Category: News

Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan met with Julie Crowley, Ambassador of Canada to Armenia.

Rubinyan congratulated the ambassador on her appointment and wished her success in carrying out her diplomatic mission, the parliament’s press service reported.

The meeting addressed issues related to the development of bilateral relations between Armenia and Canada and the expansion of cooperation.

The sides highlighted the importance of strengthening interparliamentary ties and advancing the bilateral agenda through parliamentary diplomacy.

National Assembly Speaker Ruben Rubinyan said the new Constitution would make the article establishing Armenian as the Republic of Armenia’s sole state language unamendable.

Rubinyan made the remarks in a video posted on his Facebook page.

“Under the new Constitution, the article establishing Armenian as the Republic of Armenia’s sole state language will become unamendable. This means that, unlike under the current Constitution, it will no longer be possible to amend that article and, consequently, change the state language or add other state languages. Why is this important? Because this will protect the main pillar of our national identity: our language,” the Parliament Speaker said.

Rubinyan criticised proposals by various figures to grant state-language status to other languages, mentioning Russian and English in this context.

“No, we do not need new state languages. Armenian is a state language, the language of the people who founded the state. It has fulfilled its role as a state language for centuries and must do so forever,” he said.

The Parliament Speaker also called for steps to ensure that the opposition did not obstruct the adoption of the amendment.

In 2027, the eligibility criteria for compensation for deposits made with the USSR Savings Bank are expected to be expanded to include individuals born on or before December 31, 1946, Armenia’s Minister of Labor and Welfare Arsen Torosyan has said.

He told lawmakers at a joint meeting of parliamentary committees discussing the 2027 state budget bill that the number of beneficiaries is expected to nearly double, increasing from approximately 5,500 to around 11,000.

“We will seek to return deposits held with the Savings Bank to more people. Currently, we are compensating those born on or before December 31, 1944, and we plan to move forward by two years at once, covering the deposits of those born on or before December 31, 1946,” Torosyan said.

According to the minister, the draft budget allocates approximately 2.1 billion drams for the “Deposits and Other Compensation” program, around 1.1 billion drams more than the approved allocation for 2026.

Discussions on granting special status to the families of those killed in the fuel depot explosion in Karabakh are continuing, but no solution has yet been found.

Minister of Labour and Welfare Arsen Torosyan said this in response to a question from Armenia faction MP Artur Khachatryan during discussions on the draft 2027 state budget at a joint meeting of the National Assembly’s standing committees on Labour and Welfare and on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs.

The MP asked how the Government intended to resolve the issue of the victims’ relatives’ status, stressing that it had been raised for years.

Torosyan said the issue had also been discussed at a meeting with compatriots forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. The minister distinguished between the circumstances of families of those killed and families of those missing.

“Our main concern involves people who are currently missing and whose family members are not receiving survivor benefits,” he said.

According to the minister, family members of those killed in the explosion receive survivor benefits. He also referred to the one-off compensation payments provided, noting that different mechanisms had been applied to military personnel and civilians.

Addressing the question of establishing special status for everyone, Torosyan stressed the need to assess the consequences of legislative changes.

“I think we need to be careful in this regard. Discussions are, of course, continuing, and the committee is also involved. If we find a solution that does not create other problems, we have no objection. To be honest, we have not found a solution so far, because we would need to amend laws, bring provisions into line and so on,” the minister said.

In response, Khachatryan cited a Court of Appeal ruling which, he said, linked the victims’ deaths to the consequences of the war. He proposed a separate meeting involving the ministry and the victims’ legal successors to find a solution.

“Let us — ourselves, yourselves and the legal successors, the victims’ legal successors — meet, even in a small group, and try to resolve this issue,” the MP proposed.

Torosyan expressed his readiness to attend a meeting in the proposed format.

Lawmakers have proposed making it mandatory to notify heirs during court proceedings concerning the transfer of deceased citizens’ funded pension savings to the state budget.

The issue was raised by Armenia faction MP Artur Khachatryan during discussions on the 2027 state budget bill at a joint session of the National Assembly Standing Committees on Labor and Welfare and Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs.

Addressing Minister of Labor and Welfare Arsen Torosyan, the MP referred to an investigation published by Hetq and asked about cases in which the mandatory funded pension savings of deceased citizens had been transferred to the state budget.

Torosyan said he was not sufficiently familiar with the details of the investigation and considered it necessary to discuss the matter with the relevant colleagues to establish what had happened.

