Category: News

Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan has held a meeting with Shaikha Nasser Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, who earlier participated and delivered opening remarks at the Global Conference on Medical Tourism in Yerevan.

Grigoryan’s office said in a readout that they discussed Armenia’s great potential in the tourism sector and opportunities to realize it.

They also addressed regulations in the tourism sector and digital solutions, as well as prospects for localizing best practices in this area in Armenia.

The two sides also exchanged views on possible areas of cooperation between Armenia and UN Tourism.

In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the organization’s accumulated experience and knowledge.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Lieutenant General Edward Asryan held a meeting in Yerevan at the Defense Ministry headquarters with Italian Army Lieutenant General Stefano Mannino, President of the Centre for Higher Defense Studies (CHDS).

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to Armenia-Italy cooperation in the defense sector, specifically in the areas of military education and training, according to the ministry’s readout. 

The parties reached a number of agreements on expanding cooperation in the field of military education.

As part of his visit to Armenia, the delegation led by Lieutenant General Mannino also visited the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy and the National Defense Research University, where prospects and areas for cooperation between the military educational institutions were discussed.

Armenian political analyst Davit Stepanyan is convinced that the United Nations (UN) will either undergo fundamental transformation or a new organization will be created in its place, based on new geopolitical realities.

Amid the ongoing 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Davit Stepanyan addressed the UN’s role in resolving contemporary conflicts, as well as its role and significance in international relations.

“Not only in recent years, but also in recent decades, the UN’s role has, unfortunately, significantly diminished, because decisions are increasingly being made in major superpowers. The UN today, by and large, serves as a platform where the main actors try to legitimize their decisions, which are made contrary to the UN Charter and existing resolutions and legislation,” Stepanyan told Armenpress.

Addressing discussions concerning reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC), the political analyst emphasized that as a result of discussions on the issue, the role of the UNSC is unlikely to change for the better.

“Talk about increasing the number of permanent members of the UNSC reflects the geopolitical developments that have taken place recently, within the framework of which the number of states that are already regional actors or seek to have such status and functions is growing. These states, naturally, want to become permanent members of the UNSC. I do not think that if Türkiye or India become permanent members of the UNSC, the quality of decisions made there and the implementation of decisions will become more relevant than they are today,” the political analyst explained.

Stepanyan also spoke about the position of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has called for abolishing the veto power of permanent members of the UN Security Council.

“Türkiye is simply seeking to increase its role on the international stage. Each of Erdoğan’s steps, starting in 2002, when he became President of Türkiye, has been directed and aimed at achieving this goal. Erdoğan is trying to achieve such a decision at the UN, which indicates that he wants to open another door in order to fulfill his own ambitions. At least at the regional level, this is succeeding, because Türkiye is currently a regional power,” the expert said.

Taking into account the fact that, in addition to a legal-charter instrument, the UN has another instrument in the form of peacekeeping missions carried out under its auspices, Stepanyan noted that decisions related to the “blue helmets” are also not made by the UN.

“The deployment of peacekeeping forces in any given conflict zone is decided by individual superpowers that are interested in resolving a particular conflict, or, conversely, do not want the conflict to be resolved. For example, we saw that during the 44-day war, despite certain calls for the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in Karabakh, this did not happen for the simple reason that there was no consensus on this issue. And if there is no international consensus, even the UN Security Council at the highest level cannot make such decisions. If the UN were truly a fully functioning institution capable of exercising its powers to the fullest, then we would have a completely different situation in Karabakh at this point, and there would at least be an Armenian population there. In the case of the UN, the connection with the inability to make decisions is obvious here,” the political analyst said.

According to Stepanyan, the situation will certainly have a logical resolution in the future. 

“Certainly, there can be reforms within the framework of which the UN will undergo rebranding, or it will be completely dissolved, but a new structure will be created in its place, because both in the past and now, any state that is a major international actor has the problem of legitimizing its functions. In other words, superpowers take steps that are not accepted by the UN, but then try to legitimize them from the platform of the mentioned organization,” the political analyst concluded.

Green Rock press release 

As Armenia prepares to host COP17 in October, Dilijan will become a local platform for the biodiversity and sustainable development agenda for one week. From September 19 to 25, Villa3 Community Hub in Dilijan will host COP17 Week Dilijan, bringing together ideas and discussions around biodiversity conservation, nature, and sustainable development.

