Category: News

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met on Friday with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna in Yerevan.

According to a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office, Pashinyan emphasized the importance of multifaceted Armenia–Estonia cooperation and noted that bilateral relations have become particularly intensive in recent times. He added that this is also evidenced by high-level reciprocal visits, which provide new momentum for expanding ties in various areas.

The Prime Minister highlighted Estonia’s role in developing Armenia–European Union cooperation, including supporting the effective implementation of democratic reforms in Armenia.

Margus Tsahkna stressed Estonia’s interest in deepening cooperation with Armenia. He noted that Estonia is ready to continue providing support to advance the Armenian government’s reform agenda and to promote Armenia–EU engagement. The Estonian Foreign Minister also underscored the importance of holding the upcoming European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, expressing confidence that it will be conducted at a high level.

Nikol Pashinyan and Margus Tsahkna exchanged views on regional developments, as well as on the Armenia–EU cooperation agenda, the process of visa liberalization, and other related issues.

Armenia’s Prosecutor General, Anna Vardapetyan, has approved a request filed by German authorities for the extradition of a robbery suspect.

Vardapetyan’s office said in a press release that the suspect, identified only by the initials G.G., and accused of aggravated theft (theft committed by a group of persons by prior agreement), has been transferred into the custody of German authorities.

Other details were not immediately available.

Despite bad weather, construction on the 32-kilometer Kajaran–Agarak section of the North–South Road is progressing at a rapid pace, the Road Department said in a press release.

Work is continuing on the concreting of the two already excavated tunnels, as well as retaining walls, bridges, artificial structures, and earthworks for the future highway, the government agency responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of road projects said.

Officials emphasize that construction quality is under constant supervision by the technical oversight team and staff of the Road Department.

The Kajaran–Agarak section of the North–South Road is being built with funding from the Government of Armenia and the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development.

Secretary of the Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, held a meeting with Satu Koivu, the new Head of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA).

Grigoryan congratulated Satu Koivu on assuming the responsible post, wishing her success in her future activities, Grigoryan’s office said in a readout.

The Secretary also expressed gratitude for the work carried out by the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia and emphasized that Armenia is ready to continue effective cooperation.

“Satu Koivu, in turn, expressed gratitude for the warm reception and noted that she will contribute her experience and knowledge to further enhance the effectiveness of the mission’s activities,” the readout said.

A delegation led by Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan will participate in the Delphi Economic Forum according to a decree by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The delegation includes Grigoryan’s adviser Tatevik Petrosyan and assistant Sevak Ghahramanyan.

According to the decree, the delegation will be in Greece from April 21 to 23.

The official opening of the North–South section leading to Gyumri will be marked with a motorcade organized by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, he said in a Facebook post.

The motorcade will take place on April 19, with participants invited to join in their own cars and travel to Gyumri.

Pashinyan said those wishing to take part can register via a QR code or a link and will be informed of the time and place of departure by phone.

From 10 to 12 April 2026, within the framework of the “Peace Bridge” Initiative, another bilateral roundtable with the participation of representatives of Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society will take place in Azerbaijan, the Armenian Council Research Center said in a press release. 

The previous roundtable was held on 13-14 February in Armenia. Back then, the Azerbaijani delegation also arrived in Armenia via the land border at a delimited and demarcated section.

The “Peace Bridge” Initiative continues to foster dialogue and direct engagement between civil society representatives from Armenia and Azerbaijan. On this occasion, the Armenian delegation arrived in Azerbaijan via the land border, crossing through a formally delimited and demarcated section and undergoing all relevant border and passport control procedures. 

The dialogue between civil society representatives is taking place within the framework of the agreed bilateral peace agenda endorsed at the trilateral summit of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States held in Washington, D.C. on 8 August 2025. 

The meeting agenda includes discussions on the current state of the peace process; the activities undertaken by participants in the “Peace Bridge” Initiative in their respective countries and the results of those efforts; as well as the situation in the region. 

Separate sessions will also be devoted to efforts to advance peace at the societal level and to increase trust during the next stages of the peace process. 

