Category: News

A total of 1,141 Armenian graduates of leading universities worldwide applied for the first phase of the Armenian government’s Talent Bank program, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

“Dear people, on June 15, I invited graduates of leading universities around the world to put their knowledge and professional experience at the service of the state administration system of the Republic of Armenia. Today, we can summarize the results of the first phase of the ‘Government [Talent] Bank’ program. A total of 1,141 applications were received. Following their review, interviews, and professional assessment, 269 candidates from 29 countries were included in the Government [Talent] Bank,” Pashinyan said on social media.

The average age of the selected candidates is 33.3, while women account for 42 percent.

According to the available data, around 93 percent of the candidates have Armenian roots, while 7 percent are professionals without Armenian ancestry.

“This means that the program has attracted not only our compatriots from the Diaspora, but also foreign professionals interested in professional cooperation with Armenia. As of now, decisions on employment or appointment have been made regarding more than 30 candidates, 16 of whom have already been appointed to senior government positions, including deputy ministers, heads of committees, and other positions involving high levels of responsibility. The Government already has a closed electronic platform through which ministries and other state bodies can review the professional profiles of candidates and directly contact specialists who meet their needs,” the Prime Minister said.

Nikol Pashinyan said the Talent Bank will continue to operate and expand. The next phase of the program is planned for 2027.

“Thank you to all 1,141 participants who applied to the program for your interest in and trust in this initiative. I love you all,” Pashinyan concluded his post.

The Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, Lilit Makunts, attended an anniversary concert dedicated to composer and Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia Konstantin Petrosyan.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that the concert featured performances by the Armenian State Chamber Orchestra, the Armenian State Jazz Orchestra, the Public Radio’s Arevik Children’s and Youth Ensemble, and other performers.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with Alexander Tieman, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief for Armenia.

According to a readout published by the Prime Minister’s Office, Pashinyan emphasized the close cooperation established between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the IMF, as well as the joint programs being implemented in Armenia. In this regard, PM Pashinyan added that the programs implemented with the IMF contribute to the effective implementation of the Government’s reform agenda.

Tieman emphasized the effectiveness of cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Armenia and noted that the IMF is also interested in consistently advancing the joint agenda.

The sides discussed issues related to ongoing cooperation and future programs. They addressed macroeconomic developments and the main directions of fiscal policy. They also exchanged views on processes taking place in the region, including infrastructure projects.

With the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, under the patronage of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s spouse, Mrs. Anna Hakobyan, the “Side by Side” educational and cultural non-governmental organization will hold the VII Side by Side International Inclusive Music Art Festival from October 2 to 5 under the slogan “An Inclusive Society – A Civilized Country.”

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports said in a press release that this year the festival has around 500 participants from Armenia and abroad, including Russia, Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan and other countries.

The festival’s main sponsor is the Yerevan City Hall.

The “Side by Side” International Inclusive Music Art Festival aims to identify the creative potential of children and adolescents with developmental differences, contribute to the development and improvement of their abilities, and create equal conditions for their active involvement in educational and cultural life.

At 5:00 p.m. on October 2, the festival’s official opening ceremony will take place at the National Centre of Chamber Music, as part of which the concert “First Steps” will be held. Students from music and art schools in Yerevan and all regions of Armenia, territorial centers for pedagogical and psychological support, as well as the festival’s international participants, will perform musical pieces.

At 5:00 p.m. on October 3, theatrical productions featuring children and adolescents with developmental differences will be presented on the small stage /“Black Box”/ of the G. Sundukyan National Academic Theatre.

On October 4, a master class-seminar will be held online for specialists in the field of inclusion, with the participation of internationally qualified medical specialists from Russia and the United States.

Around 200 specialists, parents and guardians from various organizations will participate in the master class, which is aimed at developing and promoting inclusion in Armenia, as well as ensuring continuing education in the field.

At 7:00 p.m. on October 5, the festival’s closing gala concert will take place at Freedom Square. The festival participants will perform on one stage, side by side, with renowned musicians and performers and music groups from Armenia’s music scene.

This year’s festival participants include living legend of Armenian jazz Levon Malkhasyan, renowned singer-songwriter Ruben Hakhverdyan, as well as Gor Sujyan, Iveta Mukuchyan, the bands Nemra, Lav Eli and Gata, and other renowned musicians and music groups.

As part of the gala concert, an exhibition and sale of paintings and handicrafts by children with developmental characteristics will also be organized in the area of Freedom Square.

Founded in 2019, the “Side by Side” festival has expanded its format and geography over the years. From a national event, the festival became international in its second year, hosting participants from France, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Georgia, Bahrain and other countries.

