Category: News

Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States, Narek Mkrtchyan, held a meeting with Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

During the meeting, a number of priorities in the fields of communications and security were discussed, particularly in the context of hybrid threats, countering disinformation, and related issues, the embassy said in a readout. 

Ambassador Mkrtchyan emphasized the FCC’s expertise in these areas and highlighted the need for cooperation, taking into account Armenia’s potential in this sector and the priorities set for infrastructure and technological development.Opportunities for exchanging best practices in communications, conducting sectoral visits, and institutionalizing cooperation were also considered.

The Georgian service of the Sputnik news agency reported that Armenia has requested Georgian authorities to relocate by a few kilometers a 5.5-kilometer section of the gas pipeline running from Georgia to Armenia which transports Russian gas. 

According to Sputnik, Armenia requested the relocation because the Armenian section of the pipeline is located in the tri-border area of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, which was mined in the 1990s.

“Based on the fact that it is impossible to maintain minimum safety standards and carry out repair work in this section, it has been decided to remove the problematic segment of the gas pipeline from the mined area and construct a new pipeline at a safe distance,” the report states.

It is noted that the pipeline will be relocated by several kilometers and connected to a new section constructed by Armenia.

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. 

President of the European Council António Costa has described Armenia as a close EU partner as the sides are preparing for their first-ever bilateral summit.

The inaugural EU–Armenia summit will take place on 4-5 May in Yerevan, Costa reminded in a post on X.

“I look forward to meeting with PM Nikol Pashinyan. Armenia is a close EU partner, and we look forward to deepening this relationship. We are united by shared values and a commitment to international law and the rules-based international order,” he said.

The Armenian Prime Minister also mentioned the inaugural summit on X.

“I look forward to welcoming European Council President António Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. We are committed to further strengthening Armenia-EU partnership, guided by our Strategic Agenda,” Pashinyan said.

The President of the European Council, António Costa, together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will represent the EU at the EU-Armenia summit taking place in Yerevan on 4 and 5 May 2026.

Ahead of the summit, President Costa and President von der Leyen will attend the European Political Community meeting, also taking place in Yerevan on 4 May 2026.

The EU-Armenia summit will focus on strengthening bilateral relations in particular connectivity in energy, transport and digital. Leaders will also discuss the progress related to ensuring peace, security, connectivity and prosperity in the South Caucasus, as well as current global challenges.

The NATO Secretary General’s 2025 Annual Report highlighted the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.

“The South Caucasus is important for NATO’s security, especially as the region continues to feel the impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In 2025, NATO welcomed meaningful progress towards peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and acknowledged the United States’ continued investment in the peace process. The initialling of the August peace deal was a major step towards normalisation and regional security, and NATO stands ready to deepen dialogue and cooperation with both countries,” the report says.

The report also mentions that Armenia is among the countries which received active support under the NATO Building Integrity Programme. “In 2025, the Programme provided significant support to Ukraine, focused on NATO-Ukraine interoperability and defence procurement. Active support was also provided to Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Georgia, Iraq, Jordan, the Republic of Moldova and Tunisia.”

The draft of the proposed new constitution is still under discussion, and there is no final text yet, according to Member of Parliament Artur Hovhannisyan, Secretary of the ruling Civil Contract faction.

Hovhannisyan was asked at a press briefing whether the draft has been discussed within the parliamentary majority and whether a preamble has been developed.

“The text of the new Constitution is still under discussion. Yes, it is also being discussed with the parliamentary faction. One meeting has already taken place,” he said.

According to the lawmaker, there are currently working documents that are not yet for public release.

“When we reach the stage where discussions are complete and a text is ready for publication, that publication will take place,” Hovhannisyan noted.

He added that after the text is published, discussions will continue publicly, involving experts, politicians, and civil society.

Referring to various reports that have appeared in the media, Hovhannisyan urged citizens not to be influenced by them and to follow only official announcements.

“What exists now are working documents. I ask our citizens not to be swayed by various publications, but to follow official communications,” he emphasized.

Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan said last week that the initial March timeframe for releasing the text of the proposed new constitution will be revised amid ongoing discussions.

She also said that the proposed text, developed to replace the current Constitution via referendum, is ready and will be discussed at the ruling Civil Contract party’s board meeting, as well as by its parliamentary faction.

Speaking to reporters last week, Galyan was asked whether the reference to the Declaration of Independence in the current Constitution’s preamble has been removed in the new text—a move endorsed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who cited its “conflict logic.” Galyan said the new text does not include a preamble, and discussions are ongoing.

Member of Parliament from the ruling Civil Contract faction, Lilit Minasyan, said on Friday that hybrid interference against Armenia manifests across media platforms in various countries, mainly Russian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani.

Speaking at a press briefing and responding to opposition claims that the authorities avoid specifically naming the source country of hybrid interference, Minasyan stressed the need to first clearly understand the nature of hybrid attacks.

“I urge our opposition members to first understand what a hybrid attack is, and only then make assertions,” she said.

According to the lawmaker, hybrid attacks involve external interference that can be carried out in various ways, including in the information space.

“From the perspective of external interference, different countries are involved, and we see its manifestations very clearly and explicitly in Russian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani media,” Minasyan said.

She stressed that such interference often takes the form of spreading fake news, including about the Prime Minister and the authorities.

“These publications appear on various anonymous websites or on modified versions of well-known sites in order to mislead citizens,” the lawmaker said.

According to Minasyan, the authorities are trying to respond quickly to such publications and refute false information before it spreads widely.

She also called on media outlets to follow official rebuttals and support efforts to combat disinformation.

“We are working proactively to refute such information, and I urge media outlets to follow these rebuttals and disseminate them,” she noted.

In January this year, Armenia’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned that the country faces mounting hybrid threats aimed at sabotage.

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said earlier this week that the ongoing hybrid attacks targeting Armenia can be partly traced back to Russia.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas reaffirmed that the EU will send a Hybrid Rapid Response Team to Armenia to help counter threats ahead of the country’s June 7 elections.

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. 

Preparations for the 2027 La Francophonie Games (Jeux de la Francophonie), to be hosted in Armenia, are in full swing, Vivien Lubczanski, Director of the International Committee of the La Francophonie Games, said at a press briefing in Yerevan.

The official logo of the Games was unveiled at the event.

“I welcome the Armenian authorities’ commitment to preparing for the 10th International Francophonie Sports and Cultural Games. The presentation of the official Games logo is an important milestone, marking a new phase in the preparations. At this time, many countries and governments have already confirmed their participation in the Games, which reflects the trust in Armenia’s ability to host this important sporting event. For the International Organization of La Francophonie, the Games hold special significance—they are more than just a sporting and cultural event,” Lubczanski said.

He added that preparations are continuing in an atmosphere of mutual trust, with no obstacles.

“I assure you that we stand alongside Armenia to support the successful hosting of these Games. The Francophonie Games provide a platform for solidarity among Francophone youth, and I expect that all participating countries will discover Armenia in this light,” he emphasized.

The Games, a combination of artistic and sporting events, will be held in Armenia from July 23 to August 1, 2027. The opening ceremony will take place in Yerevan’s central plaza.

The official logo, presented on March 27, represents a harmonious fusion of cultural and artistic elements, based on the traditional Armenian symbol of eternity as a sign of continuity and endurance, as well as the circular motion of the Kochari dance, which embodies unity and strength. These foundations are reinterpreted through the influence of contemporary art, transforming human movement into a universal rhythm. The logo expresses energy, connection, and play, reflecting the essence of the Games as a continuous celebration of culture, sport, and participation.

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.