Category: News

Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has sent a message of condolences to Kazakhstan’s Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Dauren Kosanov, over the deadly incident during naval exercises in the Caspian Sea.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia and myself, I express my deep condolences and sympathy over the tragedy that occurred on September 24, 2026, in Kazakhstan’s section of the Caspian Sea, during naval exercises of the Kazakh Naval Forces, which resulted in the deaths of servicemen,” the message says.

Minister Papikyan expressed condolences to the relatives and friends of those killed, wishing them strength, and wished those injured a speedy recovery, the ministry said. 

During a combat training exercise, 17 Kazakh servicemen were swept out to sea after the weather suddenly deteriorated and strong winds struck the area. Three were rescued, while 14 died, according to Kazakhstan Today news agency.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also conveyed his condolences to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev over the incident.

Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan held a meeting with Petr Pirunčík, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Armenia.

According to the Security Council Office, Secretary Simonyan and Ambassador Pirunčík discussed various issues related to the development of both bilateral and Armenia-EU relations, with an emphasis on developing economic cooperation.

They also touched upon regional developments.

Secretary of the Security Council Alen Simonyan held a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Khalil Shirgholami.

The Security Council Office said in a readout that issues pertaining to multifaceted bilateral cooperation were discussed at the meeting.

Regional developments were also discussed.

Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan held a meeting with Lithuanian Ambassador to Armenia Andrius Pulokas.

According to the parliament press service’s readout, the sides discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation between Armenia and Lithuania.

They emphasized the importance of deepening the friendly relations established between the two countries, highlighting the need to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy and activate interparliamentary ties.

The Armenia-EU agenda was also discussed.

Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan held a meeting with the newly appointed French Ambassador to Armenia Florian Escudié.

Speaker Rubinyan congratulated Ambassador Escudié on assuming office and wished him success in carrying out his diplomatic mission, according to the readout issued by the parliament’s press service.

The meeting highlighted the friendly relations established between Armenia and France, emphasizing the need for their further deepening and expansion.

The sides also referred to the effective cooperation established between the parliaments of the two countries and the need to further strengthen it.

The sides emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in the economy, infrastructure, education, culture, and other areas as well.

It was emphasized that the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Armenia and France creates new opportunities for further deepening and comprehensive development of relations.

Speaker Rubinyan and Ambassador Escudié exchanged views on a number of regional issues.

Armenian Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan held a meeting with Dutch Ambassador Marieke Monroy-Winter.

The parliament’s press service said Speaker Rubinyan and Ambassador Monroy-Winter discussed the development and deepening of bilateral relations between Armenia and the Netherlands. They attached importance to expanding parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. Regional issues were also discussed.

On the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, David Karapetyan, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Armenia, participated in the annual meeting of the Informal Ministerial Network on the International Criminal Court (ICC), organized by Liechtenstein and Austria.

According to the Armenian ministry’s readout, in his remarks, David Karapetyan emphasized the importance of maintaining the effectiveness and credibility of international legal institutions amid growing contemporary international crises.

He noted that Armenia supports the International Criminal Court’s independent and impartial fulfillment of its mandate in accordance with the Rome Statute and the principles of international law.

The Secretary General presented the work being carried out to develop Armenia’s national legislative and institutional capacities within the framework of its engagement in the Rome Statute system.

In this context, the importance of expanding technical cooperation and the exchange of professional expertise was emphasized.

David Karapetyan reaffirmed Armenia’s readiness to continue cooperation with members of the Informal Ministerial Network, the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute and the International Criminal Court to strengthen an effective, independent and impartial international criminal justice system focused on the rights of victims.

Within the framework of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Robert Abisoghomonyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Armenia, delivered remarks at the 25th Annual Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries.

The Armenian ministry said in a press release that in his remarks the Deputy Minister stressed the importance of implementing the Awaza Programme of Action (APoA) for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) in order to overcome the structural challenges facing landlocked developing countries.

He emphasized the role of reliable access to regional and global markets, regional integration, and mutually beneficial cooperation among governments, development partners, the private sector, and international financial institutions in ensuring sustainable economic growth.

Abisoghomonyan presented the Armenian government’s Crossroads of Peace project and its important component, the TRIPP program, aimed at expanding trade and transport connectivity in the South Caucasus.

The Deputy Minister noted that the TRIPP program envisages creating a key trade route based on Armenia’s sovereignty, jurisdiction, and territorial integrity, contributing to regional peace, stability, and integration.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that alongside the development of physical infrastructure, trade facilitation, effective regulations, and the use of digital tools are necessary. In this context, he referred to programs being implemented in Armenia aimed at facilitating foreign trade procedures at border crossing points and digitalizing transport services.

Referring to the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to be held in Armenia, Robert Abisoghomonyan reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to advancing the biodiversity and climate agendas, including through the development of sustainable infrastructure with minimal environmental impact.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has promoted Armenian products on social media after the EU Council formally adopted temporary trade-liberalization measures.

“We took the decision to open our market to almost 80% of Armenian products, from apricots and cherries to tomatoes and cut flowers,” she said on Instagram.

“We want to give Armenian farmers and producers new opportunities after Russia restricted access to its market following Armenia’s democratic choice to move closer to Europe. One of the products is also the famous Armenian lavash bread. Last year, I visited a traditional bakery and saw how it is made. It is delicious. Next time you do your weekly shopping, look out for Armenian products. A small choice in your shopping basket can help Armenian farmers and producers, and support the Armenian people’s right to choose their own future.”

Kos posted photos from her trip to an Armenian bakery where she tried the lavash.

The Council of the EU formally adopted temporary trade-liberalization measures on September 24 for Armenian products to support Armenia’s economy following trade restrictions recently imposed by Russia.

These measures will liberalize around 80% of Armenian exports to the EU, suspending import duties on a broad range of products, including certain agricultural goods, the Council of the EU said in a press release.

This temporary preferential arrangement will apply for a period of two years.

These temporary measures will contribute to supporting and strengthening trade flows from Armenia to the EU, in line with the objectives of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The preferential arrangement comes with certain conditions and includes safeguard measures to protect the EU market if imports adversely affect EU producers. 

This final adoption follows the positive vote in the European Parliament plenary session on the Commission’s proposal without amendments.

“We are stepping up our support for Armenia and its people, who have clearly chosen a pro-European path in spite of foreign pressures. Today’s decision will help Armenia’s economy hit by trade restrictions and shows that our partners can always count on the EU,” said Helen McEntee, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland.

A 9-year-old Armenian boy was allegedly attacked with pepper spray in Jerusalem during Yom Kippur in what a local journalist described as an assault by Jewish extremists.

Israeli Channel 13 journalist Yossi Eli said on his X account that the boy, identified as William, was riding a bicycle near Jerusalem’s Mamilla neighborhood, listening to music through headphones. According to the journalist, a group of young people approached the child, threatened him and demanded that he remove his headphones, after which they sprayed him with pepper spray.

The journalist also published footage showing the child receiving medical assistance in an ambulance. He identified the attackers as Jewish extremists.

According to the journalist, this was the second attack against the child. During the first incident, William was with his father, who protected him, while the child was alone this time.

William’s mother told the journalist that after the incident, her son has difficulty sleeping and is afraid of people of “Jewish appearance.”

The journalist claims that the incident was captured by security camera footage, but that police closed the case without arresting anyone.

In recent months, other incidents targeting Israel’s Armenian community and religious institutions have also been recorded in Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter. On August 2, police arrested six ultra-Orthodox Jews who, according to police, struck the entrance door of the St. James Monastery and also threw stones toward the monastic complex.