Year by year, the festival expands its cooperation with partner organizations, contributing to the creation and development of an inclusive cultural environment.

The CIS Games will be held in Armenia in 2029, while Yerevan will become the CIS Sports Capital.

The decision was adopted at a meeting of the Council for Physical Culture and Sport of the CIS member states held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Armenia was represented at the meeting by Artur Sedrakyan, Head of the Policy Development and Analysis Division of the Sports Policy Department of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia.

The Council meeting was held on September 27, following a ceremony to present a certificate to Almaty confirming its status as the “CIS Sports Capital-2026.” Representatives of nine CIS member states — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — participated in the meeting.

The meeting discussed current issues of cooperation among the CIS member states in the field of physical culture and sport. The sides presented the work being carried out in the field, shared experience, and also discussed areas for further cooperation and the implementation of joint programs.

The next meeting of the Council for Physical Culture and Sport of the CIS member states is also expected to be held in Armenia as part of the 2029 CIS Sports Games.

In 2024, Gyumri was declared the CIS Sports Capital and hosted a conference of the Council for Physical Culture and Sport of the CIS member states.

The CIS Sports Games aim to strengthen sporting ties among the participating states, promote the development of physical culture and sport, and popularize various sports.

The development of scientific data on Armenia’s fauna in recent years has made it necessary to review and update the national Red Book of Animals, the list of animal species considered to be threatened or otherwise in need of special conservation attention.

Scientists now propose carrying out the work based on modern scientific methods and the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, while also supplementing data on species that were previously unstudied or insufficiently studied.

At the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Armenia’s fauna and the qualitative and quantitative composition of hydrobionts are studied using traditional and modern biological research methods. Their current status is assessed, as are existing and potential threats. During their research, the Center’s scientists continuously collect information on species in need of protection and participate in the work to review and update the Red Book of Animals of the Republic of Armenia.

According to Aram Aghasyan, a senior researcher at the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, the Center has submitted a project to update the Red Book to the Higher Education and Science Committee.

“The aim of the project is to review and update the Red Book of Animals of the Republic of Armenia based on current scientific data and the latest criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List,” Aghasyan told Armenpress.

According to him, the project envisages collecting and analyzing information obtained from scientific publications, monitoring programs and existing databases. At the same time, targeted field studies will be conducted in various areas rich in biodiversity in Armenia to obtain up-to-date data on species distribution, the condition of populations and threats.

“Particular attention is planned to be paid to insufficiently studied and endemic species, especially invertebrates. As a result of the project, it is planned to create a unified GIS-based database, prepare species distribution maps and assess their national conservation status. Based on the results obtained, scientifically substantiated recommendations will be prepared for updating the Red Book and improving conservation measures. The project results will contribute to biodiversity conservation planning, the development of environmental policy and the fulfillment of Armenia’s international obligations, ensuring the long-term conservation of the country’s fauna. It is also planned to submit recommendations for including Armenian species in the IUCN Red List,” he said.

The Red Book needs to be updated regularly

According to Aghasyan, the preparation of the current Red Book of Animals of the Republic of Armenia was carried out based on data available from 2007 to 2009 and new field studies, and it was approved by Government of the Republic of Armenia Decision No. 71-N of January 29, 2010, while the book was published in November 2010.

It includes 155 species of invertebrates and 153 species of vertebrates.

“The Red Book should be updated at least once every ten years. It has now become necessary to review it,” he said.

According to him, zoologists from different scientific fields should be involved in the work to develop the new Red Book.

“The applications we submitted to the Science Committee related to updating the Red Book are at the discussion stage. If approved, the actual work is planned to be carried out over approximately five years,” Aghasyan said.

According to him, approximately 80 million drams per year is needed to develop the Red Book of Animals, for mapping, collecting materials, conducting field studies and organizing expeditions. The issue of including species in the Red Book is decided by the relevant professional commission based on scientific data and international standards. Under IUCN criteria, species can be classified, in particular, as extinct, critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable.

Species considered extinct reappear

New scientific data can sometimes also change previous perceptions regarding the status of a species. According to Aghasyan, for example, the Pallas’s cat had not been recorded in Armenia since the 1950s, while the hyena was considered extinct in the region, but new data on its presence have been obtained in recent years.

“With the development of science, especially among invertebrates, there is not a year when new species are not described. There are species that have only recently been discovered in the region, and they are being analyzed, while the extent of their distribution is being clarified,” he said.

