Category: News

US President Donald Trump has again questioned the appropriateness of Washington’s participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. During his speech at the “Andrews” Air Base, the American leader severely criticized the financial investments in NATO aimed at protecting against the Russian threat, and promised to seriously review this issue.

According to the head of the White House, the United States has spent “trillions of dollars” to ensure the security of European allies from Moscow. Trump called the created situation “a little ridiculous” and emphasized that the administration intends to seriously analyze the financing of the military bloc.

Against the background of similar statements from Washington, official Moscow has repeatedly announced the absence of any aggressive plans. The position of the Russian leadership, which was voiced by the president Vladimir Putin, that is, the rhetoric about the “Russian threat” is artificially inflated by the Western elites in order to divert public attention from domestic socio-economic problems.

It should be noted that Donald Trump It is not the first time that the criticism of the alliance has been voiced by Earlier, the American leader had already allowed the possibility of the US leaving NATO. The refusal of the European partners to support Washington during the military operation against Iran was a reason for dissatisfaction. Trump described the reaction from allies as an “indelible stain” and said America does not need an alliance whose members shun mutual aid.

In addition, the relations with the Allies were strained due to the position of a number of states in connection with the US plans to establish control over Greenland. at that time, Trump also warned about his readiness to break ties with NATO.

The course of re-evaluation of the transatlantic partnership is also confirmed in the diplomatic department. As stated earlier by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after the settlement of the situation in the Middle East, Washington will have to fundamentally rethink the strategic value and role of the North Atlantic Alliance for American national interests.

—

Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II announced unprecedented pressures and targeted attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church by the current authorities. The spiritual leader mentioned this during a meeting with young pilgrims at the Mother See, pointing out the illegal arrests of the clergy and attempts to interfere in the affairs of the Church.

On April 12, a reception of about 650 young people from different dioceses of Armenia took place in the Holy Etchmiadzin Mother See. In his address to the believers, Garegin II emphasized the historical and spiritual role of the Church in the life of the Armenian people, but drew the main attention to the current crisis in relations with the state.

According to the Catholicos, during the last year, the clergy faced large-scale persecution by the representatives of the government. As an example, he mentioned unjustified arrests of bishops, artificial obstacles to spiritual service and attempts to seize ancient monasteries and churches.

The situation around the Masyatsotni Diocese has received particular criticism. according to the AAP bishop, the ex-priest, who was excommunicated with the open patronage of state institutions, continues to illegally dominate the presbytery and, based on the controversial decisions of the court and the enforcement service, acts as the head of the diocese in a secular capacity.

Garegin B also described the inclusion of unacceptable provisions directed against the Church by the ruling political force in its pre-election program as “another unconstitutional step”. The spiritual leader noted that such processes are accompanied by false accusations, incitement of intolerance and open threats.

Despite the aggravation of the situation, the Catholicos assured the flock that the Church will continue to protect national rights and the interests of the country. At the end of the meeting, he called on young people to actively participate in church life, to be faithful to Christian values ​​and to be law-abiding citizens.

—

The statement of the US command about the complete sea blockade of Iran has led to a logistical crisis. oil tankers are changing routes in an emergency, and global markets are preparing for a confrontation.

According to LSEG and Kpler monitoring systems, chaotic movement of ships is observed in the water areas of the Middle East. The captains are trying to leave the danger zone before the start of the alleged military operation, which is scheduled for 19:00 Yerevan time (17:00 Kyiv time). In particular, the Mombasa B tanker sailing under the flag of Liberia is carrying out ballasting in the Persian Gulf, and the huge Agios Fanourios I under the flag of Malta has turned over and dropped anchor in the Gulf of Oman.

Reuters analysts note that Donald Trump the administration took an extremely risky step. The success of the operation could deprive Tehran of its main economic lever, oil exports. However, experts doubt the plan’s long-term viability. Former senior Pentagon official Dana Stroll stresses that such a mission requires huge resources, and it will be problematic for Washington to maintain the blockade ring alone for months.

