Category: News

Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler met with Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov and Romanian Defense Minister Radu-Dinel Miruță.

According to Anadolu Agency, citing a statement by Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defense, the meeting took place at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on the sidelines of the 36th NATO Summit.

Following the talks, the three defense ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the MCM Black Sea (Mine Countermeasures Black Sea) joint task group, aimed at strengthening mine countermeasure cooperation and enhancing maritime security in the Black Sea.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has cancelled a planned visit to Israel scheduled for July 8 following the latest exchange of strikes with Iran.

The Times of Israel reported the development, citing an unnamed Israeli official.

The official confirmed that Hegseth had been expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the visit, but did not elaborate on the reason for its cancellation.

The BBC also reported that the visit had been cancelled.

Hegseth is currently in Türkiye with U.S. President Donald Trump for the NATO summit taking place on July 7-8. Neither the United States nor Israel had officially confirmed the planned visit.

Israeli media had earlier reported that Hegseth’s visit was intended to ease Israeli concerns over the possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously warned that supplying advanced aircraft to Ankara would “disrupt the balance of power in the Middle East” by weakening Israel’s military advantage.

In response, Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry described Netanyahu’s remarks as a “disinformation campaign” aimed at undermining Türkiye’s defence requirements and diverting attention from regional conflicts.

This article is published under the cooperation agreement between Armenpress and Moldpres.

The European Parliament on July 8 adopted its annual report on the Republic of Moldova, calling for the immediate opening of accession negotiations on all remaining chapters that have yet to be launched, Moldpres reported.

The report was adopted with 505 votes in favour, 115 against and 45 abstentions.

Member of the European Parliament Siegfried Mureșan said the vote demonstrated the European Parliament’s full support for Moldova’s European path.

“We, the European Parliament, consider the Republic of Moldova to be the frontrunner in the accession process, and we believe this progress should be rewarded by accelerating the negotiation process,” he said.

According to Mureșan, the report also “condemns the Russian Federation’s repeated attempts to destabilise the Republic of Moldova, including efforts to influence the outcome of democratic elections.”

He added that the European Parliament had called for increased financial and technical assistance from the European Union to enable Moldova “to become more secure, withstand external threats and continue on its European path.”

During a debate in the European Parliament on July 7, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos called for opening all remaining negotiating chapters with Moldova “as soon as possible,” stressing that the country had implemented reforms at an impressive pace and that supporting its European integration was an investment in a stronger, safer and more united Europe.

The Republic of Moldova opened the first cluster of its EU accession negotiations, Fundamentals, on June 15, 2026, during the second EU–Moldova Intergovernmental Conference held in Luxembourg.

This article is published under the cooperation agreement between Armenpress and BTA.

Bulgaria’s General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime will be empowered to order the removal of terrorist content and block access to it online under amendments to the Interior Ministry Act adopted at second reading by parliament on July 8.

The information was reported by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).

Under the amendments, the directorate will be required to prepare an annual report in accordance with the relevant EU regulation. The report will be published on the Interior Ministry’s website, while a separate report must be submitted to the European Commission by March 31 each year.

The Directorate for International Operational Cooperation has been designated as the single point of contact for the exchange of information between the competent law enforcement authorities of EU member states for the purposes of preventing, detecting and investigating criminal offences.

By March 1 each year, the Interior Ministry will provide the European Commission with statistical data on information exchanges carried out by the directorate with other member states during the previous calendar year.

The amendments also expand the powers of the Border Police in addressing threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles in border areas by enabling enhanced border control and special security measures in the public areas and perimeters of airports.

“In view of the functional responsibilities of the Border Police, it is necessary for its authorities to have the legal powers to counter this type of threat by using technical means to block electronic communications services and electronic communications,” the explanatory note to the amendments states.

The Border Police will also be authorised to request information from Bulgaria’s Passenger Information Unit. The stated purpose is to prevent, investigate and detect offences related to human trafficking, irregular migration, smuggling and other border-related crimes.

The amendments further introduce the right to paid parental leave for Interior Ministry employees who are fathers or adoptive parents raising a child under the age of eight.

Cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the United Nations (UN) is entering a new phase, according to Bakyt Sultanov, EEC Minister in charge of Economy and Financial Policy.

Sultanov made the remarks in a video address to participants of the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

He recalled that, on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Forum held in Astana in late May 2026, the EEC and UNCITRAL signed a memorandum of understanding, laying the foundation for expanding cooperation between the two organisations.

According to Sultanov, the memorandum will enable the EEC to apply UNCITRAL’s international standards and best practices when drafting legal acts of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in the field of trade law. Under the 2026 cooperation programme, the two sides plan to hold a series of joint webinars, exchange information, and support the translation of UNCITRAL’s online training courses.

The minister also highlighted key items on the session’s agenda, including the establishment of an advisory centre on investment dispute settlement, the development of e-commerce and digital platforms, the regulation of online payments, measures to strengthen transaction security, and legal issues related to insolvency.

“It is important for us that international standards and expert recommendations find practical application, helping EAEU member states improve regulation, reduce business costs, develop digital tools, ensure legal certainty, and strengthen trust among participants in economic activity,” Sultanov said.

The European Union has donated a next-generation remote-controlled demining machine to Armenia to support humanitarian mine clearance efforts, Peter Wagner, Head of the European Commission’s Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), announced during a press briefing.

According to Wagner, the machine weighs about 20 tonnes and forms part of a €5.5 million demining assistance package provided by the EU.

He said the package includes operator training, safety and first-aid equipment, as well as a large supply of spare parts needed for operations in difficult terrain, including mountainous areas.

“This machine is part of a €5.5 million demining package that includes extensive training, as these machines are technically demanding to operate. It also includes safety equipment, first-aid kits used during demining operations, and a significant stock of spare parts because the machine will be operated remotely in very challenging environments, sometimes in mountainous terrain,” Wagner said.

Wagner described demining as an essential component of peacebuilding, saying it enables people living in border communities to see and feel that their surroundings are becoming safer.

The machine will support humanitarian demining operations in hazardous areas across Armenia. It will also be used during the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process.

The participation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the farewell ceremonies for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei reflects the enduring ties and special relationship between Armenia and Iran, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Khalil Shirgholami said.

Speaking at a press conference at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Yerevan on July 8, titled “Until the Last Moment, for the Homeland,” Shirgholami said the farewell and funeral ceremonies for the late Iranian leader were attended at the highest level by senior officials from 41 countries as well as the heads of four regional and international organizations.

According to the ambassador, the raised fist of the late leader became the symbol of the mourning ceremonies, representing the continuation of Iran’s path of dignity and resilience.

“From our neighboring and friendly country, the Republic of Armenia, we witnessed the presence of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the high-level delegation he led at the final farewell ceremony for the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This speaks to the enduring ties and the special nature of relations between our two countries. I consider it my duty to express my gratitude and appreciation for the presence of the Armenian delegation. It once again confirms the existing ties between our countries, the human bonds between our peoples, and the need to further strengthen and expand those relations,” Shirgholami said.

The ambassador recalled that the late Iranian leader had held Armenia in high regard and often referred to it as Iran’s “honest neighbor.”

He added that Khamenei also showed special respect toward the Armenian community in Iran and regularly visited Armenian families, particularly those whose sons had been killed during the Iran-Iraq War.

“He consistently emphasized the importance of Armenian-Iranian friendship,” Shirgholami said.

The ambassador expressed hope that the late leader’s ideas and vision would continue to serve as a guiding light for the development of Armenia-Iran relations and the implementation of major joint initiatives in the future.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28. He had led Iran for 37 years, succeeding the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, in 1989. Iranian authorities declared 40 days of national mourning and seven days of public holidays following his death.

The signing of a strategic partnership document between Armenia and Iran will create a new atmosphere in bilateral relations and open a new window for cooperation in various areas, including politics, the economy, investment and security, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Khalil Shirgholami said.

Speaking at a press conference on July 8, the ambassador said Tehran is committed to institutionalizing Armenia-Iran cooperation within the framework of the planned strategic partnership document.