The specialist also gave the Urartian ratsnake as an example. Aram Aghasyan, a herpetologist by profession, noted that taxonomic studies of the species previously known as the four-lined ratsnake allowed scientists to describe a species new to science, the Urartian ratsnake. It is considered endemic to the Caucasus and, according to the specialist, is planned to be included in the new Red Book.

Not all species may retain their Red Book status

New data may lead not only to the inclusion of new species, but also to the removal of certain species from the Red Book. Aghasyan cited the great cormorant as an example, saying that its populations in Lake Sevan have increased significantly and that today it may cause problems for fish farming. Previously, however, the species was uncommon and was therefore included in the Red Book.

The specialist also emphasized that there is a significant difference between the Red Books of the 1980s and 2010. While the first editions presented only vertebrate animals, the 2010 Red Book also included invertebrates, particularly representatives of insects and mollusks. At the same time, a number of groups of invertebrates have still not been sufficiently studied.

“The 2010 Red Book does not include, for example, arachnids. The reason is that we did not have the relevant specialists and the necessary studies had not been conducted. If necessary, there may also be a need to invite specialists from abroad,” Aghasyan said.

According to him, during the preparation of the 2010 Red Book, for example, a scientist invited from abroad participated in the study of nocturnal moths.

Otter study provides new data

The Center’s specialists are also currently studying species included in the Red Book. One such species is the otter, on which the Center’s specialists have collected data.

“All the data will be collected, we will fill in the gaps and plan the work,” Aghasyan said.

He also noted that WWF-Armenia, with funding from the German development bank, is implementing a major program focused on biodiversity and specially protected natural areas, within which the work on updating and reviewing the Red Book is also planned to be addressed.

Beyond the Red Book: territorial protection of biodiversity

According to the specialist, the protection of fauna is not limited to including species in the Red Book, which is essentially a normative conservation measure. The protection of their natural habitats is also important. According to Aghasyan, analyses carried out at present show that about 60% of Armenia’s biodiversity species are included in the territorial protection system.

Specially protected natural areas in Armenia currently occupy about 13.1% of the country’s territory. According to the specialist, the system is planned to be expanded, including through the creation of new national parks and the expansion of the boundaries of existing specially protected areas. In particular, the creation of Jermuk and Tatev national parks is planned.

According to specialists, the development of a new version of the Red Book will make it possible not only to reassess the conservation status of Armenia’s fauna, but also to establish a scientifically grounded basis for environmental policy and biodiversity conservation programs in the coming years.

Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan has held a meeting with newly appointed Ambassador of France to Armenia Florian Escudié.

According to a readout from Grigoryan’s office, he congratulated the new ambassador on his appointment and wished him success in his important work.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership with France for Armenia and expressed hope that the ambassador would contribute to further deepening this partnership.

The possibilities for intensifying trade and economic relations were discussed, and in this context, both sides emphasized the importance of the adoption of the EU’s temporary trade liberalization measures.

Views were exchanged on the possibilities of expanding the presence of companies with French capital in the Armenian economy.

Regional developments were also touched upon.

The European Continental Stage of the 2026 World Schools Team Chess Championship began in the Armenian resort town of Tsaghkadzor on September 29, with newly elected FIDE President and International School Chess Federation (ISCF) President Timur Turlov also attending the opening ceremony.

The championship is being held as part of FIDE’s “Chess in Education 2026” initiative.

The top-performing teams in the European stage will qualify for the WSTC Grand Final, where the strongest school teams from different continents will compete for the world championship title.

School teams, coaches, delegations and representatives of the chess community from European countries have arrived in Armenia to participate in the tournament. The tournament is jointly organized by FIDE (International Chess Federation), the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), the Chess Federation of Armenia and the European Chess Union (ECU), with the support of its main partner, Freedom Holding Corp.

The championship will run through October 3.

The Institute of Oriental Studies of Armenia hosted the presentation of the book Bibliography of the Syrian Armenian Periodical Press (1912–2026) by Syrian Armenian scholar and public figure Avo (Avetis) Katerjian. The event was attended by diplomats, representatives of Armenia’s academic, educational, cultural and library sectors, as well as representatives of the diaspora.

The monograph is written in Western Armenian and was published by a decision of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Oriental Studies, with the support of the All-Armenian Foundation for the Financing of Armenological Studies. In her speech, Gohar Iskandaryan, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies and an Orientalist, said the institute supported the publication of the book, emphasizing its academic and political significance. In this regard, the Institute of Oriental Studies serves as a bridge not only between Armenia and the countries of the Middle East, but also, in many cases, in academic relations between Armenia and the diaspora.

