post said.

The findings of a research study entitled “Prospects for Armenia’s Economic and Institutional Engagement in Different Economic Systems” were presented and analysed at a discussion organised by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Economic Journalists’ Club on 14 October.

Speakers examined the development of Armenia’s economy and its main trends since the country joined the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the current situation and future prospects.

Jakob Wöllenstein, head of the regional programme “Political Dialogue South Caucasus”, drew parallels between the current situation in Armenia’s economy and economic developments in Belarus around seven years ago.

“Armenia has various economic dependencies. These are not necessarily negative in themselves. However, two important warnings arising from my previous experience should be taken into account. First, if the system on which a country depends enters a crisis or collapses, the consequences can have a knock-on effect on the dependent country. Second, economic interdependence can become an instrument of political pressure,” he said.

How can Armenia diversify its ties across different economic environments? Answering his own question, Wöllenstein said:

“I think one of the main conclusions is that Armenia can strengthen its position by diversifying its economic partnerships. When we examine the politicisation of membership of the Eurasian Economic Union, we see that economic instruments can be used to exert political pressure. Energy prices, for example, can become a means of pressure, while membership itself can serve as a lever of political influence. Armenia is therefore right to consider diversifying its economic ties.”

Wöllenstein also noted that closer relations or integration with the European Union had their own characteristics and conditions: economic cooperation could also entail the risk of sanctions.

“The European Union also has experience of using economic dependencies and trade relations as instruments of sanctions. The difference is that EU sanctions are generally linked to violations of democratic standards, a state’s conduct in matters of peace and war, or a failure to fulfil its commitments. In other words, when a country faces EU economic sanctions, there are usually specific grounds for them.

“The same applies to product quality. We often hear claims that a particular product no longer meets requirements. If, for example, the European Union suddenly announces that a product, including water, no longer meets the established standards, it is worth checking whether there is a genuine problem. Diversifying economic dependencies while recognising that every alliance has its own conditions and limitations is therefore a sensible approach,” he said.

Sos Khachikyan, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics and Statistics at the Armenian State University of Economics, then presented the study’s findings. He said the research had examined the main directions of economic relations and the opportunities that could arise under different forms of economic integration.

“Armenia’s opportunities for economic integration with the European Union remain limited in some sectors. At the same time, the energy sector is particularly significant because it involves substantial resources and volumes of imports and exports.

“Armenia’s economic relations with its various partners are not equally developed. In some areas, dependency is considerable, while economic ties are limited and not particularly stable. These trends must also be taken into account when developing economic policy for the coming years,” he said.

Khachikyan said particular attention should be paid to the structure of the energy market. According to him, some indicators presented in the research showed that, for certain products or markets, dependence on a single source could reach 92% or even higher.

“This means that these markets are not sufficiently diversified. Such a situation can have serious consequences for economic security, industry and the country’s overall development,” he said.

Discussing recent changes in petrol and diesel prices and supplies in Armenia, Khachikyan said the situation could have been much more difficult without opportunities to import from other countries, including Romania, Bulgaria and Egypt. This demonstrated that alternative import routes and partners could reduce the impact of external shocks.

In Khachikyan’s assessment, diversifying the natural gas market was a much more complicated challenge, with fewer alternative options.

The study also examined the possibility of replacing gas with electricity. It was noted that, although using electricity could be more expensive than gas in some cases, it could provide an alternative in the event of supply disruptions.

The discussion highlighted that options for avoiding disruptions to energy markets and supply restrictions were more limited in the case of natural gas. Gas import sources could not be changed through a political decision alone: the necessary infrastructure was also required.

In particular, implementing the option of importing gas from Iran required both suitable infrastructure and the resolution of several technical and contractual issues.

Khachikyan also identified limited transport and logistics infrastructure as a significant obstacle to expanding economic ties with the European Union. He said Armenia currently lacked sufficient capacity to establish large-scale supply chains with the EU because of its infrastructure, geographical position and the accessibility of its borders. He believed the situation could change substantially with the opening of the Armenia–Türkiye border, creating shorter and more efficient transport links.

The importance of the financial system in economic integration was also highlighted. It was noted that developing Armenia’s financial system and bringing it into line with international requirements could support cooperation with European markets.

During the panel discussion that followed the presentation, Khachikyan, Head of the Investment Council of Armenia’s office Hovsep Patvakanyan, Economic Development Centre co-founder Gagik Makaryan, and Karen Azaryan, an expert in EU trade policy, economic cooperation and political dialogue, examined aspects of the subject in greater detail and answered questions from several participants.