“It is our desire and will to carry out serious and decisive work to institutionalize Armenian-Iranian cooperation within the framework of the strategic partnership document. This has been discussed at various levels, and clear statements have been made. Last week, when the Armenian prime minister met with the Iranian president, the importance of this issue and the need to achieve results as soon as possible were once again emphasized,” Shirgholami said.

He said Iran is taking consistent steps toward signing the document.

“We are working on the text and hope to finalize and complete it soon and begin the signing process. Iran would warmly welcome the visit of honorable Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Iran, where the document will be signed. This will create a new atmosphere in Armenian-Iranian relations and open a new window for further cooperation in various fields, including politics, the economy, investment and security,” the Iranian ambassador said.

Armenian-American interventional pain specialist Dr. Armen Deryan believes Armenia can significantly strengthen its healthcare system by expanding international professional cooperation and systematically engaging the expertise of the Armenian diaspora.

Speaking during a visit to Armenia organized under the BRIDGE initiative, Deryan said the combination of medical education, clinical collaboration and long-term professional partnerships could help advance the country’s capabilities in pain management and minimally invasive medicine while positioning Armenia as a regional center for specialized healthcare.

Practicing in the United States, Deryan specializes in interventional pain management, regenerative medicine, spine interventions and image-guided minimally invasive procedures. Alongside his clinical work, he has been involved in physician education, mentorship programs and international medical cooperation.

“Armenia has always held a special place in my heart, and I have long wanted to find ways to contribute professionally to the development of its healthcare system,” he said.

According to Deryan, the BRIDGE initiative is designed to build sustainable links between Armenia and the diaspora through educational exchanges, mentorship, clinical cooperation and long-term institutional partnerships rather than short-term professional visits.

He said Armenia possesses considerable medical potential and that many of the country’s healthcare institutions are led by highly qualified and motivated professionals committed to expanding minimally invasive treatment options and strengthening international cooperation.

During his visit, Deryan toured several leading medical centers, including Erebuni Medical Center, the Interventional Radiology Center, Arabkir Medical Complex and ArtMed Medical Center, where he met physicians and administrators working to modernize clinical practice.

Deryan also highlighted the complementary role of the MEDam platform, which aims to strengthen links between healthcare, international cooperation and medical tourism by promoting quality standards, professional accreditation and patient-centered care.

He believes Armenia has the potential to become a regional hub for specialized medical services, particularly in pain management, interventional radiology, rehabilitation medicine and minimally invasive procedures.

The physician said many Armenian doctors abroad are already interested in contributing through initiatives such as BRIDGE, not to replace local professionals but to share expertise, mentor young physicians and build lasting professional networks.

“Medicine today is international, collaborative and rapidly evolving. The most important thing is to continue building bridges between generations, countries, institutions and ideas,” Deryan said.

The BRIDGE initiative promotes medical tourism in Armenia and facilitates visits by internationally recognized Armenian physicians to share their expertise with healthcare professionals in the country.

The European Union is discussing with the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan how it can best support the development of regional transport and connectivity routes in the South Caucasus, Magdalena Grono, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, said in Yerevan.

Speaking to reporters, Grono said the progress achieved toward building sustainable peace in the region had been “incredibly impressive.”

“As the European Union, we seek to be a strong partner for the Republic of Armenia, but also for Azerbaijan, so that this peace becomes a lasting reality that benefits all people,” she said.

Grono noted that the EU supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process through political engagement as well as practical initiatives.

She said the bloc is also looking at ways to support areas where discussions are still ongoing and which could benefit communities on both sides, including humanitarian demining.

According to Grono, demining has a direct impact on communities affected by conflict and could also facilitate broader regional connectivity and the development of new transport links.

Referring to the EU-funded remote-controlled demining machine delivered to Armenia on July 8, she said the equipment forms part of the EU’s broader support for peacebuilding efforts.

Grono also reaffirmed that regional connectivity and the wider unblocking of transport links in the South Caucasus remain high on the EU’s agenda.

“We are discussing with the Armenian authorities, but also with our Azerbaijani partners, how we can best support the development of these routes so that all countries are involved and all communities along them benefit. We also want to make a meaningful contribution to what is a priority for the European Union – the Middle Corridor, which connects Asia with Europe through the South Caucasus,” she said.