The issue was also addressed by MP Nazeli Baghdasaryan (Civil Contract), Chair of the Standing Committee on Labor and Welfare. She highlighted the need to notify heirs, proposing amendments to the relevant procedure.

“The problem is that courts are hearing these cases without notifying legal successors. We could amend the procedure to make such notification mandatory. I think the solution lies in this area,” Baghdasaryan said.

Khachatryan endorsed the proposal, stressing that heirs should be notified before the funds are transferred.

“I fully agree. Legal successors should be notified first, and only then should the money be transferred. I think no reasonable person would renounce an inheritance,” the MP said.

On October 31, Hetq published an investigation detailing cases in which investment fund units held in the funded pension accounts of deceased citizens had been declared ownerless, with the corresponding funds transferred to the state budget. One of the key issues highlighted in the investigation was that relatives were unaware of the existence of the accounts and the procedures for inheriting the funds.

According to Ministry of Finance data cited in the investigation, more than 90.8 million drams had been transferred to the state budget in such cases over the past five years. As of October 8, 2026, the ministry had filed 128 lawsuits seeking to have investment fund units held in funded pension accounts declared ownerless.

Vulnerability benefits should provide temporary support until a family can get back on its feet, Minister of Labour and Welfare Arsen Torosyan said, explaining changes to the benefits system.

The minister addressed the issue during discussions on the draft 2027 state budget at a joint meeting of the National Assembly’s standing committees on Labour and Welfare and on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs.

During the discussion, MP Andranik Gevorgyan raised the issue of families that had lost their benefits following pension increases. He said there were cases where a family’s composition, assets and other circumstances had not changed, but citizens had been told their benefits were being discontinued because their pensions had increased. Gevorgyan also raised concerns about local assessments and the provision of adequate explanations to citizens.

Torosyan said the previous family and social benefits system had been replaced by a vulnerability benefit system based on different principles.

According to the minister, assessments had previously relied primarily on family members’ status, including their age, disability and number of children, with points assigned accordingly. The new system assesses a family’s needs, taking account of income, assets and household composition.

He said the system had first been piloted in Syunik and Kotayk provinces to identify and resolve problems. Families are reassessed one year after their previous assessment, meaning the changes do not apply to all families simultaneously.

Responding to the observation that nothing had changed in a family’s circumstances, the minister stressed that the assessment system itself had changed.

Torosyan also explained how income was calculated, noting that pensions, wages, disability benefits and other income were taken into account. The assessment uses the cost of the food basket, which is due to be updated for the following year.

“We are preparing to update it now, using the food basket for the third quarter of this year, so that it can be applied next year. We are also raising the thresholds,” the minister said.

He said benefit amounts varied under the new system according to a family’s assessed needs.

“Benefits can range from AMD 5,000 to AMD 250,000,” Torosyan said.

The minister also stressed the importance of ensuring employment for people able to work, referring to public works, training and employment support programmes. He said social policy should help families escape poverty.

“Benefits cannot bring prosperity. A benefit should be temporary, until a family can get back on its feet. The previous system was about precisely the opposite: keeping people in poverty indefinitely so that they would always be waiting for something else,” Torosyan said.

Responding to concerns about problems arising locally, he explained that assessment data were obtained electronically from various authorities and service providers. The minister also expressed his readiness to examine individual cases and make changes if systemic problems were identified.

Iran has proposed the establishment of a transboundary joint Peace and Friendship Park with Armenia, Dr. Hamid Zohrabi, Deputy Head for Natural Environment and Biodiversity at Iran’s Department of Environment and National Focal Point for the Convention on Biological Diversity, has said.

Zohrabi said the Iranian side had proposed the initiative to Armenia, and an agreement had been reached to examine and discuss it at expert meetings to be held after COP17, according to an established schedule.

Below is the full exclusive interview with Hamid Zohrabi.

Armenpress – How would you assess and sum up the COP17 meeting, and what are your impressions of its outcomes?

Dr. Hamid Zohrabi – First of all, I would like to express my gratitude, on behalf of myself and my colleagues, to the people and government of Armenia. Armenia was an excellent host country for this meeting. The proper organization, smooth conduct of the proceedings, and warm and sincere hospitality are highly appreciated.

Overall, considering that COP17 is being held ahead of 2030, the deadline set for achieving the 23 biodiversity targets, it is one of the most important conferences held under the Convention. Despite disagreements among countries on a number of issues, including financing, cooperation and mutual understanding among country representatives, as well as the flexibility demonstrated by delegates from some countries, made it possible to reach a final agreement.