Additional geopolitical risks are related to the reaction of the largest energy importers, China and India. According to experts, Beijing is unlikely to remain an indifferent observer. In addition, there is a high probability of retaliatory steps by Tehran. Reserve Admiral Gerry Roughhead warned that the Iranian armed forces will most likely retaliate against American infrastructure and military bases in the region.

The growing tension has already affected the world stock markets. Expectations of possible supply disruptions and a protracted conflict have sent prices soaring. during the morning trading, the price of one barrel of oil reached the mark of 102 dollars.

—

The unprecedented 21-hour direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran ended in vain. The Iranian side blamed the failure of the peace agreement on the maximalist demands of the United States at the crucial moment of the dialogue.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran was sincerely striving for a constructive settlement of the conflict with the USA, but faced insurmountable obstacles. In his post on the X social network, the minister emphasized that the delegations were literally “inches” away from signing the Islamabad MoU. However, according to him, the agreement failed due to Washington’s “maximalism, goal shifting and blockade”. The diplomat noted that the US has not learned a lesson from the 47-year-old tense interaction.

The meeting held in the capital of Pakistan on April 11, which was facilitated by Islamabad, was of a historic nature. This was the first direct high-level dialogue between the delegations of the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The official representative of Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghai, described the long-term consultations as very tense. The agenda included the most complex issues of international security: the status of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, the lifting of economic sanctions and the payment of reparations.

Axios columnist Barak Ravidi according to the information, who refers to the high-ranking sources of the American government, the US delegation set tough conditions. Tehran was demanded to completely stop the enrichment of uranium, to withdraw the existing reserves from the territory of the country, to dismantle the main nuclear facilities, as well as to open the Strait of Hormuz unconditionally. The Iranian side categorically rejected these demands, which brought the negotiation process to a dead end.

—

American businessman Elon Musk referred to the results of the parliamentary elections held in Hungary. In response to the statements about the victory of democracy, he expressed the opinion that the real political control over the country has passed to the structures of the Soros family.

The debate took place on platform X against the background of the convincing victory of the Hungarian “Tisa” opposition party, which secured an absolute majority of 138 seats in the country’s 199-seat unicameral parliament based on the results of the April 12 vote.

A famous American financier became an occasion for Musk’s reaction George Soros որդու՝ Alex Soros publication. Commenting on the change of power in Budapest, the younger Soros wrote that “the Hungarian people have returned their country”. The head of the SpaceX and Tesla companies disagreed with this assessment, publicly declaring that in reality the power in Hungary was seized by the organization of George Soros.

According to the results of the counting of almost 99% of the ballots in Hungary, the “Tisa” party secured an absolute majority, 138 out of 199 seats in the national parliament. Acting Prime Minister Viktor Orban the ruling bloc led by

—

Tightening control of fare collection in Yerevan’s public transport led to a significant increase in receipts, but at the same time exacerbated conflicts between passengers and drivers. The municipality promises to punish the violators and calls on the citizens to support the drivers.

According to last week’s data, the number of validations in public transport in Yerevan increased by 15-30 percent. As Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan stated during the procedural session held on April 13, this positive change is the result of the instruction given on April 6, by which the drivers were obliged to personally monitor the fare collection process.

The new rules, however, caused serious tension on the routes. Since payment is made at the front door when boarding, drivers prefer to delay the opening of the rear doors, which causes displeasure of disembarking passengers and turns into fights of tongues. The situation is further complicated due to the refusal of some citizens to pay the new tariff (from 2025: 150 drams instead of the previous 100).

Last week, the tension also led to physical clashes. a serious incident of attack on the driver was registered. Three people have been arrested in connection with the case, and one more person is involved in the case. Tigran Avinyan emphasized that the culprits will be severely punished, adding that such actions are directed not only against an individual, but also against the entire city system.