The book’s editor, Armenian press history specialist Albert Kharatyan, and managing editor, Arabist Araks Pashayan, spoke about the book’s substantive features and bibliographic significance, while the author presented in detail the century-long history of the Syrian Armenian press in the context of historical and geopolitical transformations.

The experts noted that the work represents an important contribution not only to the study of the Syrian Armenian press, but also to the study of the Armenian press in general and the Syrian Armenian community, and could contribute to further research in this field. The book includes 228 newspapers and periodicals, 111 of which were discovered by the author, rescued from obscurity and introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time.

At the conclusion of the event, Syrian Armenian researcher Avo Katerjian received a special certificate of appreciation from the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies for his significant contribution to the field of Oriental studies.

The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), with the support of the Asian Development Bank, has developed and made publicly available an interactive map of the country’s climate and natural hazards.

It presents different risks at the settlement level and can be used as a preliminary basis for financial, investment and spatial planning decisions.

The official presentation of the “Climate Risk Map of Armenia” project took place at the Central Bank headquarters in Yerevan on September 29. Representatives of the CBA, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and public administration bodies attended the event. The tool is available on the CBA’s official website.

The map allows users to find an individual settlement, view the hazards associated with it, compare it with other settlements and identify areas where more in-depth study is needed. The calculation table published on the platform currently contains 1,001 entries, including the settlement name, community and province, available population data, indicators for individual hazards and a combined index.

During the presentation, CBA Board Member Artak Manukyan spoke about the economic significance of the initiative, emphasizing that the map developed with ADB financing is already available on the CBA website and has become a public tool.

“Climate risks are increasingly turning into economic risks. We are also seeing various manifestations of these risks in our country; they are already becoming measurable indicators,” Manukyan said, adding that the CBA also attaches importance to raising awareness on this topic.

According to Manukyan, the map is the first step toward broader possibilities.

“It would be highly desirable if, based on these data, we could later also integrate buildings and structures, have certain social statistics, structural data, and age and sex data on residents, so that especially in early warning systems we can provide support more quickly and in a more targeted manner,” he said.

According to him, this is not only for lending or similar decisions. State administration bodies can also integrate these data into their decisions and prevent future risks.

ADB Armenia Country Director Lyaziza Sabyrova noted that the consequences of climate change concern not only the environment but also economic development, people’s health, financial markets and financial stability.

“We understand how important it is to make informed decisions based on data and quality analysis. Climate risks are not uniform: their nature and potential impact differ by sector and location. We are here today to strengthen the ability to assess these risks and use the information effectively,” Sabyrova said.

According to her, the tool combines spatial information, methodology and the institutional approaches necessary for its application.

“It is more than a digital platform. And the fact that the tool has already been developed does not mean that we are stepping away: our experts will continue working with you to improve it,” Sabyrova said, emphasizing the importance of the map also being used by the private sector, civil society and the analytical community.

ADB Finance Sector Senior Project Officer Marine Nikoghosyan emphasized the practical application of the tool.

“Climate risks are very often presented in rather theoretical terms and do not become tangible. This tool makes it possible to have more concrete, clear, measurable, substantiated and comparable information,” she said.

According to Nikoghosyan, the map was developed during the initial stage, followed by assigning weights to the hazards, while in the final stage a version for use on mobile devices was also created.

“For us, the value of this work lies precisely in the comprehensive approach: it moves from the theoretical field to practical application, combining spatial analysis and official information.

At this stage, this tool should under no circumstances be considered a mandatory financial assessment guideline. It is intended as a supporting tool so that banks can have a more accurate understanding when assessing risks,” Nikoghosyan said. According to her, they aim to expand the use of the map beyond the financial system in the future.

The platform contains layers on drought, heat, floods, mudflows, landslides, hail, frost and water availability. The interactive map also allows users to separately activate layers showing flood events, actual changes in temperature and precipitation in 2011–2025, drought frequency, burned areas in 2018–2025, administrative boundaries and settlements. The different layers make it possible to see the specific hazards of a given location alongside the combined index.

According to the CBA, the map is primarily intended for financial organizations. If a bank or insurance company combines its customers’ property and portfolio data with the map, it can gain a better understanding of physical climate risks related to lending, collateral assessment, insurance and portfolio management. For example, the same economic activity may be exposed to different types of hazards in different settlements, and the map indicates where additional study is needed.

The tool can also be useful for infrastructure and spatial planning, agriculture, water resources management and research. It allows users at the preliminary stage to compare locations, discuss adaptation measures and determine in which cases local measurements or an expert assessment are necessary.