July 8, 2026
“We are happy that despite some challenges that have appeared in Armenian-Russian relations recently, we see positive trends in these relations at the moment. Mr. Pashinyan also visited Russia the other day, in the framework of which it seems that effective discussions took place”, Khalil Shirgholami, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia, mentioned this during a press conference, speaking about Russia’s announcement that it is ready to build a new nuclear power plant in Armenia.
According to the ambassador, the discussions between Armenia and Iran in the field of energy in general were constantly going on at different levels, recently the visit of the vice president of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia took place, during the meetings further energy cooperation was also discussed.
“These new discussions and ideas are related to both the gas and energy sectors.
I think the existing potential in this region is absolutely enough for that, considering the fact that Armenia is a neighbor of Iran, which is the third country in the world with oil and gas reserves, and there is also Russia, which is also one of the influential countries in this field. I think that all this potential provides an opportunity and by completing it together, they can turn Armenia into a unique link in the energy sector and transit in that sector,” stressed Iran’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia.
Details in the video of 168.am
—
The OSCE Secretary General is ready to help remove the Catholicos of the Armenian Church. ro
July 8, 2026
The OSCE Secretary General is ready to help remove the Catholicos of the Armenian Church. This was reported by the Russian Channel One, publishing a video.
“Feridun Sinirlioglu made a sincere confession, thinking that he was talking to Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan, while in reality he was communicating with pranksters Vovan and Lexus. The authorities started a real persecution against the Armenian Apostolic Church. Arrests of clergy, persecution of undesirables. Everything by the order of the West,” reports the news channel.
As the First Channel stated earlier, referring to the Foreign Intelligence Service, the ultimate goal of Brussels is the complete severing of centuries-old spiritual ties between Armenia and Russia. And the OSCE Secretary General is ready to help replace the Catholicos.
“- I also hope on the position of the OSCE that you can also support me in this matter.
– I will deal with it too. By the way, can you do that? Can you replace the Catholicos?
– And I think that now I have trump cards in my hand, and we can change the religion. And all I can ask of you is your support in cases when we face great criticism from Karapetyan’s allies.
“Okay, I will do everything possible,” the news channel quotes a part of the phone conversation.
—
Fwd: “The person who wants to turn the other person into a bum and says it as a curse
“The person who wants to turn the other person into a bum and says it as a deputy candidate, a private person, then as the prime minister, that person is the supreme chief bum of Armenia.”
“That map-shaped badge they wear is their property, to own everything that is within that border. It’s theirs for the taking. No one else should have it. Have, have, have. And when the homeland, state, nation, land and water materialize, of course, we should not be surprised by today’s developments,” said Raffi Hovhannisyan, the first foreign minister of independent Armenia, the founder of the “Heritage” party, at the “Mirror” club.
“The person who wants to turn the other person, any fellow citizen, into a homeless person, that is his goal and he says this as a deputy candidate, as a private person, then even as a prime minister, that person is the supreme chief homeless person of the Republic of Armenia, who wants to take the other person’s property, make it his own and dispossess everyone except himself; Obviously, with the content, the choice of time, with everything, this is a political persecution, it is terror. People who are businessmen, philanthropists, owners of great wealth, deal with money themselves. And some limits of the law may be crossed. But if there is such a thing, you must first apply that law equally to everyone, starting with your close ones. And secondly, on time. As if there is such a question, there is an opportunity to correct it, instead of waiting for that person to cross the threshold of politics. And this man represents the Republic of Armenia to this day,” said Mr. Hovhannisyan, referring to the newly intensified political persecution of Gagik Tsarukyan.
“All of us have this unprecedented pain and indignation. This man once said that he said something wrong in Stepanakert, then he changed his mind and became a statesman. But now he has corrected himself. He says he did the right thing. He confesses. He says: in order to reach this point, the peace and sovereignty that does not exist in the quotation marks he said, all these things should have happened. In other words, thousands of golden boys had to be martyred on purpose, knowingly, so that years later he would say, “Glory to the martyrs” at the end of his speeches.
And put it in the text of the official oath. In my life, I have never seen a more disgusting, more superficial, more stupid approach,” said Raffi Hovhannisyan in the “Mirror” club, referring to the policy of this government in the last eight years and its consequences. “It is clear that he did not succeed. Today, he is speaking not in the image of a winner, a statesman, a leader, or even the father of the nation he imagines. He himself is defeated. He himself knows that he no longer has electoral ethics, he is not legitimate. Therefore, the government, the state that he de facto represents, is also not legitimate in the eyes of the world. That is why he is in these convulsions. And it does not show someone’s character, but betrays their own awareness that the Armenian people have traveled to them. And they have been trying to keep that power for the last few months or years by force, with their desecrations and falsifications,” concluded Raffi Hovhannisyan.
The video is here.
The text is from aravot.am.
—
Armenpress: At least $50 billion in defense contracts signed on sidelines of N
Defense contracts worth at least $50 billion have been signed during the Defense Industry Forum held on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkish newspaper Türkiye reported.
According to the newspaper, the agreements cover the procurement of air defense systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as joint projects in the defense and military equipment sectors.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that 20 NATO member states would participate in the Drone Edge initiative, under which about $40 billion will be invested over the next five years to expand the production of drones and counter-drone capabilities.
Rutte said NATO countries were expected to sign defense contracts worth tens of billions of dollars during the Ankara summit.
Leaders of the alliance’s 32 member states are taking part in the two-day NATO summit in Ankara. A plenary session of heads of state and government is scheduled for July 8.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
Merz says Ankara summit will give NATO new impetus
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the NATO summit in Ankara would give the alliance new impetus and contribute to strengthening its unity.
