Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan held a meeting with Ambassador Cosmin George Dinescu, Head of Mission for the newly established European Union Partnership Mission in Armenia (EUPM Armenia).

According to the Foreign Ministry’s readout, Deputy FM Kostanyan welcomed the decision of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to deploy a new EU civilian mission in Armenia, emphasizing the mission’s role in strengthening cooperation between Armenia and the EU in countering cyberattacks, disinformation, and illicit financial flows.

The sides discussed the necessary steps for the full establishment of the mission’s capabilities, stressing the importance of effective cooperation with Armenian partners in implementing activities stemming from the mission’s mandate.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia wished Ambassador Cosmin George Dinescu success in carrying out the mission’s objectives, reaffirming the Armenian side’s readiness to support its establishment.

The European Commission has disbursed €34 million to Armenia to help mitigate the impact of Russia’s trade restrictions on the country’s private sector, the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia said in a press release.

“Just two weeks after President von der Leyen’s call with Prime Minister Pashinyan, the EU is delivering swiftly on its commitments to support Armenia and its people. This financial assistance is the first tranche of a broader package announced by President von der Leyen, which also includes trade facilitation and solidarity measures to strengthen Armenia’s economic resilience. Building on the commitments made at the EU-Armenia Summit last month, the EU and Armenia will continue working together to strengthen business ties and expand market access for Armenian producers. Additional support will be provided to sectors affected by the trade restrictions, including agri-food products, flower production and other export-oriented industries, through trade initiatives, business matchmaking events and targeted market access initiatives. The EU-Armenia Task Force on Economic Resilience continues to meet regularly to steer and monitor the implementation of these measures,” the EU Delegation said.

Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, said: “The EU stands firmly with Armenia – a sovereign, democratic and independent country. Today’s support will help address immediate economic challenges while opening new opportunities for Armenian businesses to trade with regional and European markets. This is European solidarity in action”.

On 5 July, Commissioner Kos will travel to Armenia to advance the implementation of the support package and discuss further steps to strengthen EU-Armenia cooperation.

Ahead of the parliamentary elections held on June 7, Russia imposed restrictions and bans on the import of numerous Armenian goods, which remain in effect today. The move prompted exporters to look for new markets, including in the EU. The EU has since announced support measures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, following a phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, announced immediate financial assistance of more than €50 million, along with other support measures to facilitate trade, including steps to expand export opportunities for Armenian goods.

Russia has cited phytosanitary violations as the reason for the ban, which has been widely viewed by the EU as “economic coercion.”

YEREVAN, 19 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 19 June, USD exchange rate down by 0.04 drams to 368.15 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.05 drams to 421.97 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0028 drams to 5.0095 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 0.28 drams to 487.28 drams.

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

Gold price down by 1257 drams to 50140 drams. Silver price down by 24.41 drams to 801.91 drams.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan attended the annual conference of the Armenian Society of Fellows (ASOF) at the Dilijan Branch of the Central Bank of Armenia, where she presented the higher education reforms being implemented in Armenia. According to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Zhanna Andreasyan welcomed the participants and noted that one of the Government’s most important priorities is the reform of the higher education sector. “We are currently in the most active and decisive phase of the reforms. Following the adoption of the new Law on Higher Education and Science, regulations are now being developed, which are particularly important for ensuring the effective implementation of the processes established by the law,” the minister said, emphasizing that a key component of the reform process is the financing of higher education and science, with a focus on ensuring maximum efficiency, transparency and quality. The minister stressed that state policy is guided by a clear principle: no student should be deprived of higher education because of financial difficulties. Referring to the Academic City project as one of the major and large-scale initiatives being implemented in the sector, Zhanna Andreasyan noted that work is progressing actively. In particular, the Academic City Development Concept has already been approved, defining the project’s vision, strategic objectives, the overall cluster model, location and infrastructure, international partnerships, and other key components.

Armenian Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan received Vassilis Maragos, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia and EU Ambassador. In a post on her Facebook page, the minister said the sides discussed the Armenia-EU cooperation agenda, the progress of reforms, ongoing work on constitutional and judicial-legal reforms, as well as the visa liberalization process and next steps. “We emphasized the importance of the upcoming meetings of the Armenia-EU Human Rights Dialogue and the Justice, Freedom and Security Subcommittee, to be held in Yerevan,” the minister said.

A consultation chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was held to discuss issues related to the current operations and upcoming plans of the artificial intelligence data center (“AI factory”) being built in Armenia by Firebird. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, participants were briefed on the progress of the center’s construction and the installation of technological equipment, as well as on steps being taken to develop the necessary infrastructure. The discussion also covered the project’s implementation timeline, ongoing work being carried out within the framework of public-private cooperation, and the measures required to ensure the full-scale launch of the AI factory. Prime Minister Pashinyan underscored the importance of Firebird’s AI data center, describing it as an initiative of strategic significance for Armenia’s technological development. He noted that the project would contribute to the advancement of artificial intelligence and high-tech sectors, create new opportunities for research and educational institutions, and help strengthen Armenia’s international competitiveness in the technology field.

An earthquake measuring 3.1 magnitude was recorded on June 19 at 7:17 p.m. local time (3:17 p.m. GMT) by the seismological network of the Territorial Seismic Protection Service of Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. The earthquake occurred in the Republic of Azerbaijan at geographic coordinates 40.30° north latitude and 45.94° east longitude, with a focal depth of 10 km. The intensity of the underground tremor in the epicentral zone was measured at 4-5 points. According to the Rescue Service, the earthquake was felt in the town of Vardenis and the villages of Mets Masrik, Geghamasar, Norakert and Sotk in Gegharkunik Province, with an intensity of 2-3 points.

