Tax policy reforms were discussed under the leadership of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.

According to a readout from the Prime Minister’s office, a consultation was held during which work on procedural reforms in tax policy was discussed.

Pashinyan noted that the consultation followed a recent Government session that addressed the revision of criminal liability thresholds for acts considered as tax evasion.

It was concluded that the proposed draft amendments require further improvement, and the Prime Minister instructed that additional work be carried out in this direction.

Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, Eduard Hakobyan, presented the results of the analyses, outlining proposed new procedures and steps aimed at developing the tax sector. He also referred to efforts to transform the institution of a law-abiding taxpayer.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has lauded neighboring Armenia for its humanitarian support.

Araghchi posted a statement in Armenian on X.

“The support of the Armenian government and people to the Iranian people in the transfer of Iranian nationals and in providing humanitarian assistance deserves high appreciation. The centuries-old ties between Iran and Armenia have once again demonstrated their strength in difficult times, and these brotherly steps will remain in the memory of the Iranian people,” he said.

Armenia sent humanitarian aid, mainly in the form of medicines, to Iran last week.

From March 31 to April 2, Strasbourg, France, will host the landmark 50th Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

This session marks a pivotal moment for European local self-government, as it inaugurates a new five-year mandate for national delegations. The Republic of Armenia will participate with its renewed delegation, ready to engage in this high-level democratic process, the Communities Association of Armenia said in a press release.

The newly appointed Armenian delegation, comprised of local community representatives, will have the opportunity to participate in the election of the Congress’s new leadership and advocate for Armenia’s interests within this vital European platform.

Key Agenda Highlights

The 50th Session will focus on the grave challenges currently facing modern democracy:

Local Democracy in Crisis: Special attention will be given to the reconstruction of Ukraine and the critical role of local authorities in overcoming the consequences of the war.

Safety and Protection: The agenda includes a debate on the rising instances of violence against elected local officials and international strategies to ensure their protection.

Regional Developments: Members will discuss the state of local democracy in Georgia, alongside the results of election observation missions in several European countries.

New Technologies and Social Rights: The impact of Artificial Intelligence on local governance and the provision of social rights under pressure will be key thematic areas.

High-Level Discussions

The session will feature addresses by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe; Mattias Guyomar, President of the European Court of Human Rights; and various government ministers and mayors from across Europe.

The Communities Association of Armenia (CAA), as the coordinator of the Armenian delegation’s activities, will closely monitor the session proceedings. The Association will provide regular updates on the activities of Armenian delegates, their interventions, and the key decisions adopted during the session.

The American University of Armenia (AUA), a private higher education institution affiliated with the University of California, announced on Monday that all classes would be held online for the day as a precaution.

“Please note that, due to the threat made by Iran to target American universities in West Asia and the Middle East, all AUA classes on Monday, March 30, will be held fully online. The University administration is monitoring the situation closely and will keep you informed of any changes to the schedule or modality of instruction. In taking this step, we emphasize that we have received no direct threats against our university, and no indication that we are in any kind of danger, so there is no cause for alarm. This is simply a precautionary measure, taken out of an abundance of caution, because the safety of our community is of paramount importance,” the AUA said in a press release.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it may retaliate against American university campuses in West Asia, claiming that recent U.S. and Israeli strikes have damaged two Iranian universities.

The group said U.S.-affiliated campuses in the region could become “legitimate targets” unless Washington formally condemns the attacks on Iranian schools by noon on Monday, POLITICO reported citing a statement carried by Fars news agency.

The statement urged staff, faculty, students and nearby residents to keep at least one kilometer away from these campuses.

Several American universities have branches in the Persian Gulf, including Texas A&M University in Qatar and New York University in the United Arab Emirates.

The American University of Beirut said it would move to remote learning for two days following the threats.

The U.S. Embassy in Iraq, in an updated security alert, said that Iran may intend to target the American Universities in Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah, and Dohuk, along with other universities perceived to be associated with the United States.  AP reported that the universities in the three cities have also shifted classes online.

The Speaker of Parliament of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, held a meeting on Monday with the newly appointed Ambassador of Qatar to Armenia, Mansoor Abdullah Al-Sulaitin.

Al-Sulaitin is Qatar’s first resident ambassador to Armenia.

According to a readout issued by the parliament’s press service, Speaker Simonyan congratulated the ambassador on assuming his duties and expressed hope that the appointment of Qatar’s first resident ambassador to Armenia would contribute to the further development of relations between the two countries. The sides also touched upon the intensification of interparliamentary relations and other issues of mutual interest.

The Armenian Speaker of Parliament, Alen Simonyan, held a meeting on Monday with members of the Belgian parliament’s Belgium–Armenia Friendship Group. 

Welcoming the delegation to Armenia, Speaker Simonyan emphasized the importance of organizing such reciprocal visits for the development of bilateral relations, according to a readout issued by the parliament’s press service.