COP17 Week Dilijan is an initiative of Green Rock that, ahead of COP17, brings the international environmental agenda to the community level, bringing together businesses, environmental organizations, experts, and the local community. The initiative is implemented by the partnership and with the financial support of the UNDP Armenia Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net Armenia) Project.

One Week, One Shared Agenda

As part of COP17 Week Dilijan, discussions in Dilijan will focus on the interconnection between biodiversity and business, ecosystem services, biodiversity data collection, environmental education, human–nature relations, and opportunities for sustainable development.

The programme brings together business representatives, environmental organizations, experts, and members of the local community to explore how global environmental priorities can be translated into concrete initiatives and practical action in Dilijan.

The programme has been officially approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Armenia as a preparatory event for COP17.

According to Katerina Danekina, CEO of Green Rock, sustainable development is an important area of Green Rock’s work and is reflected across the company’s projects.

“For Green Rock, sustainable development is first and foremost about taking a responsible approach to how we develop places and what kind of value we create for people and future generations. This approach is also reflected in our projects: we follow international standards and, in particular, place strong emphasis on energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact throughout the development of our projects.

Several Green Rock projects have received EDGE certification, which is an important part of our approach. With COP17 Week Dilijan, we wanted to create not simply an event, but a platform for exchanging ideas and creating new opportunities for cooperation. For Green Rock, COP17 Week Dilijan is an opportunity to contribute to the future of Dilijan and demonstrate that global sustainable development goals can start at the community level, through concrete initiatives and collaborative action,” said Katerina Danekina, emphasizing the importance of the initiative in cooperation with the UNDP BES-Net Armenia Project.

Biodiversity in the Context of Local Development

Dilijan was selected as the location for the programme due to the natural, community, and economic characteristics of the city and its surrounding areas. Dilijan National Park, the surrounding forest ecosystems, and the close relationship between nature and the local economy make the city a natural platform for dialogue on biodiversity, sustainable development, and sustainable tourism.

As part of COP17 Week Dilijan, environmental issues will also be explored in the context of community development, education, business, and community life.

The programme includes “Green Transition: Biodiversity Training,” a training programme for women entrepreneurs and civil society organizations. An art and painting competition focused on ecosystem services will also be held.

On September 21–22, in partnership with MelonPan, HOSQ, and Rien à Porter, the programme will feature innovative art and culture sessions, sustainable fashion and traditional recipe workshops, as well as competition rounds and practical workshops. Evocabank, a programme partner, will award cash prizes to five participants for the best works.

Nature Through Exploration and Hands-On Experience

As part of COP17 Week Dilijan, participants will have the opportunity to explore Dilijan’s natural environment and take part in biodiversity data collection. The programme includes a guided nature trail and field practice using the iNaturalist platform.

On September 24, the Biodiversity Data & BioBlitz event will give participants an opportunity to engage directly in biodiversity observation and data collection.

On September 23, Green Rock Foundation will also host an AI Video & Animation Training focused on the use of AI tools in relation to biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The Role of Business in the Sustainable Development Agenda

COP17 Week Dilijan also reflects Green Rock’s approach, which views economic development, environmental responsibility, and the interests of local communities as interconnected.

This approach is reflected across the company’s projects in Dilijan, spanning development, hospitality, tourism, culture, education, and public infrastructure.

As part of COP17, Green Rock will participate in the Blue Zone, while in the Green Zone it will organize a conference on the role of the private sector in biodiversity, sustainable development, and the green transition. The company will also take part in a field visit, during which it will present its approach to integrating environmental principles into territorial development and investment processes.

Ahead of COP17, Green Rock has begun a partnership with SOLUTON, an environmental consultancy. The partners plan to develop long-term biodiversity initiatives in Dilijan and beyond, as well as joint events and activities within the framework of COP17.

The partnership will also include a joint presence in the COP17 Blue Zone, as well as joint events held as part of and ahead of COP17, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the business community and environmental experts.

An Armenian appeals court has upheld a prosecutor’s appeal against a lower court ruling that reclassified a suspect’s conduct from high treason to abuse of official powers, sending the criminal case back to a first-instance court for a new examination.

