National Assembly Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan has commented on the decision by the Civil Contract party’s governing board to nominate him for the post of Speaker of the National Assembly following a vote held during the party’s board meeting.

Speaking to reporters, Rubinyan stressed that the party’s procedures for selecting candidates for various positions or making decisions are always similar.

“Candidates deliver speeches, questions are asked, then there are concluding remarks and a vote. In this particular case, all candidates presented their visions and sought to highlight their strengths, and the well-known result was recorded. I cannot say whether it was expected or not, but I am honored by the outcome. The trust placed in me carries a great responsibility. At the same time, I cannot say that I need to do something better than the previous speaker. Alen Simonyan was a very good Speaker of the National Assembly and was the first to serve until the end of his term. Hayk Konjoryan was a very good head of the faction. Over the past five years, we have carried out significant and highly responsible work while going through major challenges,” Rubinyan said.

He added that peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan had been achieved with the participation and support of their team and that they remain committed to continuing their work together.

Rubinyan recalled that votes within the Civil Contract governing board are held by secret ballot.

“I assume that most of my colleagues believed that at this stage it would be appropriate for me to hold this position, and that is a normal process. Politically, the decision has been made,” Rubinyan said.

Earlier, Ruben Rubinyan was nominated as the Civil Contract party’s candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly following discussions and a closed secret ballot at a meeting of the party’s governing board. Prime Minister and Civil Contract Chairman Nikol Pashinyan announced the decision to journalists after the meeting.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan spoke by phone with French Minister Delegate for Europe Benjamin Haddad.

Minister Delegate Benjamin Haddad congratulated the Armenian deputy foreign minister on the parliamentary elections held in Armenia, noting that they were conducted in accordance with high democratic standards.

He also congratulated Kostanyan, a member of the ruling Civil Contract party, on the party’s victory, the Foreign Ministry said in a readout.

The sides discussed joint efforts aimed at further deepening the strategic partnership between Armenia and France, emphasizing the importance of consistently implementing the priorities set out in the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as bringing planned programs to fruition.

In this context, particular emphasis was placed on the need to promote business ties between Armenia and France, expand investment cooperation, and increase the volume of bilateral trade.

The sides also exchanged views on the Armenia–European Union partnership agenda, addressing steps aimed at expanding Armenia’s access to European markets and discussing initiatives aimed at developing regional connectivity, as well as recent developments in that context.

The Eagle Partner-2026 military exercise hosted in Armenia concluded on June 25, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Eagle Partner is a joint Armenian–American exercise. This year, French and Greek troops also participated in the drills.

During the closing ceremony at the Zar Training Center, the exercise leadership expressed gratitude to the personnel for effective cooperation, high professional readiness, the successful conduct of training, and the exchange of experience.

As part of the closing ceremony, an awards ceremony for personnel took place.

The purpose of the Eagle Partner-2026 exercise, which was held in Armenia from June 17 to 25, was to increase the level of interoperability between participating units during international peacekeeping missions, improve the organization of joint operations, and strengthen cooperation between partner countries.

Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, Armen Grigoryan, participated in the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026) in Gdańsk, Poland, on June 25, his office said.

Idram press release

Armenia’s two largest QR payment systems, IdramNet and ArcaQR, are joining forces to enable interoperability between their networks. As a result, Idram users will now be able to make fast and convenient payments by simply scanning ArcaQR codes directly through the Idram&IDBank app.

Arsene Kdenian, Director of Idram, commented: “Idram remains committed to its mission of expanding opportunities for customers, developing the digital ecosystem, and delivering innovative solutions. Joining the ArcaQR system marks another important step toward making cashless payments faster, safer and more accessible. We are confident that this integration will enhance the user experience and contribute to the further development of QR payment culture.”

According to Vardan Khachatryan, Executive Director of Armenian Card CJSC, the idea behind ArcaQR was to make QR payments accessible to everyone and create the simplest, fastest and most convenient payment experience for society.

“Through interoperability with IdramQR, we are taking that vision to a new level by bringing different payment environments together into a single, seamless experience. We are confident that partnerships like this help shape the modern digital economy, creating a more open, interconnected, and efficient financial ecosystem for the benefit of both businesses and consumers,” said Vardan Khachatryan.

Making a payment is simple:

·                  open the Idram&IDBank app,

·                  scan the ArcaQR code displayed at the point of sale,

·                  select your preferred account, wallet, or card and complete the payment.

THE COMPANIES ARE SUPERVISED BY THE CBA

YEREVAN, 25 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 25 June, USD exchange rate up by 0.33 drams to 368.26 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.52 drams to 417.75 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0508 drams to 4.8654 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.84 drams to 484.89 drams.

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

Gold price down by 1271 drams to 47649 drams. Silver price down by 18.17 drams to 717.49 drams.

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov met with the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, Magdalena Grono, Azerbaijani media reported.

The meeting focused on the current state and future prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union in the political, economic, energy, transport and communications, and other sectors.

Mammadov also briefed the EU special representative on recent developments in the process of normalizing relations between Baku and Yerevan, as well as on the peace agenda. He stressed the importance of making use of existing opportunities to bring the peace process to a conclusion, ensuring the timely implementation of commitments undertaken by the sides and strengthening mutual confidence.

The parties also underscored the importance of continuing cooperation within international organizations, as well as maintaining dialogue and consultations on issues of mutual interest to Azerbaijan and the European Union.