Els Van Hoof, head of the Belgium–Armenia friendship group, in turn highlighted the deepening friendly ties between the two countries and noted that the delegation would spare no effort to achieve further progress in this process. The discussions focused on bilateral relations, the democratic reforms underway in Armenia, the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and regional developments.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan held a meeting with a delegation led by Remigijus Motuzas, Member of the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) and Chair of its Foreign Relations Committee.

According to a readout by the parliament’s press service, Rubinyan valued the interparliamentary cooperation between Armenia and Lithuania and discussed issues related to the joint cooperation agenda. 

The Deputy Speaker also highly appreciated Lithuania’s continued support for Armenia in the context of expanding Armenia–EU cooperation, as well as in advancing democratic processes. Issues related to regional security were also discussed.

The Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) has joined the Fourth Doing Digital Forum (DDF) as the Industrial Transformation Partner.  Scheduled for April 8, DDF26 will be held under the theme “Bridging Platforms and Economies,” bringing together leading local and international experts, business executives, and public sector decision-makers.

“The digital economy is often seen through the lens of platforms and algorithms, yet its foundation lies deeper – in the industries supplying the materials that power modern technologies. At ZCMC, digitalization is a catalyst making industry smarter, safer and more sustainable”, said Vardan Jhanyan, First Deputy Director General of Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine.

The special guest of DDF26 is Leiming Chen, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Ant International. Keynote speakers include Matias Undurraga, Enterprise Technologist at Amazon Web Services (AWS); Dirk Ohlmeier, CEO of Just Better; Oleksandr Yablunivskyy, VP and Head of Products and Solutions at Visa CISSEE, Rafayel Mkrtchyan, Head of Corporate Finance at Freedom Broker Armenia, and among others.

Tatevik Simonyan, Founder of DDF, noted: “Modern digital economy is no longer shaped by isolated technological solutions, but through interconnected ecosystems and platforms. The Doing Digital Forum connects Armenia to the global technological agenda, positioning it as an important bridge for collaboration between the region and various world economies,”said  Tatevik Simonyan, Founder of DDF.

DDF26 will explore how digital technologies are reshaping financial systems, public infrastructure, and the real economy, with a focus on Open Finance, AI-native enterprises, digital identity, and global platform strategies. The agenda also covers regional financial infrastructure, the intersection of regulation and innovation, and how public-private collaboration can drive sustainable economic growth.

This year, the forum will once again bring together a wide representative lineup of speakers from Armenia and abroad, including sectoral regulators as well as executives and experts from leading financial, technological, and industrial companies.

The agenda will be packed with keynote speeches and dynamic panel discussions. Among the featured speakers, Sadyk Azimov, Vice Director for Digital Transformation at Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine, will share his expertise, presenting ZCMC’s perspectives on technological transformation.

Since its launch in 2023, DDF has brought together over 60 prominent speakers and more than 3,000 participants from Armenia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the UAE, Germany, Australia, and CIS countries.

The forum is organized by SPRING PR. The Innovation Partner for DDF26 is Visa, the Digital Identity Partner is imID, the Blockchain Partner is aeda, the Industrial Transformation Partner is Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine, and the Investment partner is Freedom Broker.

The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 30 March, USD exchange rate up by 0.36 drams to 377.54 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.37 drams to 433.76 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0216 drams to 4.6501 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 2.24 drams to 499.41 drams.

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

Gold price up by 630 drams to 54672 drams. 

The 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council has unanimously adopted the resolution “Prevention of Genocide” submitted by the Republic of Armenia, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The statement notes that the biennial resolution is based on the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and plays a significant role in translating the provisions of this important document into the operational framework of UN policy.

The resolution aims to promote the concept of early warning in genocide prevention and to define a framework of risk factors, including hatred, discrimination, and impunity. It also emphasizes the importance of a timely response, which can significantly help prevent the escalation of violence.

By bringing the issue of genocide prevention to the international agenda, the resolution once again highlights its importance among current diplomatic priorities. It contributes to strengthening international justice mechanisms and addresses global developments and challenges that require increased attention.

The resolution presented this year proposes strengthening the mandate for genocide prevention within the framework of the UN80 reform process. It also draws attention to the risks posed by algorithmic systems and artificial intelligence tools, which can contribute to the spread of disinformation and hatred, affecting information flows and undermining human rights.

The “Prevention of Genocide” resolution also makes an important contribution to promoting the universal ratification of the Genocide Convention, encouraging states that have not yet acceded to it to do so without delay.

As in previous years, the resolution submitted by Armenia enjoys broad support from UN Member States representing all regional groups, as evidenced by the large number of co-sponsors, which had reached around six dozen at the time of adoption.

The resolution reaffirms Armenia’s call on the international community to unite in preventing the crime of genocide.

A resolution of the same name, previously submitted by Armenia, was also unanimously adopted on April 3, 2024, during the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.