The mayor thanked the drivers for their restraint and severely criticized those who evade payment, considering their aggressive behavior unacceptable. He called on conscientious citizens to support drivers in this transitional period, assuring that the establishment of discipline in the system will allow importing new vehicles in the future and ensure quality service in the capital.

—

The press conference of members of the “Peace Bridge” initiative, who recently visited Azerbaijan, was held in Yerevan. The members of the Armenian delegation spoke about the humanitarian discussions, the state of communications and the prospects of changing public sentiments in the conditions of the complex peace process.

The fourth round of mutual visits has already taken place within the framework of the “Bridge of Peace” civil society initiative. The 20-person delegation representing Armenia visited Azerbaijan, crossing the demarcated part of the border. According to Areg Kochinyan, the head of the Armenian delegation, the preservation and expansion of such a format after almost four decades of conflict is a significant achievement in itself. He emphasized that the initiative does not aim to rewrite or forget history, but is aimed at forming new narratives and opportunities for the coexistence of societies. Kochinyan noted that there are no guarantees of the success of the peace process, but refusing to work in this direction guarantees that there will never be peace.

Naira Sultanyan, a member of the delegation, drew attention to the humanitarian block of the negotiations. The Armenian side has repeatedly raised the issues of the return of prisoners, detained persons and missing persons, declaring that the unresolved humanitarian aspects contradict the logic of peaceful settlement. The Azerbaijani side, for its part, expressed concern regarding the problem of mined areas, because of which hundreds of people suffered, and also raised the issue of missing persons from the war of the 1990s. According to Sultanyan, such contacts allow to listen to the nuances of the other party’s perception of problems and to work towards strengthening trust so that humanitarian issues are depoliticized.

One of the important aspects of the visit was the study of transport infrastructure. Political scientist Samvel Meliksetyan shared his observations on the state of logistics routes. He emphasized the sharp contrast between modern four-lane highways and high-speed trains in Azerbaijan and outdated communications in Armenia. According to him, the 300 km journey along the Azerbaijani-Georgian highway required less time than the 170 km through the territory of Armenia. Meliksetyan noted that long-term isolation and the status of a “closed country” had a negative impact on Armenia’s transit competitiveness. He also added that the issue of transport connection with Nakhichevan remains key for Azerbaijan, and the delay in the process of unblocking communications contains risks.

Delegate Boris Navasardyan summarized the results related to public sentiments. He noted that Azerbaijani colleagues in their society record a gradual increase in the proportion of people who positively perceive the process of normalization of relations with Armenia. It is expected that after the parliamentary elections in Armenia, the civil dialogue format can be expanded, turning into a cluster work, where field specialists (environmentalists, businessmen, economists) of the two countries will start direct contacts for the purpose of implementing joint projects.

—

The first forum of the Eurasian Sports Cooperation Association was held in Armenia.

This large-scale event brought together prestigious and influential representatives of world sports in our country: presidents, vice-presidents of the Olympic committees of European and Asian countries, leaders of leading companies, as well as world-famous athletes.

The forum was an important step for the development of sports and international cooperation. It showed that sports can unite people and contribute to the implementation of joint projects.

Holding such a high-level conference in Armenia is a great honor and at the same time a testimony of international trust in our country. It confirmed that Armenia is perceived as an active and reliable partner on the international sports platform.

Gagik Tsarukyan

https://verelq.am/hy/node/171939?fbclid=IwY2xjawRKpOBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEevyUOIeI5_DsWqhpaTmZQnqBdP0UvkZ1WvO6Uzhv8lWCrUuKWN-vqZHRVyU0_aem_hPEwQxVD4kXRyV1aJRegYw

“The National Olympic Committee of Armenia, headed by Gagik Tsarukyan, is ready to become a bridge to ensure an active dialogue between the sports world of Russia and the West, to discuss all issues and jointly find solutions to overcome the situation. Hrachya Rostomyan, General Secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia, said about this in an interview with “Aravot”.

