Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, in his speech at the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, lauded Azerbaijan’s lifting of the ban on transit shipments to Armenia as a significant development that opens prospects for utilizing the region’s full potential and contributing to the growth of mutual trade.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that diversifying transport and logistics infrastructure in the South Caucasus will significantly boost foreign trade.

“In this context, the recent removal of transit barriers through Azerbaijan to Armenia is particularly significant for us, as it opens up prospects for unlocking the region’s full potential and promoting mutual trade growth,” Grigoryan noted, according to TASS news agency. 

He also stated that, given economic instability and the transformation of global trade, it is important to regularly analyze the EAEU’s external economic activities.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, coordinated monitoring will not only identify emerging imbalances in a timely manner but also develop effective measures to protect the domestic market and local producers.

Grigoryan emphasized the effectiveness of cooperation between the customs services of EAEU member states and the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) in monitoring the declaration of high-tax-potential goods, which directly affects customs valuation and budget revenues.

“It is also important that the harmonization of approaches and rules for applying national risk management systems takes into account the sovereign interests of EAEU member states,” he added.

He described the improvement of cooperation mechanisms in consumer protection—enshrined in the joint action plan of EAEU member states—as promising.

He also noted that implementing the plan will not only become a key tool for managing trust between consumers and businesses—particularly relevant amid the rapid growth of e-commerce—but will also enhance market transparency, increase consumer awareness, and create a level playing field for economic operators.

The meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, a key governing body of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), kicked off in Shymkent, Kazakhstan on March 27. 

Arayik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office of Armenia and head of the steering committee responsible for organizing the 2027 La Francophonie Games, said on Friday that preparations are ongoing and highlighted the responsibility and honor of hosting the renowned event.

“Since joining the International Organization of La Francophonie [OIF], Armenia has consistently played an active role and remained committed to the core values of the Francophonie. In 2024, Armenia was selected to host the 10th International Francophonie Games in 2027. We have already begun preparations for hosting the Games. It is truly a great responsibility and a great honor. Through sport and culture, a unique platform is being created here for dialogue, mutual understanding, and solidarity,” Harutyunyan said at a press conference.

According to him, the Games to be held in Yerevan will have special symbolic significance, as they mark the 10th edition.

“It is also noteworthy that these Games will be held in a country where French is not an official language, which once again highlights the open and inclusive nature of the Francophonie,” he said.

Harutyunyan noted that the opening ceremony will take place at Republic Square in Yerevan, with the aim of making the Games unique—not limiting the ceremony to a stadium, but instead involving the entire city.

The Games, a combination of artistic and sporting events, will be held in Armenia from July 23 to August 1, 2027.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, also speaking at the press briefing, said that hosting the La Francophonie Games is a highly significant event for the country.

“We are on the eve of a very important event that opens up opportunities both for positioning Armenia and for hosting a major sporting and cultural celebration in our country. The best athletes will be represented at the Francophonie Games, while an open competition will be announced for the cultural categories. Overall, we expect to host around 4,000 participants,” Andreasyan said. 

A flood has damaged cars along a street in the town of Kapan in Armenia’s Syunik Province, but no one was injured, according to authorities.

The Rescue Service reported that, due to heavy rainfall, water overflowing from a drain on Grigor Arzumanyan Street in Kapan flowed onto the street and into the Voghji River, causing damage to vehicles and harming farm animals.

Photos released by the Rescue Service showed damaged vehicles.

Multiple first responders are on the scene.

“Dear citizens, we urge you to follow only official information, not to panic, and, if necessary, to contact the Ministry of Emergency Situations’ Operational Management Center by dialing 112,” the Rescue Service said.

Earlier, meteorologists reported that heavy rainfall is forecast in Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Lori, and Tavush on March 27–28, which is expected to cause rising water levels in local rivers. No floods were reported in provinces other than Syunik.

On March 27, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone call with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov.

The Ministers noted with satisfaction the positive developments in further normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to a readout. 

Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov also discussed regional issues and engagements within multilateral platforms.

YEREVAN, 27 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 27 March, USD exchange rate down by 0.18 drams to 377.18 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.02 drams to 434.13 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0483 drams to 4.6285 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.28 drams to 501.65 drams.

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

Gold price down by 1337 drams to 54042 drams. Silver price down by 71.73 drams to 816 drams.

The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan met with French Prime Minister Sébastien Le Corneille in Paris.

Suren Papikyan conveyed the warm greetings of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to the French Prime Minister, the defense ministry said in a press release.

Minister Suren Papikyan presented to Prime Minister Sébastien Le Corneille the successful progress of previously reached agreements and thanked the French government for keeping cooperation in the spotlight.

Issues related to the development and deepening of Armenia-France cooperation in the defence sector were discussed.

The parties, particularly, emphasized the importance of the continuous strengthening of the bilateral strategic partnership and emphasized the need to expand cooperation in the defence sector.

Regular flights on the Kapan–Yerevan–Kapan route will resume on March 31, Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasyan said in a Facebook post.

Regular flights on the Yerevan–Kapan–Yerevan route were initially launched on August 21, 2023. The service was temporarily suspended on September 24, 2025, due to scheduled maintenance of the L-410 aircraft operated by the “NovAir” airline.