Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan told City Hall staff on Monday to develop a method for revoking construction licenses for developers who litter.

Avinyan made the suggestion after a report revealed a large quantity of construction garbage in the area of the Luyser Residential Complex in Yerevan’s Malatia-Sebastia district.

A City Hall staffer informed the mayor that 60 cargo trucks have been removing the garbage from the site over the past three days, but much still remains. The volume of waste was so great that nearby construction companies offered their assistance to City Hall.

However, Ruben Khojoyan, Deputy Director of the Department of Urban Development and Land Supervision, told the mayor at Monday’s executive meeting that the construction waste was not left by the nearby developers, and that other “entities” were responsible.

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan stated that it is first necessary to identify the “careless” developers and hold them accountable. “Once identified, we need to find a way to completely revoke their building permits—let them go bankrupt. If they are so careless that they dump construction waste wherever they please, their permits must be canceled. I ask that legal methods be studied—I am confident such methods exist. If we decisively cut off a few of them, I am certain this problem will disappear,” Avinyan said.

Khojoyan also reported that one of the developers near the Luyser neighborhood offered to install cameras so that, in case of recurrence, the responsible parties can be identified.

“Mr. Khojoyan, I am instructing you to identify the specific developers who are dumping construction waste in unauthorized locations. Present their names to me, and we will decide how to handle them,” Tigran Avinyan concluded.

In today’s digital world, where information travels across the globe in seconds and autonomous systems powered by artificial intelligence are already in use, cross-border payments remain slow, costly, and often limited in accessibility. What new opportunities do blockchain technology and digital money create for rethinking international payment systems, and how can they address the limitations of existing infrastructure?

We talked to Artur Kartshikyan, founder of Aeda and blockchain partner of the Doing Digital Forum, who shares his perspective on next-generation payment infrastructure and the role of Aeda Wallet.

-What are the key challenges in today’s global payment systems?

-Despite rapid technological advancement, cross-border payments remain slow, expensive, and not universally accessible. A significant portion of these transactions is still processed through SWIFT, which connects thousands of financial institutions across more than 200 countries.

The SWIFT network and correspondent banking infrastructure were developed decades ago. While user interfaces and customer experience have improved, the underlying settlement mechanisms have seen limited change.

As a result, all three key participants in the system, banks, businesses, and individuals, face its limitations. Banks pre-fund capital in correspondent accounts, where it often remains underutilized. Businesses frequently wait 3–5 days for international transfers to settle, incurring additional costs and intermediary fees along the way. Individuals, such as migrant workers sending money home, often face relatively high fees, sometimes reaching several percent, largely due to the cost structure of the underlying infrastructure rather than transaction risk.

This is not a technological problem; the technology already exists. It is an infrastructure problem, and that is what needs to evolve.

–What does next-generation payment infrastructure look like in practice?

-In recent years, three key technologies have emerged that are not only transforming but enabling a new infrastructure model.

First, digital money. Euro- and dollar-denominated stablecoins, backed by fiat currency, can settle significantly faster—often within seconds rather than days. They represent programmable financial instruments, with growing real-world application. From a regulatory perspective, the market is still evolving, although several issuers in the US and Europe already operate within established legal frameworks.

Second, direct connectivity enabled by blockchain. Instead of transactions moving through multiple correspondent banks, each adding time and cost, licensed financial institutions can connect more directly, reducing the number of intermediaries involved. This can help lower costs and shorten settlement times.

Third, artificial intelligence. Systems can analyze multiple transaction routes in real time and select the most efficient option based on speed, cost, and reliability. AI also improves risk assessment, supports fraud detection, and enables process automation.

Together, these elements are gradually transforming payment infrastructure into a more data-driven and interconnected network, where intelligent systems optimize transaction flows.

–What structural factors are driving fragmentation across financial systems?

-The issue is structural and, in many cases, deepening. Financial institutions on opposite sides of a border are often unable to connect directly, even when both sides have platforms and demand. The gap lies in the absence of effective connectivity.

Fragmentation is increasing as banks reduce their presence in certain corridors due to cost and risk considerations, regulatory requirements become more complex across jurisdictions, and existing systems remain difficult to integrate.

A relevant example is the corridor between the EU and US on one side, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia on the other. Demand exists, yet the infrastructure serving these flows remains underdeveloped.

As this fragmentation is gradually addressed, the impact could be significant. New connections can emerge, businesses can access new markets, and individuals can benefit from broader financial access.

–What should regulators, banks, and investors understand about this shift; and where does Aeda fit in?

-Digital money, artificial intelligence, and blockchain settlement technologies are no longer emerging trends—they are increasingly integrated into financial systems. This shift is often described as FinTech 3.0: a transition toward programmable, data-driven, and on-chain wallet-based financial and settlement infrastructure.

In this context, a new infrastructure layer is emerging, one that enables more direct and efficient interaction between financial systems, particularly in corridors where connectivity has historically been limited.

Aeda focuses on this layer, developing wallet-based infrastructure between the EU, the US, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The goal is to simplify financial connectivity and reduce the complexity of multi-layered processes.

The infrastructure being built over the next two to three years will shape how digital money moves across borders in the decade ahead. Aeda aims to be a meaningful participant in this evolution.

The Doing Digital Forum, entitled “Bridging Platforms and Economies” this year, will be held on April 8 at Dvin Hall in Yerevan. 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 the CIS countries. The forum is organized by SPRING PR Company, with Visa serving as the Innovation Partner, imID as the Digital Identity Partner, aeda as the Blockchain Partner, Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine as the Industrial Transformation Partner, and Freedom Broker Armenia as the Investment partner.

The Voice of Peace Music Fest will take place in Yerevan’s Republic Square on April 25, which is marked as Citizens’ Day in Armenia.

Organizers have announced that the music program will feature renowned artists and musicians, including Italian singer-songwriter In-Grid; French DJ and rapper Willy William; the Denmark-based hip-hop group Outlandish; Armenian pop star Iveta Mukuchyan; as well as French pop-soul star Imany.

Entrance will be free of charge, and the concert will begin at 20:00.

Each of the featured artists is known for standout hits: In-Grid for her global club success “Tu es foutu,” Willy William for chart-topping tracks like “Ego” and his collaboration “Mi Gente” with J Balvin, Outlandish for their rendition of “Aicha” (a cover of the original song by Cheb Khaled), Iveta Mukuchyan for representing Armenia at Eurovision 2016 with “LoveWave,” and Imany for her widely acclaimed song “Don’t Be So Shy.”

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.