March: 29, 2026
168TVof “The Rendezvous” the guest of the show DJ SMOKEis
“We are a nation of dead people, we mourn for 5 days, then we’re done!” says Smoke, talking about not appreciating and devaluing artists during their lifetime.
The DJ has a suggestion for those artists working in the industry who perform low-quality work and justify it with the phrase “we earn daily bread”.
“Come, I’ll give you 365,000 lei, money for daily bread, but don’t do this business. You guys are severing the brains of an entire generation for your pennies, don’t do it.”
In the course of the program, we also touched upon the award ceremonies held nowadays, the gaps in the field and the aspirations of the youth.
Մանրամասները՝ in the video.
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Agriculture as a factor of national security. “Offer to Armenia”
Agriculture not only feeds our people, but is one of the most important factors of our country’s national security. In today’s changeable and unpredictable world, no country can have a future without a stable, thoughtful agricultural strategy and developing agricultural production, this is presented on the “Offer to Armenia” Facebook page.
“The climatic conditions of Armenia allow to have and develop stable and multi-branch agriculture, and the state policy in this field should be one of our main priorities.
Gagik Tsarukyan
State policy in the field of agriculture of RA
1. Reopen the Ministry of Agriculture
2. To make the village not a source of survival, but a source of prosperous living and earning income. The work and activities of the peasant must be profitable.
3. To significantly improve the quality of rural life by enriching it with cultural, educational, health and other important components.
4. State investments are needed in the field of agriculture in order to reduce poverty and population outflow from villages.
5. RA agriculture requires a special state policy and cannot be considered as a normal branch of the market economy. It performs at least four important functions:
a. ensuring food security
b. employment regulation and poverty alleviation
c. balanced and sustainable development of territories
d. formation of raw material base for processing and export
6. It is necessary to develop complex development programs for all 10 regions of Armenia, taking into account the production and agricultural specialization formed since the Soviet years. At the same time, sectoral priorities for economic development should be defined, focusing on the creation of highly productive jobs, the introduction of high technologies and digital services, as well as the development of modern machine-tractor plants.
7. To create conditions in the regions for the farmer to sell the food profitably all year round, having secured markets and modern reception and procurement stations for agricultural products with packaging, refrigeration and storage infrastructures, ensuring reliable and efficient sales for the producer.
8. To create full conditions for increasing the efficiency of activities in rural communities, paying special attention to animal husbandry, the entire chain of milk and meat sales, the location of slaughterhouses and the quality of services provided.
9. The state should participate in large investment projects with a 25-30% share, ensuring the stable sale of goods and services in the first 5 years, and after the establishment of the business, sell its share to the entrepreneur.
10. It is necessary to radically transform the management system of water management, excluding middlemen, reducing the cost of irrigation water and strengthening trust between water suppliers and water users. In the next three years, the fee for irrigation water for 1 ha of land should be set at 1000 drams.
11. Over the years, the heavy credit burden has put thousands of citizens at risk of losing their property, especially in the case of consumer and agricultural loans, where interest, penalties and fines often exceed the principal amount. The state, together with the Central Bank, should establish phased regulations for the mitigation of penalties, the application of loan holidays and the restructuring of debts. The interest rate of agricultural loans should not exceed 2.5-3%.
The state should take an active part in the process of regulating agricultural relations in Armenia.
Key formulas.
– The state does not intervene where the market works, but it is obliged to intervene where the market works against food security and producer’s income.
– The goal of food security is the guaranteed minimum own production of basic products and resistance to external shocks.
– Agriculture is an element of national security, not just a market.
– The export of agricultural products does not start from the customs point, but from the field, the garden and the farm.
The efficiency of agriculture in Armenia is determined by the following main factors:
Irrigation. the foundation of the field
The focus should be on physical infrastructure, management and fair distribution, loss reduction, energy efficiency.
Subsidies and insurance
Subsidies and insurance are seen as an integrated risk management mechanism rather than as discrete measures.
Technics
The priority is access (leasing, service centers), not ownership.
Fertilizers and means of production
The task of the state is not to fix prices, but to ensure affordability, stability and predictability.
Product realization. the market as the center of politics
Domestic market
In equal conditions of quality and price, the priority is local products.
