Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has called for a “careful and accurate” approach by the CSTO toward its treaty ally Armenia, which has effectively frozen its participation in the bloc for over two years.

Lukashenko made the comments during a meeting with Taalatbek Masadykov, the new Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), BelTA reports.

He noted that the organization has both achievements and challenges, which he has repeatedly discussed on international platforms. According to Lukashenko, one of the issues requiring special attention is the relationship with Armenia.

“We need to be more correct and precise in our work with Armenia. You know that Armenia seems not to support work within the CSTO, yet at the same time remains in the organization,” BelTA news agency quoted the Belarusian president as saying. 

He added that the situation in Armenia is complex, especially in the context of electoral processes.

“We must be very careful. The situation in Armenia is difficult in this regard, particularly during the election period. It is a very complicated situation. Therefore, we need to be extremely cautious in our relations with Armenia,” Lukashenko stated.

Back in February 2024, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia had frozen its participation in the CSTO, citing the organization’s failure to fulfill its obligations to Armenia.

A senior Armenian lawmaker on Monday did not rule out the possibility of Armenia withdrawing from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the future.

MP Andranik Kocharyan, from the Civil Contract faction and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs, told reporters that the decision would depend on Armenia’s interests.

“Never say never. The world is very turbulent. The security and interests of our country shall dictate the sequence of our steps,” Kocharyan said when asked whether Armenia could quit the CSTO, where its membership is currently frozen.

Kocharyan emphasized that Armenia’s main issue with the CSTO pertains to its own borders and has nothing to do with Nagorno-Karabakh.

“An attempt was made to link the CSTO’s actions to the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, but regarding Armenia’s borders, the CSTO had a role to play. They didn’t act, right? Our problem arose from the situation at Armenia’s borders, and we asked the CSTO for support two or three times. That support, aside from verbal statements, did not produce any results for us,” Kocharyan said.

He added that future decisions will depend exclusively on Armenia’s national interests.

“We will act in accordance with whatever our country’s interests dictate,” he stated.

Back in February 2024, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia had frozen its participation in the CSTO, citing the organization’s failure to fulfill its obligations to Armenia. 

Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan rejected lawmaker Hayk Sargsyan’s claims about manpower shortages in the military and urged MPs at a parliamentary committee to turn down the latter’s bill proposing several amendments to the enlistment process.

MP Hayk Sargsyan’s bill, in particular, sought to raise the conscription age, criminalize refusal to undergo a medical examination as a form of draft evasion, increase the state duty for renouncing citizenship, and introduce a short-term paid service option for draft evaders as a form of redress. The legislator argued that the number of enlistments has been declining over the years and will continue to fall.

However, Deputy Defense Minister Arman Sargsyan rejected these claims, stating that the number of conscripts between 2023 and 2026 has increased by around 25% compared to 2022.

The Deputy Minister noted that legislative changes implemented in recent years have contributed to an increase in conscription rates.

“Between 2023 and 2026, the number of those conscripted has increased by about 25 percent compared to 2022. In other words, if we continue at the same pace and improve the legal framework, we will not face the concerning situation described by the parliamentarian,” Arman Sargsyan said at the parliament’s Defense and Security Committee.

The Deputy Minister also criticized certain provisions included in the bill, particularly the mechanism allowing exemption from service in exchange for a fee.

“If, hypothetically, 3,000 people make use of the option to be exempted from service in exchange for payment, that does not mean conscription numbers will increase by the same amount. It may generate budget revenues, but it does not solve the problem of increasing conscription figures,” he noted.

Arman Sargsyan added that positive trends have also recently been recorded in the field of voluntary contract-based service.

“The number of those who have entered contractual military service under the ‘Homeland Defender’ program has exceeded 5,300, which indicates positive momentum and is aimed at forming a professional army,” the Deputy Minister said.

Sargsyan added that the Cabinet has issued a negative opinion on the bill. The committee likewise rejected it.

YEREVAN, 6 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 6 April, USD exchange rate down by 0.36 drams to 376.62 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.26 drams to 434.96 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0697 drams to 4.7679 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.1 drams to 498.76 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 54 drams to 56176 drams. Silver price down by 0.82 drams to 859.59 drams.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that the South Caucasus region has now “transformed into an area of peace, calm, security, and cooperation.”