Narek Melkonyan is not a professional photographer by training. However, driven by curiosity, a passion for travel and an ability to see beauty in unexpected ways, he has managed to help people rediscover the world through images that capture famous landmarks, hidden sites and memorable moments from different countries.

Melkonyan has done so through the lens of a transparent glass cup, a technique that gives each scene a distinctive and, at times, almost mysterious quality.

His exhibition, titled “The World in one glass,” has opened at the ArtAm platform at Zvartnots International Airport, offering visitors the opportunity to become part of his journeys.

The exhibition was organized and curated by Armine Tumanyan, founder of the ArtAm Gallery. Melkonyan says that throughout years of travel he sought a unique perspective that could unite different countries, cultures and civilizations around a single idea.

“Like many unusual ideas, The World in one glass was born by chance. One day, while looking at a reflection through a glass filled with water, I realized that the cup itself could become the symbolic boundary connecting reality and our perceptions. Through this project, I wanted to show that despite geographical distances, the world is far more interconnected than we often imagine. The world reflected inside the cup reminds us that every country, culture and story is part of one great human story,” he said.

Melkonyan began travelling extensively more than two decades ago, both for professional reasons and out of personal curiosity. Since then, he has visited nearly 50 countries across different continents, returning to some of them more than ten times.

“Every journey has been not only an opportunity to discover new places, but also to meet people, hear stories and explore cultures. There are certainly countries I will always want to revisit. Italy, with its rich cultural heritage, and France, with its architecture and special appreciation of art, are places that reveal something new each time. Today, however, I am increasingly interested in visiting parts of the world I have not yet seen, particularly Central and Southern Africa, as well as countries in South America,” he said. Melkonyan stresses that every monument has its own story, and that story is often what makes it unique. He is especially inspired by sites that have preserved their significance over centuries and continue to inspire people today.

Among the places that have left the strongest impression on him are Rome’s Colosseum, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, the Acropolis of Athens and numerous historic complexes across the East. In his view, these are not merely structures built of stone or metal, but embodiments of human intellect, determination and creativity. 

“Stories often change the way we see things. When you learn the history of a place, you begin to perceive it completely differently. There have been occasions when I had not planned to photograph a particular monument, but after hearing a legend, a historical event or a story about the people connected to it, I returned and spent hours searching for the perfect shot. In those moments, a photograph becomes not just an image, but a continuation of history,” he said.

While cities and monuments are the central subjects of the exhibition, Melkonyan says he is increasingly convinced that people are the greatest value of any place. He therefore does not rule out the possibility that people may become the main subjects of his future projects. 

The exhibition will remain open until July 13.

 “I am very pleased that it is taking place at Zvartnots International Airport, Armenia’s main air gateway, where it can be seen by thousands of travellers from around the world. I hope the exhibition will bring visitors joy and become one of the pleasant memories they take home from Armenia. I do not have long-term plans for new exhibitions at the moment, but I am open to any opportunity that could help make the idea of The World in one glass accessible to a wider audience,” Melkonyan said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has begun his Middle East tour, with the United Arab Emirates as his first stop, Reuters reported.

He arrived in Abu Dhabi for a three-day Gulf trip, marking his first high-level diplomatic mission focused on the agreement reached last week to end the four-month-long U.S.–Israeli war with Iran.

Asked on arrival if he planned to address Middle East allies’ disquiet with the accord, Rubio told reporters: “That most certainly will come up in these discussions.”

He said they would also discuss issues not covered ⁠by the memorandum of understanding.

America’s top diplomat has been largely absent from Iran-related discussions in recent weeks, with Vice President JD Vance instead leading a round of talks with Iranian counterparts over the weekend in Switzerland.

Rubio’s remarks during his swing through the region will be closely scrutinized to see how the man once known as a hawkish critic of Iran frames a deal that many congressional Republicans argue amounts to capitulation. Rubio and Vance, both former U.S. senators, are widely viewed within Republican Party circles as potential candidates to succeed Trump, with party insiders and early polling often casting the race as a two-way contest between them, according to Reuters. 

Rubio’s mission is delicate: While he needs to defend a preliminary accord that Trump firmly supports, he also has to credibly address the concerns of his Gulf counterparts, who are more ‌circumspect about ⁠the deal.

While Gulf leaders pushed for peace during the four-month-long conflict, many were surprised and disappointed by the terms of the accord.

U.S. regional allies are especially concerned that Iran could use the proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund to rebuild its military. The accord also does not address Tehran’s ballistic missile capacity, a concern for Gulf states, all of which were struck by Iranian missiles and drones in the war.

Tehran has noted that the Gulf states ⁠made various logistical accommodations for Washington’s war effort, while hosting U.S. military bases that were central to the conflict.

Among the countries Rubio is visiting are the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Both nations host strategic U.S. military bases, and both were hit by an onslaught of Iranian missiles, resulting ⁠in civilian deaths.

The UAE faces particularly severe economic strains, as the war caused thousands of expatriates at the core of its non-oil economy to flee, provoking questions about the long-term viability of an expanding global financial centre so close to a country that attacked it.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the U.S.-Iran deal during a meeting on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, the State Department said.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and senior UAE leadership in Abu Dhabi. They discussed President Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region. They also discussed the strong bilateral U.S.-UAE ties and continued partnership in the areas of defense and commerce. The Secretary thanked the UAE for their leadership and unparallelled support, praised their courage and resilience in the face of Iran’s attacks, and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the security of the Emirates,” the State Department said in a press release.