Export
Exporting is an outcome, not a goal.
Quality and certification
Not only EAEU, but also in order to enter the EU markets are necessary.
. modern laboratories
. certification centers”.
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I call on all Armenians not to be afraid. Samvel Karapetyan
March: 27, 2026
Our nation needs unity and hope. This was announced by Samvel Karapetyan.
“It is sad how someone temporarily standing at the head of the country sows fear and division in order to maintain power.
He will lose in June because people are tired of divisions and the atmosphere of fear.
I promise you that as Prime Minister, I will unite the country and make it strong with a strong economy and strong peace.
The promise is that with me, as the Prime Minister, the coming September and every month after that will be peaceful. We will do more. we will lower taxes for businesses, create new jobs for people and improve the quality of life. We will have stronger diplomacy and a stronger defense that will guarantee peace with deeds, not words.
As for achieving lasting peace:
1. The outgoing government of the country promised peace, but brought three wars in which it lost. Why should anyone trust them after so many failures?
2. The country’s outgoing leadership is dividing our nation and waging a war of words against its people. If they bring conflict within the country, why should anyone trust them to keep Armenia safe?
3. Armenia has a temporary peace today. It is temporary because it is a weak peace without several guarantors, with weak borders and weak defenses.
As Prime Minister, I will ensure a strong and lasting peace. That peace will be based on strong diplomacy, multiple security guarantors, a strong defense with strong borders and 10,000 drones, protected skies and a modernized, professionally equipped army.
A strong peace also depends on a strong economy, with new factories, 300,000 new jobs and new opportunities for business and agriculture. In today’s world, a strong economy strengthens diplomacy and defense.
The outgoing leadership of the country is trying to convince you that this is impossible and that the only way to peace is weakness and submission to the demands of our adversaries. They are trying to assure us that if we give up our Armenian symbols, our legitimate interests, then we will have peace. This is a big lie.
Our national hero Garegin Nzhdeh used to say: “To be a coward, to remain a coward, and at the same time to dream of an independent homeland, isn’t it funny?” Isn’t it funny to be a sheep and complain about the wolf? Become a sheep, do not be surprised by the coming of the wolf. Peace and independence belong to the brave, because the brave walk in the way of God.’ Armenians keep these words in their hearts. It is sad to see that the government acts contrary to these words of Garegin Nzhdeh. They lost the peace three times and still do not want to learn from their mistakes.
I call on all Armenians not to be afraid. Don’t let the same people who have already proven themselves incapable of defending Armenia threaten you with war again.
I promise you one thing. together we will build a lasting and strong peace with an open front,” he said.
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Government to showcase new military equipment in Yerevan in ‘report to citizen
The Armenian government will showcase the military equipment acquired over the past few years during a May 28 Republic Day event in central Yerevan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Thursday.
Pashinyan had earlier said that his government was considering displaying the armaments acquired during its term.
Asked at a press briefing whether a final decision had been made, he said:
“Yes, we have a final decision. On May 28, Republic Day, an event will be held at Republic Square in Yerevan that will be less of a military parade and more of a report to the citizens of Armenia. I want to say that we have been working—and continue to work—on this issue with our international partners. A military parade is, in general, a very sensitive event and could create the impression of deviating from—or even abandoning—the peace agenda. We are working and will continue to work with our partners in the international community, including the countries of the region, so that they do not interpret it in any way as a rejection of the peace agenda,” the Prime Minister said.
He recalled that at one point, citizens were invited to register to see the purchased military equipment; however, so many people signed up that carrying it out is no longer realistic.
According to the Prime Minister, the participation of such a large number of citizens would also lead to the spread of “distorted” information about the military equipment.
“I believe that the display of this military equipment will be an impressive sight for the citizens of Armenia,” the Prime Minister concluded.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Armenian President meets Greek Ambassador
President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan held a meeting with Greek Ambassador Christos Sofianopoulos on the occasion of Greek Independence Day, the President’s Office reported.
“Welcoming the ambassador, the President congratulated the leadership and the friendly people of Greece on the occasion of their national holiday, emphasizing that relations between the two countries hold a special place in Armenia’s foreign policy agenda,” the President’s Office said in a readout.