The participation of the leaders and presidents of countries further underscored the importance of this conference in the eyes of the international community. Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran also made a significant contribution to reaching an agreement through their proposals. At the same time, I consider it important to emphasize that developed countries, as well as global funds operating in the field of biodiversity, must remain committed to their obligations to provide financial resources in a timely and equitable manner for the achievement of biodiversity targets.

-What proposals did the Iranian delegation put forward during its participation in the ministerial meeting, and what issues did it emphasize in the discussions among ministers?

-One of the main issues on which the Iranian delegation focused was the impact of the political climate created by certain countries on processes aimed at ensuring that a number of countries, including Iran, have fair and equal access to the financial, technical, technological and effective means necessary for biodiversity conservation and restoration.

The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that if different countries are expected to fulfill the same obligations within established and uniform timeframes, then the principles of transparency, fairness, equality and timely provision must also be fully upheld in the allocation of financial, technical and technological resources.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, based on its longstanding traditions of nature conservation and its national strategic documents and legislative acts, remains fully committed to the Convention on Biological Diversity. We are making every effort to properly fulfill our national commitments and targets, as well as the objectives and goals of the Convention, within the established timeframes, using our domestic capacities and resources. Political maneuvering, war and the creation of instability in the region will not divert us from our path toward achieving our goals.

Through a participatory process and based on a comprehensive and inclusive approach, Iran has fully revised its national biodiversity strategy and action plan, bringing it into line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Particular attention has been paid in this process to the involvement of women and young people, as well as strengthening cooperation and complementarity among multilateral environmental agreements.

In this context, based on the “whole-of-government, whole-of-society” approach and with the participation of numerous stakeholders, the Biodiversity Strategic Council has been established. The country’s new national biodiversity strategy and action plan have been approved by the Supreme Council for Environmental Protection, chaired by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the conservation of endangered species, the restoration of vulnerable populations, and the protection and restoration of their habitats to be priority areas in preserving the country’s natural heritage.

Joint monitoring and conservation of flagship species, the development and implementation of specific action plans for individual species, the establishment of specialized national working groups and expert committees on species, the development of wildlife rescue, treatment and rehabilitation centers, and the implementation of species recovery programs are among the measures we are undertaking to protect the country’s valuable species as part of the global mission to halt and reverse species extinction.

Regulations and guidelines have been approved to promote the participation of local communities and the private sector in biodiversity conservation, and specific programs have also been developed for the protection of mountain areas and biosphere reserves. Furthermore, through the expansion of protected areas based on biodiversity values, improvements in their management effectiveness and enhanced ecological connectivity, approximately 27.6% of Iran’s terrestrial and marine areas are now included in protected areas or other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). This brings us closer to the global goal of placing 30% of terrestrial and marine areas under conservation by 2030, known as the “30 by 30” (30×30) target.

-What practical benefits and outcomes can the COP17 meeting deliver in terms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation?

-In addition to participating in relevant professional sessions and establishing contacts with organizers and participants, the Iranian delegation held a number of meetings alongside the main conference sessions during COP17 with delegations from various countries, including China and India, as well as representatives of international organizations and conventions, including IUCN, CITES, IPBES and the Ramsar Convention, with the aim of expanding scientific and technical cooperation.

Furthermore, initiatives concerning the rescue of endangered species, technologies and monitoring in the field of biodiversity, the protection of mountain areas, and the elimination of harmful subsidies were valuable proposals presented by the COP17 President. Iran welcomed these initiatives, viewing them as an opportunity to expand cooperation and achieve biodiversity targets, and officially expressed through diplomatic channels its readiness to join them. Iranian representatives also held consultations with partners from several Convention-related associations to accelerate the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).

-Considering that Armenia and Iran are neighboring countries facing common challenges in the field of biodiversity, what prospects for cooperation do you see?

-Our proposal to neighboring Armenia was to establish a transboundary joint Peace and Friendship Park between the two countries. This proposal was presented during a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Minister of Environment of Armenia. A memorandum of understanding signed between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Armenia back in 2012 had envisaged addressing this issue. An agreement was recently reached to examine and discuss it at expert meetings to be held after COP17, according to an established schedule.