According to Anadolu Agency, speaking to reporters ahead of the main session of the 36th NATO Summit, Merz thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for hosting the gathering and for its high-level organization.
He recalled that NATO leaders had agreed in The Hague last year to significantly strengthen the alliance’s defense capabilities and said those commitments were now being implemented.
Merz noted that most European Union and NATO member states had substantially increased their defense spending. He added that preserving NATO’s transatlantic character also requires making the alliance “more European.”
As an example of closer cooperation, the German chancellor referred to a joint submarine modernization project involving Germany, Norway, and Canada.
“This will strengthen our cooperation across the entire Atlantic region for decades to come,” he said.
Merz said the summit would also focus on advancing joint defense initiatives and expressed confidence that the Ankara meeting would give NATO new impetus, making the alliance stronger and more united.
He added that continued support for Ukraine also remains on the summit agenda, stressing that Berlin will continue backing Kyiv.
According to Merz, Europe has launched a program under which Ukraine will receive €70 billion in annual assistance in 2026 and 2027.
“The end of this war now depends solely on Russia. Russia has no chance of winning this war and will not achieve its military objectives. The sooner this war ends, the better it will be for Europe, for Russia, and for the entire world,” Merz said.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
Erdoğan meets Macron on sidelines of NATO summit
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the 36th NATO Summit.
The information was reported by the Turkish daily Hürriyet.
The meeting took place at the Presidential Complex in Ankara and was held behind closed doors.
The Turkish delegation included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chair and Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director İbrahim Kalın, Head of the Presidential Communications Directorate Burhanettin Duran, Presidential Chief of Staff Hasan Doğan, and Chief Presidential Adviser on Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
NATO leaders issue joint declaration on collective defence, Russia, Ukraine an
NATO leaders have issued a joint declaration following the alliance’s July 7-8 summit in Ankara, reaffirming their commitment to collective defence and addressing Russia, support for Ukraine, defence industrial cooperation and Iran.
The declaration was published on NATO’s official website.
The leaders of NATO member states reaffirmed their “ironclad commitment” to the Alliance’s collective defence.
“An attack against one is an attack against all. Our unity, solidarity, and collective strength remain the foundation of peace, security, and prosperity for the one billion citizens of our free and democratic Alliance,” the declaration said.
The document describes Russia as a “long-term threat” to Euro-Atlantic security.
“To counter the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and stability, as well as the persistent threat of terrorism, Allies are delivering on the Hague Defence Pledge. In 2025, European Allies and Canada increased their contributions to core defence requirements by more than $139 billion. Our investments are delivering the capabilities we need while strengthening our industrial base and resilience. Today, in Ankara, we announce more than $50 billion in new procurement and commit to expanding our collective production capacity and working with industry to accelerate innovation,” the declaration said.
NATO leaders also stated that the Alliance’s European members and Canada, in cooperation with the United States, are assuming greater responsibility for the Alliance’s defence.
“We are building the future: a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO, in a modernised Alliance,” the declaration said, adding that NATO remains committed to maintaining its military edge and continues to invest across all domains of defence.
The declaration also states that Ukraine contributes to transatlantic security and that Allies remain united in their unwavering support for the country, stressing that such assistance should be fair, predictable and sustainable over the long term.
The Allies also pledged to provide Ukraine with €70 billion in military equipment, assistance and training in 2026, while reaffirming their sovereign commitments to maintain at least an equivalent level of support in 2027.
The declaration further reiterates that Iran “must never acquire a nuclear weapon” and calls on Tehran to fully respect freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
Armenpress: Macron arrives in Syria in first visit by Western European head of
French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Syria, becoming the first Western European head of state to visit the country since Bashar al-Assad was ousted in 2024. It is also the first visit by a French president to Syria in 17 years.
Syria’s SANA news agency reported that Macron was welcomed by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. He is expected to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and take part in a roundtable discussion with delegations.
The talks will focus on regional and international developments, as well as opportunities to deepen cooperation in various fields.
Upon arriving in Damascus on the evening of July 6, Macron posted a message on X.
“I have come to express France’s commitment to the Syrian people. For a sovereign Syria, united in its diversity and at peace with its neighbors. Let us open together a new chapter of stability and peace,” he wrote.
Ahead of Macron’s visit, Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview with France’s BFMTV that the French president’s visit to Syria marks an important milestone in bilateral relations and reflects France’s long-standing support for the Syrian people. He said France had played a constructive role in efforts to lift sanctions against Syria.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
Trump reiterates he is attending NATO summit “because of Erdoğan”
U.S. President Donald Trump has departed for Türkiye to attend the NATO summit, reiterating before his departure that he was traveling to Ankara “because of” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
According to Fox News, Trump told reporters:
“I’m going because of Erdoğan,” calling the Turkish leader “a friend” and “a respected leader” while signaling that closer defense cooperation between Washington and Ankara could be on the horizon.
Trump also said the United States and Türkiye could deepen their defense cooperation.
The NATO summit will be held in Ankara on July 7-8. Trump is expected to hold meetings with world leaders, while security issues and regional conflicts are expected to dominate the agenda.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—
Trump arrives in Ankara for NATO summit
U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived in Ankara, the Turkish capital, to attend the 36th NATO Summit.
According to international media reports, Trump’s aircraft landed in Ankara, where he was personally welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
A bilateral meeting between Trump and Erdoğan is scheduled on the sidelines of the summit.
Trump is also expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with other leaders and participate in the NATO leaders’ working sessions.
Published by Armenpress, original at
—