A ceremonial welcome for Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan was held at Poland’s Ministry of National Defense on 6 May, with the participation of an honour guard.

According to the Armenian defense ministry, the national anthems of both countries were performed during the ceremony.

Papikyan’s official visit to the Republic of Poland began on 5 May.

Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan received Tristan Aureau, Head of the Centre for Analysis, Planning and Strategy at the French Foreign Ministry, Grigoryan’s office said.

The sides noted with satisfaction that the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Armenia was held at a high level, reflecting the strength of bilateral relations and the centuries-old friendship between the two countries.

The parties emphasized the importance of signing the joint declaration “On establishing strategic partnership between the French Republic and the Republic of Armenia” and expressed confidence that bilateral ties would continue to deepen across all possible areas of cooperation.

During the meeting, the sides also discussed the implementation of previously reached agreements and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing them further.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže discussed the implementation of programmes in the economic and other sectors alongside the developing political dialogue between Armenia and Latvia, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the “Yerevan Dialogue” forum.

The sides discussed agreements reached following the EPC and Armenia-EU summits, as well as efforts aimed at further advancing the Armenia-EU agenda.

The ministers also discussed cooperation on multilateral platforms and exchanged views on regional developments.

Armenia’s Anna Amroyan won gold in the women’s 77 kg event at the World Youth Weightlifting Championships in Egypt.

Armenia’s Anna Amroyan successfully lifted 100 kg, 104 kg and 106 kg in the snatch event. In the clean and jerk, she lifted 128 kg, 132 kg and 134 kg, finishing first in the discipline.

With a total of 240 kg, Amroyan became the World Youth champion.

Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan held a private meeting with Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, followed by expanded-format talks involving delegations from both countries.

The parties expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation, noting that it is being effectively implemented in line with the 2026 bilateral plan signed by the defense ministries of Armenia and Poland.

Military education, exchange of experience and participation in joint exercises were identified as priority areas for further cooperation. The sides also discussed the importance of implementing military-technical cooperation under the agreement signed in February 2026.

The ministers agreed to continue discussions in Yerevan. Papikyan invited Kosiniak-Kamysz to visit Armenia. The sides also agreed to open a defense attaché office at the Armenian Embassy in Warsaw in the near future.

The interlocutors also exchanged views on regional and international security issues.

Armenia’s Ambassador to Poland Alexander Arzumanyan also attended the meeting.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said Armenia is located in a geographically important region and that the more successful the country becomes, the stronger and more successful Europe as a whole will be.

Speaking in an interview with Armenpress on the sidelines of the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 international conference, Braže discussed Armenia-Latvia bilateral ties, prospects for expanding cooperation, as well as the political situation in the South Caucasus and the initialed peace agreement between Yerevan and Baku.

Braže also welcomed Armenia’s European aspirations, saying Latvia stands ready to support Yerevan in carrying out reforms and advancing European integration efforts.

-Ms. Braže, how would you assess the current level of relations and political dialogue between Armenia and Latvia? What key elements would you highlight?

–   I think our relations exist for as long as our peoples have known each other, which is for centuries. However, one of the more significant steps took place in the 1920s, when the most famous poet of that time, Janis Rainis, who is now also considered a brand name of Latvian literature and poetry, was so fascinated by Armenian culture, civilisation, history and language that he spent time here and wrote about Armenia in the very first section of Latvia’s first national encyclopaedia. This, of course, made Armenia better known to many Latvian families in practical terms.

We also have close people-to-people ties. There is a large Armenian community in Latvia, which is highly respected and successful. We also have excellent political relations. This is my first visit here as foreign minister, but I have been here several times before as a student and later on private visits.

You recently hosted the European Political Community summit, which was a major and very successful event. Congratulations on hosting it so successfully. In recent days, you also held a number of bilateral events, including the state visit of the French president, the first Armenia-EU summit, and the signing of the joint declaration, which is highly significant.

It is a new framework both for the EU and for Armenia, including in terms of strengthening democracy and resilience. All this is underpinned by quite substantial financial and economic commitments from the EU side.

It is difficult to predict when Armenia will join the EU, but what matters is the path, the reforms. It was exactly the same approach we had in Latvia when we were joining the EU. We started the process in 1999 and joined the European Union only in 2004.

So it was a long road and many reforms were needed, but as a result we are now safer, more prosperous and happier. People live longer, they are healthier, the environment is cleaner. We are fully integrated with other European countries. Businesses are thriving. It makes a major difference for countries.

That is why so many countries want to join the EU. And that is why we also support Armenia’s commitment. As for when and how you will do it, that depends on you. But we are there to help, support and provide advice whenever necessary.

-How do you assess Armenia’s efforts to deepen relations with the European Union?

-I think this is very positive, also for the EU. The European Union is based on democratic principles, institutional stability, mutual respect and shared values. Armenia is such a country as well, so this is a natural relationship.

We are also pleased to support Armenia. In terms of security, there is an EU mission in Armenia working in border regions, and since its establishment, with participation also from Latvia, it has helped stabilize those areas.

We have also established a new rapid response mission aimed at preventing cyber, information and other types of attacks.

These are mutually beneficial relations. Armenia is located in a very important region. The South Caucasus is extremely important, and Armenia borders Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It is a place of great geopolitical importance. The more successful Armenia is, the more successful Europe will be.