The Armenian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion in Yerevan titled “Unlocking Armenia’s Potential: Economic Reforms, European Integration and Regional Realities.” The event featured two keynote speakers: Bruno Colmant and Vache Gabrielyan. Colmant is one of Belgium’s leading economists, a member of the Royal Academy of Belgium, professor, author of several books, and an internationally recognized expert in monetary and financial policy. He remains actively engaged in discussions on Europe’s economic future and global financial governance. Gabrielyan, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, is an economist and currently serves as Dean of the Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics at the American University of Armenia. Over the past decades, he has been one of the principal architects of Armenia’s economic and institutional reforms, combining high-level government experience with academic leadership. Welcoming participants and speakers, Belgian Ambassador to Armenia Eric De Muynck expressed satisfaction with the activities of the Armenian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce. “Since 2023, we have been working closely with this chamber. Although we have achieved concrete results, there is still more that can be done. This discussion is another example of partnership and comes at exactly the right time. Armenia is working very intensively with the European Union to diversify its trade relations. Earlier this morning, Professor Colmant and I discussed the comparative advantages of small countries. In particular, we exchanged views on technology, education and the role of the Armenian diaspora. These are also highly important topics for discussions of this kind,” the diplomat said. Asked what strategic choices Armenia should make today to ensure sustainable economic growth, strengthen its partnership with Europe and navigate an increasingly complex regional environment, Gabrielyan said clear strategies are necessary, but they will not work if they fail to align with the fundamental economic principles that guide private entrepreneurs and businesses in making decisions. According to Gabrielyan, the most important task is developing the capacity for integration in multiple directions. “To cooperate economically with Europe, we currently lack the necessary scale, standards and insurance systems. In the past, we were also unable to build the capacities required to support such a system. Fortunately, we have received grants from the European Union to develop infrastructure that meets these quality standards. When we speak about trade, we are talking about compliance standards, technical regulations and other related requirements. Without all of this infrastructure, it is impossible to address logistical challenges,” Gabrielyan said. He stressed that Armenia must recognize that it is located in an unstable region and operating in an uncertain environment, meaning that geographical instability is likely to remain for some time. “This means that we must strengthen our capacities and modernize our business practices. If we do not continuously think about resilience and diversification, we will not succeed. This is the most important issue. Strategic choices are not made only at the government or trade level; they are also made at the level of individual businesses. New export and import routes must be found, along with new strategic supply-chain pathways. This requires a new way of thinking,” Gabrielyan said. Colmant, for his part, noted that Armenia is situated at the crossroads of multiple spheres of influence, including East and West, Russia and the European Union. “At the same time, I am extremely impressed because you have a resilient economy. You also have a stable currency, which is remarkable, as small countries usually have weak currencies and suffer significantly during times of crisis. Armenia can play a role in the emerging environment. The war between Ukraine and Russia will eventually come to an end, and Armenia possesses many competitive advantages: a high growth rate, a highly skilled workforce, and a diaspora that is extremely valuable and capable of providing financial support when needed. Because you have a stable currency, you can borrow funds to enter foreign markets and implement investment projects. To avoid geographic and political isolation, Armenia must cooperate with a number of countries,” Colmant said. In his view, cooperation with the European Union is entirely logical, and expanding trade relations with the EU should remain a priority for Armenia. Colmant also advised investing more resources in political marketing to ensure that Armenia is positioned correctly on the global map. “You need to clearly explain what your competitive advantages are. You are quite strong in information technology and artificial intelligence. AI marks the beginning of the latest industrial revolution and will soon transform everything, including the labor market. If you are able to develop AI-related skills and spread those skills globally, you will strengthen your competitive advantages,” Colmant said. According to Colmant, small countries such as Armenia require strong coordination between the private and public sectors. They also need a clear roadmap outlining the country’s place and direction over the next 10 to 20 years.

Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan visited the Dilijan branch of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia. According to the ministry, the minister was accompanied by the academy’s rector, Vardan Azatyan. A transformation process for the Dilijan branch has been launched through cooperation between the government, the private sector and international partners. The initiative aims to develop the branch into a center for the study of crafts, materials and landscape, as well as for creative practice. The official reopening of the facility will take place on June 21 with the launch of the “Metabolis” summer creative project. During the visit, the minister was introduced to the new development concept for the Dilijan branch and the work already carried out under the initiative. It was noted that particular emphasis will be placed on the development of applied arts, environmental studies, the implementation of creative practices, and addressing the cultural and educational needs of the Dilijan community. At the same time, the branch will serve as an important platform for multifaceted international cooperation, creating new opportunities for students, faculty members and professionals in the arts sector.

Armenia national football team’s all-time leading scorer and former captain, Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, met with players from the academy of FC Pyunik. The event, held at Pyunik’s main training grounds, brought together numerous young footballers from different age groups. At the start of the meeting, Mkhitaryan spoke about his career path, the challenges he faced along the way, and the dream that motivated him throughout his journey. “What I learned during my years playing at Pyunik made me the footballer I am today. Never stop pursuing your goals. If you truly love football, work hard on yourself and continue to develop,” Mkhitaryan said. At the end of the meeting, Mkhitaryan posed for photographs with the young players. During his career, Mkhitaryan has played for FC Pyunik, FC Metalurh Donetsk, FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, Arsenal, AS Roma, and currently plays for Inter Milan.