Participants from Armenia: 

1.                  Areg Kochinyan – President of the Armenian Council; Coordinator  

2.                  Boris Navasardyan – Honorary President of the Yerevan Press Club 

3.                  Naira Sultanyan – Director of the Democracy Development Foundation 

4.                  Narek Minasyan – Associate Expert at the Armenian Council 

5.                  Samvel Meliksetyan – Expert at the Armenian Council 

6.                  Stepan Grigoryan – Chairman of the Board, Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation 

7.                  Edgar Vardanyan – Associate Expert at the Armenian Council 

8.                  Robert Ghevondyan – Expert at the Armenian Council 

9.                  Lusine Kharatyan – Writer and Cultural Anthropologist 

10.              Nelli Minasyan – PhD in History, Associate Professor, and Turkologist 

11.              Davit Stepanyan – Political Commentator at 1in.am; Expert at the Armenian Institute of International Security and Relations 

12.              Ruben Babayan – Artistic Director of the Yerevan Puppet Theater 

13.              Eleonora Sargsyan – Peace and Gender Expert; Youth Worker 

14.              Naira Martikyan – Editor and Country Director of JAMnews (Armenia) 

15.              Vazgen Karapetyan – Associate Director, Eurasia Partnership Foundation 

16.              Tatev Danielyan – Editor-in-Chief of Political Programs and Host at Public Television of Armenia 

17.              Armen Petrosyan – Regional Policy Expert at the Orbeli Center 

18.              Alen Amirkhanyan – Director of the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment 

19.              Nelli Rafayelyan – Journalist at the Media Initiative Center 

20.              Operator of the Public Television of Armenia

Participants from Azerbaijan: 

Farhad Mammadov – Director of the Center for Studies of the South Caucasus; Coordinator 

2.                  Rusif Huseynov – Director of the Topchubashov Center 

3.                  Ramil Isgandarli – Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum 

4.                  Kamala Mammadova – Editor-in-Chief, First News Media (1news.az) 

5.                  Fuad Abdullayev – Leading Adviser at the Center of Analysis of International Relations 

6.                  Dilara Afandiyeva – Head of the Women’s Peace and Security Center at the Azerbaijan Women’s Rights Protection Society 

7.                  Konul Badalova – Research Fellow at the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication 

8.                  Zaur Shiriyev – Nonresident Scholar at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center 

9.                  Rauf Aghamirzayev – Transport Expert and Member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport 

10.              Gulbaniz Ganbarova – Chairperson of the Azerbaijan Rural Women’s Association Public Union 

11.              Nazrin Aliyeva – Chairperson of the “Human Rights Support Center” Public Association 

12.              Sanan Rzayev – Presenter, CBC Television 

13.              Emin Aliyev – Editor-in-Chief, Trend News Agency 

14.              Murad Muradov – Deputy Director of the Topchubashov Center 

15.              Aytan Gahraman – Adviser at the Baku International Multiculturalism Center 

16.              Ilyas Huseynov – Political Analyst 

17.              Gulshan Akhundova – Chairperson of the “Women, Development, Future” Public Union 

18.              Orkhan Babayev – Staff Member of the Center for Studies of the South Caucasus 

19.              Orkhan Amashov – Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Presenter, AnewZ 

20.              Yegana Hajiyeva – Member of the Board of the Press Council 

A car crash near the village of Aghin in Armenia’s northwestern Shirak province has left six people, including two children, dead, authorities said on Friday.

Five others, including three children were injured.

The deadly incident involved a collision between a BMW and an Opel on Friday morning, the Rescue Service said.

The Health Ministry said emergency personnel are organizing the transfer of the three injured children to a hospital in Yerevan.

Other details were not immediately available.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. 

YEREVAN, 10 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 10 April, USD exchange rate down by 0.26 drams to 376.06 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.98 drams to 438.86 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0305 drams to 4.8219 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.97 drams to 503.77 drams.

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

Gold price up by 2148 drams to 57945 drams. Silver price up by 56.22 drams to 928.62 drams.

Armenian Ambassador to Russia Gurgen Arsenyan met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.

According to the Russian side’s readout, Arsenyan and Galuzin exchanged views on pressing issues in bilateral relations, taking into account the results of the recent talks in Moscow between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the meeting, which took place in a “friendly atmosphere,” the importance of joint active work to implement the agreements reached at a high level was emphasized, particularly in the areas of trade and economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation, as well as within the framework of integration formats, according to the Russian readout.

The sides also addressed regional issues in the context of developing economic cooperation and restoring transport communications in the South Caucasus, as well as the activities of the ‘3+3’ regional cooperation platform.