The purpose of establishing this Peace and Friendship Park is to jointly preserve wildlife migration corridors between the two countries, effectively protect border-area habitats, develop scientific and technical cooperation, and further strengthen friendly relations between Iran and Armenia. Another important issue discussed was the protection of the Araks River from pollution.

-Which of Iran’s environmental problems would you single out as requiring the most urgent attention? Based on your experience, what considerations and views could you share with your Armenian counterparts?

-The unjust sanctions imposed by Western countries, the environmental damage caused by the last two acts of aggression against Iran, and the unfair distribution of financial, technical and technological resources in the field of biodiversity conservation and restoration have created difficulties for environmental protection efforts in Iran. Although we continue to carry out our work consistently, guided by our legal and national obligations, and do not cease our efforts, these issues and the need to eliminate the existing injustice were among the important topics of our discussions during COP17, both with our neighbors and particularly in our dialogue with Armenia.

-How can governments ensure and guarantee that economic growth, infrastructure development and private-sector investment do not come at the expense of biodiversity?

-Although this issue is an international obligation established under the Convention on Biological Diversity, before undertaking such an obligation before the international community, governments must recognize the economic, political and social consequences of neglecting this issue. The consequences of biodiversity loss are borne first and foremost by the countries themselves. Due to the presence of extensive desert zones in Iran, fragile ecosystems have developed here, and this has been a focus of attention for policymakers and experts for many years. It was precisely for this reason that state institutions for nature conservation were established in Iran more than 70 years ago.

In fact, governments’ awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation, as well as the implementation of domestic measures in this direction, particularly the adoption of relevant regulations and laws, are the most important guarantees. The first operational target of the Global Biodiversity Framework addresses this issue quite comprehensively. Spatial planning based on a participatory approach and the prioritization of biodiversity conservation, as well as the application of effective management tools, including strategic assessments and environmental impact assessments, make it possible to minimize the negative impact of development and economic growth on biodiversity. It is under such conditions that we can also rely on the development of effective cooperation among countries in this field.

-Another important event is scheduled to take place in November. What are your expectations for COP31?

-The Islamic Republic of Iran, as in the case of COP17, will also actively participate in COP31 on climate change. Ensuring coherence and cooperation among the Rio Conventions and multilateral environmental agreements is one of the priorities of our work as the national focal point for the Convention on Biological Diversity. Iran also expects that environmental protection efforts at this conference will be free from certain politicized approaches. To ensure a healthy and viable life, as well as to achieve the prospect of living in harmony with nature, all people must live in a healthy and resilient biosphere. This can only be achieved through comprehensive cooperation by the international community.

Narek Karapetyan, leader of the National Assembly’s Strong Armenia faction, and faction MPs Harutyun Harutyunyan and Hasmik Yengoyan met Czech Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Petr Pirunčík on 2 November, the National Assembly said in a statement.

Welcoming the ambassador to parliament, Karapetyan discussed Armenia–Czechia relations and the importance of deepening cooperation across several sectors.

The opposition faction leader addressed what he considered shortcomings and problems in several areas, presenting his observations and views on how to resolve them.

The two sides exchanged views on expanding Armenia–European Union cooperation and Armenia’s European aspirations.

They also discussed regional developments, including the process of establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project. Karapetyan outlined the faction’s position on these processes.

Armenian Ambassador to Iran Grigor Hakobyan briefed representatives of the Iranian parliament’s Iran–Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group on the latest agreements and key principles concerning the TRIPP route, the Armenian Embassy in Iran said.

On 2 November, Hakobyan received the group’s head, Ara Shahverdyan, and members Geghard Mansuryan, Seyyed Mohammad Saadat Ebrahimi and Seyyed Mohammad Jamalian at the embassy.

The meeting covered cooperation between the Armenian and Iranian legislatures and steps to intensify contacts between their respective friendship groups.

“Ambassador Grigor Hakobyan presented the latest developments in bilateral relations with Iran to the Iranian MPs and stressed the readiness to further deepen relations in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust,” the statement said.

The two sides also addressed the unblocking of regional transport routes, in which context the ambassador presented the latest agreements concerning the TRIPP route.

Armenian Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan attended a conference organised in Yerevan at the initiative of the Armenian Council, delivering opening remarks and answering participants’ questions, the Security Council said.

The conference brought together representatives of civil society, the media and the expert community.

Following the secretary’s remarks and question-and-answer session, experts and civil society representatives took part in panel discussions on regional and geopolitical developments, as well as the challenges facing Armenia and its society.