-What impact could the upcoming official visit of Latvia’s president to Armenia have on bilateral relations?

-It is always a direct opportunity for leaders to exchange views and look at deliverables. A joint declaration will be adopted covering specific areas.

There is also interest from businesses in developing relations. Our airline, Air Baltic, will resume direct flights, which will give new meaning to tourism as well as people-to-people and business ties. This is a peak moment in relations between countries.

It is also important to hear and understand Armenian views and the regional situation, and to find ways for cooperation and joint work.

-How does Latvia assess the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process and its significance for the region?

–We assessed it then and continue to assess it now as a very positive step, which makes Armenia safer and more economically stable. It also stabilises the region as a whole.

The joint declaration signed by Armenia’s prime minister and Azerbaijan’s president, and the next steps towards institutionalizing peace that are still to be taken, are steps in the right direction. Once peace is institutionalized, it will be possible to focus on other areas.

Security and defense issues, of course, remain key challenges for all of us.

-How do you see the European Union’s role in stabilising the South Caucasus?

-The EU has excellent relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The first major EU–Armenia summit is a significant achievement.

We also hope that Georgia will return to a reform-oriented agenda. We know that the Georgian people want a European future, but the government has chosen a different path.

These partnerships are very important for the EU. The more prosperous and stable the region is, the more stable Europe will be, and the more mutually beneficial the relationships will become.

There is also significant financial commitment from the EU to Armenia, linked to reforms, including €270 million under the “Resilience and Growth” programme and several other packages that provide practical support.

In this regard, actions speak for themselves.

-Is there anything you would like to add?

–We would like to see more Armenian tourists in Latvia. We would be happy to welcome our Armenian friends to enjoy our beaches, cuisine and warm hospitality.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he held further talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he reaffirmed the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Macron added he had encouraged Iran’s president to look at ⁠the plans by France and Britain to set up an international mission to lay the groundwork for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

“I have invited the Iranian president to take advantage of this opportunity, and I intend to discuss the topic with President Trump,” Macron added on X.

During the ‌call, ⁠Pezeshkian “emphasised that Iran, within the framework of international laws, is prepared to seriously pursue diplomatic paths to end the war, towards the realisation of the rights of ⁠the Iranian people,” Iranian state media reported, according to Reuters.

“The president of our country, referred to Iran’s distrust of the United States ⁠and said this is due to the hostile actions of the American side, which most ⁠recently attacked our country twice during negotiations,” the reports said.

Iran said it was reviewing a U.S. peace proposal that sources said would formally end the war while leaving unresolved the key U.S. demands that Iran suspend its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson cited by Iran’s ‌ISNA news agency said Tehran would convey its response.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believed Iran wanted an agreement.

“They want to make a deal. We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” Reuters quoted Trump as saying at a press briefing in the Oval Office.

Earlier in the day, Trump had sounded more pessimistic about the chances of a deal. In a Truth Social post, he threatened to restart the U.S. bombing campaign in Iran, calling the possibility of Tehran agreeing to the latest U.S. proposal a “big assumption.”

A Pakistani source and another source briefed on the mediation earlier said an agreement was close on a one-page memorandum that would formally end the conflict. 

Prosecutor General of Armenia Anna Vardapetyan held a meeting in Yerevan with President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Tomoko Akane.

According to a readout, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan welcomed President Tomoko Akane and emphasized that this is the first time a sitting President of the International Criminal Court has visited Armenia, which demonstrates the commitment to developing and deepening cooperation between Armenia and the ICC.

On February 1, 2024, Armenia became a member of the International Criminal Court, joining the Rome Statute as the 124th State Party and the 19th state from the Eastern European group.

During the meeting, the parties highlighted the importance of advancing bilateral cooperation and strengthening institutional partnership, particularly in the context of enhancing prosecutors’ capacities in the investigation of international crimes. Among other issues, they also discussed matters related to the collection of evidence in criminal proceedings, as well as the protection of victims and witnesses.

Vardapetyan expressed interest in implementing joint training programs with the International Criminal Court, expanding technical cooperation, and developing mechanisms for the exchange of experience. The importance of a victim-centered approach in criminal proceedings was also emphasized.

Vardapetyan and Akane reaffirmed their readiness to develop effective and transparent mechanisms of cooperation and to continue constructive dialogue.

Armenian Ambassador to the Netherlands Viktor Biyagov, Chef de Cabinet at the Office of the ICC President Hirad Abtahi, and others also participated in the meeting.

Armenian Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan met with a delegation led by Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže to discuss cooperation.

According to the ministry’s readout, Minister Hayrapetyan outlined the Armenian government’s priorities for the development of the high-tech sector.

The two sides discussed access to high-performance computing resources in the field of artificial intelligence, as well as issues related to the development of AI factories.

Key topics of the meeting also included Armenia’s Law on Cybersecurity and its implementation process, as well as opportunities for cooperation in capacity building and the protection of critical infrastructure.

The two sides also discussed the exchange of experience in the development of digital infrastructure, the promotion of the startup ecosystem, the defense industry, and the possibilities of implementing joint programs within the framework of Armenia–European Union cooperation.

They further discussed the organization of mutual visits and the participation of the Armenian side in upcoming events and professional platforms in Latvia, with a view to developing joint programs involving European companies.

At the end of the meeting, both sides emphasized the existing potential for mutually beneficial cooperation and agreed on further steps.