The President noted that “the ties between the two peoples have a centuries-old history and are based on mutual trust, goodwill, and a readiness to support one another in difficult times.”
Ambassador Sofianopoulos expressed gratitude for the reception, noting that “relations with Armenia are not only a historical legacy for Greece but also an important direction of modern cooperation.”
He stressed that in recent years bilateral ties have become noticeably more active, encompassing new areas and creating new opportunities for cooperation.
During the meeting, the sides thoroughly discussed prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation, highlighting a number of priority areas. In particular, they addressed issues related to deepening political dialogue, expanding economic ties, promoting investment projects, and intensifying cultural and educational exchanges. The importance of expanding cooperation in high technologies and defense was also emphasized, taking into account the existing potential and mutual interest.
The sides particularly underlined that cooperation between the two countries is developing in a stable and consistent manner, regardless of external circumstances. It was emphasized that this progress is based not only on state-level interaction but also on the strong friendship between the peoples and the alignment of mutual interests, which serve as an additional impetus for implementing new initiatives.
The conversation also touched upon regional developments. The sides discussed existing challenges and exchanged views on possible ways to effectively address them, highlighting the importance of cooperative approaches.
It was noted that, in this context, efforts aimed at establishing peace, ensuring long-term stability, and developing democratic institutions are of particular importance, as they can contribute to creating a predictable and secure environment in the region.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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Alen Simonyan Says Armenia Faces Peace Versus War Divide, Criticizing Kocharya
On March 24, during a conversation with journalists in parliament, Alen Simonyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, stated that Armenia’s political field is divided between two opposing agendas: peace and war. He linked this divide to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s claim that losing power by the Civil Contract Party could lead to war in September.
“One concerns certain demands on neighbors, the other concerns establishing peace in the region. The agreement isn’t with Nikol Pashinyan; it’s about the agenda, the political vision, the political position,” Simonyan stated, adding that if the matter is personalized, “Nikol Pashinyan will be considered a symbol of peace.” Addressing remarks about the Prime Minister mentioning September as a possible timeline for war [against Azerbaijan], he emphasized that “politicians can also conduct political analysis and have the right to do so,” describing such statements as assessments. He also noted that opposition figures regularly raise similar warnings, often naming specific timeframes.
Simonyan argued that Armenia effectively has “two poles,” pointing to former President Robert Kocharyan as an example of a political line advocating demands toward neighbors. Referring to Kocharyan’s remarks that Armenia’s 29,743 square kilometer territory is “utopian,” Simonyan emphasized that such rhetoric reflects a confrontational approach. “We must build relations in the region such that neither side considers attacking the other,” he stated, stressing the need to avoid war. He criticized what he described as revanchist discourse, arguing that it risks making Armenia dependent on external powers and sustaining a cycle of conflict involving Russian peacekeepers.
Speaking about the current situation, Simonyan emphasized that Armenia is not engaged in processes leading to casualties, calling this a positive outcome. He contrasted this with the opposition’s stance, which he said promotes demands and confrontation. “Yes, the current government of the Republic of Armenia—the Civil Contract party—is the party of peace, while the main opposition players are the party of war,” he stated, adding that the 2026 elections would present a choice “between peace and possible war.”
On the issue of security guarantees, Simonyan noted that no absolute guarantees exist. He referred to Russia’s role, mentioning its military presence and peacekeeping mission in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh, and recalled a warning attributed to Moscow: “leave carefully, so that nothing happens here.” Commenting on Armenia’s position during the Prague meeting, he emphasized that recognizing territorial realities was necessary, arguing that Armenia effectively affirmed its own borders. “In Prague, we didn’t recognize Azerbaijan’s territory – we recognized our own territory, because Armenia begins where Azerbaijan ends,” Simonyan stated.
Addressing terminology, Simonyan rejected the use of “Artsakh,” stating that such wording creates inconsistencies. When reminded that he had previously used the term, he replied, “I was mistaken,” adding that similar logic applies when foreign actors use alternative names for Armenian locations. “And Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan,” he stated.
Turning to constitutional reforms, Simonyan emphasized that the adoption of a new Constitution is driven by Armenia’s national interests and not external pressure. “The Armenian Constitution and the planned amendments are being introduced in Armenia’s interests,” he stated, dismissing claims that the process is being carried out at Azerbaijan’s request. He underlined that negotiations with Baku do not include demands for constitutional changes.