He referred to the first forum of the Eurasian Sports Cooperation Association held yesterday in Armenia, during which the President of the Ukrainian Sports Association, Gagik Tsarukyan, was elected the president of the association. According to Rostomyan, it was the request of all members of the association, which was raised by the president of the association, Azat Muradov.

“He made a rather extensive speech, where he spoke in detail about the tremendous work that Mr. Tsarukyan has carried out in the field of sports these years. Muradov noted that Gagik Tsarukyan has devoted most of his life to the development of sports both in Armenia and in the region, and his investments and work have been visible to the international Olympic community as well. Taking all of this into account, Mr. Muradov conveyed to Gagik Tsarukyan the request of the members of the association to head that important sports structure. and I should note that the President of the Ukrainian National Association of Ukrainian Orthodox Churches responded with great love to their request, stressing that he is ready to become a unifying force and a bridge between sports families of Europe and Asia,” he said.

As for the forum, Rostomyan described it as an event of exceptional importance and a great honor to host such a level initiative in Armenia. The geography of the forum was wide: Germany, China, Moldova, Lithuania, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and a number of other countries express their willingness to unite in order to further strengthen sports cooperation.

“This is a platform where sport becomes a unifying force. The strategic goal of the Eurasian Sports Cooperation Association is to develop sports at the international level, to ensure dialogue between states in order to exchange leading experiences. The National Olympic Committee of Armenia has always welcomed and supported the initiatives of the Eurasian Sports Cooperation Association. We are sure that they will help the development of both domestic and international sports, and will help partner states to further deepen cooperation and the implementation of joint projects. This conference creates a very serious opportunity to work for all of us, in terms of sharing experience, implementation of joint projects. And if shorter, this is a bridge between the sports worlds of Europe and Asia,” he emphasized.

When asked why Russia did not participate in the forum, Hrachya Rostomyan stated that, unfortunately, sport has also become a part of big politics and there is an element of injustice here, because the Russian Olympic Committee, sports departments, and athletes have always been represented on such platforms.

“And I think that this is where our mission is important. The National Olympic Committee of Armenia, headed by Gagik Tsarukyan, is ready to become a bridge to ensure an active dialogue between the sports world of Russia and the West, to discuss all issues and jointly find solutions to overcome the situation. The NOAC is ready to act as a host for joint gatherings of athletes from different countries, because our sports facilities, climate, geographical relief, a number of they are exceptionally comfortable for sports destinations. We are also ready to implement major joint projects for the exchange of coaches and sports specialists, to combine efforts for the purpose of developing sports at the international level and exchanging leading experience between several states of the Eurasian continent,” he added.

Rostomyan also commented on the news spread the day before that the Weightlifting Federation applied to the court, demanding to recognize the powers of NAOC President Gagik Tsarukyan and members of the audit committee as having ceased to exist on September 9, 2025. First of all, he stressed that the National Olympic Committee of Armenia, as well as its leadership, carry out their duties and powers according to the Charter of the Olympic Committee of the Olympic Committee and the Olympic Charter of the International Olympic Committee.

“Elected officials continue to perform their functions until the first special session of the General Assembly of the NAOC is held. Until that session is held, their tenure continues. The special session of the General Assembly was scheduled for April 11, 2026 at 15:00. However, only one of the many members of the NAOC, the President of the Weightlifting Federation, upon receiving the agenda, decided not to submit any proposals regarding the agenda items. including in terms of nominations, and decided that it should hinder the normal work of the committee.

In the current situation, I consider it important to emphasize that we see the solution of this issue in the legal domain and will be guided by legal mechanisms. Our legal team is working in this direction and the resolution of this issue will be in favor of us and our sports world. As for the reaction of the sports world, I think that the representatives of the field should approach this situation with Olympic calmness and calmness. We have been united in all situations and I am sure that we will overcome this unpleasant stage with the same unity. Nothing can disrupt the unity of the Armenian sports world, with which we have always stood out and which has been the basis of all our victories over the years,” Hrachya Rostomyan added.

—