The President of Azerbaijan emphasized that there is now a completely new situation in the South Caucasus and that the countries of the region should not miss this opportunity.

“Today, unfortunately, peace, security, stability, and calm are being disrupted in different parts of the world, leading to bloody clashes, wars, suffering, and losses.

“At one time, a similar situation existed in the South Caucasus. But today, the South Caucasus is becoming a region of peace, calm, security, and cooperation,” Aliyev said.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has welcomed the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.

“We would like to once again welcome the ongoing peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Kobakhidze said during a meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who is on a state visit to Georgia.

“Georgia firmly supports peaceful coexistence, constructive cooperation, and new initiatives in the region. If necessary, we are ready to make a positive contribution to the development of these relations. We are prepared to promote dialogue and the peace process,” Kobakhidze added.

He further noted that cooperation among the South Caucasus countries creates new prospects for the entire region. “We are witnessing global political changes, and these changes further strengthen the importance of the Middle Corridor, including the Black Sea and the South Caucasus, as a strategic area,” the Georgian prime minister said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired a meeting with officials to discuss organizational matters related to the upcoming 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan.

“Nikol Pashinyan stated that the European Political Community summit, to be held in Yerevan on May 4, is a large-scale event with significant political importance for Armenia’s international standing,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout.

The Prime Minister “emphasized that tremendous work has been carried out to ensure the summit is organized and conducted at a proper level, and that today’s meeting is aimed at reviewing the work already completed and discussing the tasks ahead.”

Arayik Harutyunyan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office and Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 8th European Political Community Summit, noted that the preparatory work is approaching its final stage. He said the purpose of the meeting is to present the work already completed and to hear the Prime Minister’s observations and suggestions in order to summarize the efforts.

Following this, details were provided regarding the development of the event’s concept and conceptual planning. Attention was also given to other substantive and organizational issues, including infrastructure and technical readiness, logistical accessibility, and more. A discussion took place on these matters.

The Prime Minister once again emphasized the importance of organizing and conducting the summit at a high level, providing specific instructions on further tasks in various areas. Nikol Pashinyan also requested a briefing on the process.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the solemn ceremony of awarding and honoring the winners of the “Best Sportsman of 2025” competition, held within the framework of an event dedicated to the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

The event was also attended by President Vahagn Khachaturyan, National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, as well as heads of sports federations, athletes, and coaches.

Before the award ceremony, the Prime Minister delivered a speech, congratulated attendees on the occasion of International Sports Day, and thanked athletes for their efforts in representing Armenia in international competitions.

According to the Prime Minister, the government is taking serious steps toward the institutionalization of sport. He highlighted ongoing and planned projects, including sports schools in the Shirak and Lori regions.

The Prime Minister also referred to a joint project in Yerevan with Juventus FC and noted that there are plans to expand it to the regions. He added that stadium construction is planned in Ijevan, Yerevan, Vanadzor, and the Academic City.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister also highlighted major international competitions hosted by Armenia in recent years, including European championships in boxing, weightlifting, and shooting, as well as the Sambo World Championships.

He expressed appreciation to athletes, coaches, and all contributors to the development of sports.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the government will make the sports development process more targeted and effective.

Winners in 11 categories of the competition were awarded 6,250,000 AMD and souvenirs. The awards were handed over by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

On April 6, a memorial service dedicated to the memory of the deceased at Kozern cemetery and the victims of the October 27 crime is held in the National Assembly Park in the Park of the Armenian National Assembly, the press service of the National Assembly said in a readout.

The Armenian National Assembly President Alen Simonyan, the NA Vice Presidents Ruben Rubinyan and Hakob Arshakyan, the Head of the NA Civil Contract Faction Hayk Konjoryan, the NA Chief of Staff, Secretary General Davit Arakelyan and representatives of the Staff laid flowers at the monument installed in the National Assembly Park.

Father Ararat Ordoyan, spiritual pastor of St. Sarkis Church performed the requiem service.

Armenia’s Artur Davtyan has won gold at the 2026 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Cairo, Egypt.

Davtyan, an Olympic silver medalist, earned the top score on vault in the men’s apparatus competition, securing the gold medal.

The day before, other members of Armenia’s team also excelled at this stage of the World Cup: Hamlet Manukyan won the gold medal in the pommel horse event, while Artur Avetisyan took silver in the rings event.