Simonyan also stressed the importance of strengthening Armenia’s defense capabilities, noting that efforts are being made to ensure a well-equipped army capable of self-defense. At the same time, he rejected the idea of imposing demands on neighboring states, arguing that Armenia’s priority is to adopt a Constitution that will not be perceived as a threat in the region. “All of this is necessary for Armenia’s existence and future,” he emphasized.
https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/alen-simonyan-says-armenia-faces-peace-versus-war-divide-criticizing-kocharyan-and-opposition.html
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Verelq: Change of traffic organization in one of the streets of Yerevan
In order to increase the passability of transport flows in Yerevan, a change in the organization of traffic will be made on Armenak Armenakyan Street from March 20. Yerevan Municipality informs about this.
In particular, the turning back of vehicles will be prohibited at the intersection of Armenakyan-Sero Khanzadyan streets.
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Armenian Ombudsperson participates in CPT plenary session in Strasbourg
From March 9 to 13, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan participated in the 119th Plenary Session of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of the CoE in Strasbourg, serving as the Committee’s member representing Armenia.
During the session, the Committee discussed and adopted reports on visits conducted in several countries. It also reviewed draft new standards regarding places of detention for immigration purposes and social care institutions, the Armenian Human Rights Defender’s Office said in a statement.
As part of the session, oral reports were presented on the Committee’s recent visits to several countries, and the outcomes of high-level meetings, as well as plans for future visits and meetings, were discussed.
Anahit Manasyan was elected as Armenia’s member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on November 29, 2023. Her term as a member runs until December 19, 2027.
Published by Armenpress, original at
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“Red tape” was being cut, but if you go now, there is no economic activity.
March: 16, 2026
Nikol Pashinyan builds his regional pre-election visits on the logic of presenting the “achievements” of the past 7-8 years and appearing accountable. What kind of economic success is Nikol Pashinyan entering the pre-election stage? 168․amin a conversation with NA opposition deputy, economist Tadevos Avetisyan.
First of all, he drew attention to the economic opportunities that were not capitalized and missed.
“In a specific period, any country, under any circumstances, has a certain economic activity, there are certain growths, there is a positive development, but is it enough or not, or was it close to the opportunity we had? If we answer the question, the answer will be negative,” the specialist noted and added, “after the Covid pandemic, we had a sharp decline and we were the only country in the region that was not able to recover from the economic decline of the previous year.”
And as for further increases, which were caused by an external factor, in particular, the Russian-Ukrainian war, they were not capitalized and did not become the basis for further investments and further growth. This is obvious because along with the weakening of that factor, we saw that economic activity also slows down inertially.”
The economist also drew attention to the fact that the pre-election promises of the previous elections failed, noting that the indicators that were announced years ago are far from reality today.
“Even in the case of raising pensions according to pre-election logic, they did not keep their promise, or if we look at the index of poverty reduction. they promised to reduce the poverty level twice, but compared to 2018, there is a slight decrease in the poverty level. They said that we should eliminate extreme poverty, but that is not the case.
They also did not fulfill the promise of raising the minimum wage. Or, they were talking about the 2.6 billion euro project, about the national air carrier, do you know what happened to ANIF, now it’s still the pre-election stage, and they are talking about investments again, but we witnessed the opening of many large enterprises when the red tape was cut, and now, if you go and look, not only there are no productions there, but also there is no economic activity at all,” concluded Tadevos Avetisyan.
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Trump assures that they are “crushing” Iran, Iran is putting forward preconditions
March: 14, 2026
While US President Donald Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegsett are making bellicose statements, trying to prove once again in each statement that they have eliminated Iran’s military potential, the information in the Lebanese press recently confirms that Iran is putting forward preconditions for the resumption of negotiations.
Representative of the Iranian authorities Mohsen Reza announced that Iran is ready to negotiate the end of the war only under two conditions.
“The end of the war is in our hands. We will consider the issue of ending the war only when, first, we receive full compensation for all our losses from the United States, and second, we receive a 100% guarantee for the future, which is impossible without the withdrawal of the United States from the Persian Gulf,” he said.
