Category: News

For Armenia, protecting mountains also means protecting its identity, water security and the future of its communities. With this conviction, the “Yerevan Platform for Mountains and Associated Freshwater Ecosystems”, one of the initiatives of Armenia’s COP17 presidency, has been launched during the conference.

Armenian Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan announced this in a post on his official Facebook page.

“Through the platform, we aim to bring mountain countries together and help ensure that the conservation of mountains and freshwater ecosystems is prioritised in national biodiversity plans, climate strategies and state budgets. For us, Lake Sevan is one of the clearest examples of this connection: conserving it brings together nature, water resources and people’s well-being.

“I have invited partner countries to join the platform, and international organisations and donors to provide technical assistance and investment. Our aim is to turn cooperation on conserving mountain ecosystems into concrete projects implemented in individual countries,” the minister stressed.

Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tone Kajzer will arrive in Armenia on October 28.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan will meet his Slovenian counterpart at the ministry’s headquarters in Yerevan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesperson Ani Badalyan said in a statement.

The ministers will hold a joint press conference following the meeting.

On the same day, Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Tone Kajzer will attend the opening of the Armenia-Slovenia Business Forum.

Saudi Arabian Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud has arrived in Armenia.

Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, who welcomed the Saudi prince at Zvartnots International Airport, announced the visit.

“I welcomed His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Papoyan wrote on his Facebook page.

Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Saudi Arabia were established as recently as November 2023.

Her Majesty Queen Sofía, the former queen consort of Spain, arrived in Armenia on October 27.

Queen Sofía of Spain was welcomed at Zvartnots International Airport by Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan.

Her visit to Armenia will continue through October 29.

During her visit, Queen Sofía will attend the award ceremony of the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development, visit historical and cultural sites in Armenia, and participate in events dedicated to culture and the friendly ties between Armenia and Spain.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hosted Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain at the Government headquarters.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Pashinyan welcomed Her Majesty’s visit and expressed hope that she would leave Armenia with warm impressions. He added that visits to Armenia by two senior Spanish figures this year — first Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and now Queen Sofía — demonstrated the development of relations between the two countries.

Pashinyan said the positive momentum in bilateral relations should be used to further strengthen political dialogue.

Queen Sofía thanked him for the warm welcome and said she was impressed by the hospitality and by Armenia. Her Majesty said she would attend the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development award ceremony in Yerevan. She also planned to visit Armenia’s historical and cultural sites and attend events dedicated to Armenian–Spanish friendship.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Pashinyan and Queen Sofía exchanged views on the further development of relations between the two countries.

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has left the country for the United States after losing Sunday’s presidential election, Reuters reported, citing three sources, with the US State Department due to grant him and his family entry visas.

Bolsonaro, who has yet to concede to leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left Brazil after refusing to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports.

The ‌ruling relates to a money laundering probe in which he denies wrongdoing.

The location of Flavio, his wife and two daughters was not immediately clear. One source close to the family said Flavio had landed in Florida, but declined to say where, according to Reuters.

“The State Department will issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family and allow them entry into the United States,” a senior State Department official told Reuters.

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he would approve of Flavio Bolsonaro coming to the United States.

“Well, I would approve. I think they’re fine people. The election was very strange, and I thought it was terrible. It’s gotten bad reviews. You look at what happened to their market”, Trump said.

“I think it’s so terrible to see it. I didn’t take sides, you know. I know them both. I know Lula. I know Flavio a little bit. I know the father very well. The father was treated really badly. I thought, but I wasn’t involved. That’s Brazil. It’s a different country”, he said.

Trump has previously alleged Flavio’s father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, was a victim of judicial persecution in Brazil. The elder Bolsonaro also went to the United States after refusing to concede to Lula in 2022, when former US President Joe Biden was in office. He eventually returned but was later given a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia.

Lula, speaking in Brasilia, said he had just heard that Flavio had left the country, ‌and called ⁠it shameful, saying he should have stayed in Brazil and proved his innocence.

US President Donald Trump said a meeting would soon be arranged involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an effort to end the war between their countries, Bloomberg reported.

“I think with Russia, we’re making a lot of progress with Russia-Ukraine,” Trump told reporters early Wednesday after returning from Texas, where he held two midterm election campaign rallies. “There’ll be a meeting set up here soon,” he added, “with President Putin and President Zelenskyy.”

Her Majesty Queen Sofía, the former queen consort of Spain, visited the Geghard Monastery complex accompanied by Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan during her visit to the Republic of Armenia.

Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain toured the monastery complex and learned about the history of this exceptional monument of medieval Armenian architecture, the ministry said in a press release.

The Queen listened to spiritual music, experiencing the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of the Armenian people.

The “Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley” site has been granted Enhanced Protection status by UNESCO, recognizing its exceptional importance to humanity. Geghard Monastery and the Upper Azat Valley are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a site of outstanding universal value.

Queen Sofía of Spain’s visit to Armenia will continue until October 29. Her Majesty will attend the award ceremony of the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development, as well as events aimed at strengthening friendly ties between Armenia and Spain.

Her Majesty Queen Sofía, the former queen consort of Spain, visited the Garni Pagan Temple and the Symphony of Stones natural monument during her trip to Armenia.

Queen Sofía of Spain was accompanied by Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan.

According to the ministry’s press release, Queen Sofía toured the grounds of the Garni Temple and learned about the history and significance of this unique monument of Armenia’s Hellenistic-era architecture.

Her Majesty also visited the Symphony of Stones natural monument, which is included on Armenia’s list of specially protected natural areas.

Queen Sofía’s visit to Armenia will continue until October 29. Her Majesty will attend the award ceremony for the Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development, as well as events aimed at strengthening friendly ties between Armenia and Spain.