The court made the decision on September 22, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The suspect had originally been charged under Article 418, Part 1 (treason) of Armenia’s Criminal Code with providing, in exchange for money, information threatening Armenia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and external security to a representative of a foreign intelligence agency.

However, in its April 20, 2026 verdict, the Yerevan Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction reclassified the suspect’s conduct under Article 441, Part 1 of the Criminal Code. The provision concerns an official using their powers or influence arising from their position to the detriment of state or official interests, failing to perform or improperly performing their official duties, or carrying out an act outside or beyond the scope of their powers, where this causes significant harm to the rights, freedoms or legitimate interests of a person or organization, or to the legitimate interests of society or the state.

The first-instance court sentenced the suspect to two years in prison.

The prosecutor appealed the judgment.

The Court of Appeal upheld the prosecutor’s appeal on September 22 and sent the criminal case back to the first-instance court for a new examination.

Armenia’s police have detained two suspected mob bosses described as “thieves in law” after a family dispute allegedly escalated into a confrontation and an attempted act of retaliation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

A 58-year-old Gyumri resident described as a so-called “thief in law,” the highest rank in the criminal underworld’s hierarchy, which has been outlawed in Armenia, allegedly asked another “thief in law,” a 56-year-old Oshakan resident, to punish his former son-in-law after the latter had argued with his daughter.

The 56-year-old and a group of people allegedly assaulted the former son-in-law in Yerevan, prompting him to seek retaliation. However, he failed to carry out the alleged crime, the Ministry said.

The two alleged “thieves in law” were detained and presented to the investigative body. Measures are being taken to identify the other participants in the incidents. The investigation is ongoing.

Criminal subculture—a hierarchy-based code of conduct among criminal groups, originally believed to have emerged in Soviet prisons and associated with the self-styled “thieves-in-law”—has been outlawed in Armenia since the passage of anti-mafia legislation in 2020.

Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan held a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Khalil Shirgholami.

According to a readout, Speaker Rubinyan and Ambassador Shirgholami discussed issues related to the development of bilateral relations between Armenia and Iran and the continued deepening of cooperation in various fields.

They also discussed opportunities to expand parliamentary ties, as well as a number of regional issues.

Armenian National Assembly President Ruben Rubinyan received UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili on September 23.

According to a statement from the National Assembly, the meeting focused on the productive cooperation established between the Armenian parliament and UNDP, as well as opportunities to expand it further.

Flu vaccines are now available at all primary healthcare clinics in Armenia, and vaccination is free for both Armenian and foreign citizens. 

People are free to choose any polyclinic for vaccination, and several mobile vaccination centers will also operate in Yerevan.

Zaruhi Grigoryan, Deputy Director General of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, said that 225,000 doses of the vaccine have been procured this year.

“Year after year, we see more citizens seeking vaccination. We are increasing the number of vaccines in response to demand. It is noticeable that our citizens have become more informed, and in addition to people in risk groups, many others are also seeking vaccination. I should say that our citizens are free to choose a polyclinic; they can go to any location and get vaccinated,” Grigoryan said.

To make vaccination more accessible, mobile centers will also operate at several locations in Yerevan, specifically in the Vernissage area, Republic Square and near the statue of Gai. The mobile centers will operate from 10:00 to 16:00. Vaccination is free, and both Armenian citizens and foreign citizens can receive it.

Svetlana Grigoryan, Head of the Immunization Department of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, said that vaccination is particularly important for people in risk groups.

“The risk groups are people over the age of 65, pregnant women, children aged six months to five years, both beneficiaries and staff at social care centers, healthcare workers, and military personnel. Influenza manifests itself in a more severe form in these groups. Vaccination specifically prevents severe forms of the disease and deaths,” Svetlana Grigoryan said.

She said that vaccination is also available to people with mobility problems. In such cases, they should contact their assigned medical center, which will arrange for vaccination at the person’s place of residence.

The epidemiological situation is currently calm. Experience shows that activity usually begins in early October, while influenza circulates most widely in November and December. Therefore, specialists urge people to get vaccinated during this period and protect themselves ahead of the seasonal increase in activity.