The other day Lebanese “Al Mayadeen” TV channel, citing his sources, wrote that Iran rejects mediated ceasefire initiatives and sets its own conditions for starting negotiations with the United States. “Iran rejects all initiatives for a mediated ceasefire because it has conditions and wants real guarantees,” the message stated.
According to the TV channel, the leadership of the Islamic Republic rejects the current proposals of the mediators, considering them insufficient, and insists on clearer obligations. In particular, Tehran demands from the US guarantees of non-aggression in the future, compensation payments and an agreement that Iran will be able to implement a full nuclear fuel cycle in its nuclear power plants.
Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araghchi had announced that negotiations between Tehran and Washington would probably not be discussed under the new supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, Mojtaba Khamenei. On the same day, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi announced that several countries, including Russia, China and France, have appealed to Iran for a ceasefire. He emphasized that the first condition of Tehran’s cease-fire is the guarantees of non-repetition of aggression.
Also on March 9 Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that Tehran is ready to ease tensions if the territories of neighboring countries are not used to attack the republic. By the way, on the occasion of the Al-Quds holiday yesterday, there were multi-million marches in the bombed cities of Iran, including the participation of high-ranking leaders, Ali Larijani, Masoud Pezeshkian, Seyed Abbas Araghchi and others.
There are reports from Iran about the preconditions for negotiations, and the President of the United States Donald Trump announces that US forces have “completely destroyed” military installations on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island in one of the most powerful bombings in Middle East history, and the US Navy will soon escort the ships through the Strait of Hormuz. “Minutes ago, at my direction, United States Central Command launched one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East and completely destroyed every MILITARY target on Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social social network.
“Our weapons are the most powerful and the most advanced the world has ever known, but for reasons of decency, I have decided not to destroy the oil infrastructure on the island,” the US president added, warning that if Iran “or anyone else” took any action to obstruct shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, he would reconsider his decision. It should be noted that the export terminal of 90 percent of the country’s oil is located on Kharg Island, which is about 25 km from the coast of Iran and about 480 km from the Strait of Hormuz.
And while Trump and Hegsett announce the defeat of Iran, The Wall Street Journal, citing three US officials, reports that the Pentagon is deploying additional Marines and warships to the Middle East in response to increased attacks by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Defense Secretary Pete Hegsett has approved a request from US Central Command, which is responsible for US forces in the Middle East, to create an amphibious assault group and an attached Marine expeditionary unit, typically consisting of several warships and 5,000 Marines, officials said. The Japan-based USS Tripoli and the Marines attached to it are currently en route to the Middle East, the two officials said. Marines are already in the Middle East, supporting the operation against Iran, the officials added,” the media outlet writes.
168.amin a conversation with Russian military analyst Vladimir Yevseyev said that the statements of the US leadership, especially Trump and Hegsett, that Iran is “crushed”, are mostly a component of the information-propaganda war, rather than a complete description of the situation.
According to him, this is characteristic of the current US President Trump, his staff, and during wars, such rhetoric is often used to give confidence to the domestic audience and to exert psychological pressure on the enemy. However, according to him, the fact that the US continues to involve forces shows that the military and political confrontation is not over, the situation is unstable and unpredictable.
According to Yevseyev, the hardening of rhetoric by Iran is not an immediate sign of defeat or victory.
According to his conviction, in the Iranian military-political culture, the martial language is often used to maintain internal unity and show the politics of resistance in the face of external pressure.
He believes that Tehran always tries to show that it is ready for a long confrontation, even under military pressure. According to him, this approach was formed both from the experience of regional conflicts and from the security doctrine, which emphasizes the strategy of playing on the resistance and time factor.
“It is more likely that both sides are trying to create a beneficial informational and psychological environment against the background of the ongoing military and political struggle. If the standoff drags on, and it drags on, which is believed to be against the US and in Iran’s interests, the decisive factor will be not only the outcome of the military conflict, but also who can more effectively maintain alliances, economic resilience and regional influence.
Naturally, Iran feels more confident in the region, and uses oil inflation as a playing card against the US president, as well as resistance. How correct these calculations will be, time will show better, but the initial plan and calculations of the USA, I think, was not to prolong the situation to this extent,” Yevseyev said.
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