Speaker of Parliament, Alen Simonyan, held a meeting with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna during his visit to Yerevan.

According to a readout from the parliament’s press service, the discussions focused on bilateral and inter-parliamentary relations, as well as topics concerning Armenia–EU relations and democratic reforms.

Views were also exchanged on regional developments, with particular attention given to the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) project.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia, envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. An Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.

Speaker of Parliament, Alen Simonyan, held a meeting on Thursday with an Austrian parliamentary delegation led by Martina von Künsberg-Sarre, Chairperson of the Austria-Armenia-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Group at the National Council of Austria. 

The Speaker expressed gratitude for the visit to Armenia, noting that such trips serve as a significant boost for activating bilateral relations, the parliament’s press service said in a readout.

The discussion focused on bilateral and interparliamentary ties, ongoing democratic reforms in Armenia, the peace process established between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and regional developments.

Simonyan also drew the delegation’s attention to the issue of captives, unlawfully detained persons in Azerbaijan, and missing persons.

The U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration remains committed to making the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) a reality, a State Department spokesperson said in response to Armenpress’ request.

“The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) remains a top priority for the United States, with the potential to unleash peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus region and beyond. The Trump Administration remains committed to making TRIPP a reality,’’ the spokesperson noted.

The spokesperson noted that TRIPP is a multimodal transit area which will connect the main part of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, fully respecting Armenian sovereignty and territorial integrity while providing reciprocal connectivity benefits for Armenia.

“It will allow unimpeded international and intrastate connectivity in the region, expanding opportunities for increased economic growth and prosperity,” the State Department spokesperson said.

“Azerbaijan will gain connectivity to its Nakhchivan exclave, while Armenia will benefit from improved regional connectivity, which will unleash the economic potential of the South Caucasus while preserving Armenia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also noted that Armenia is working with the United States and mutually- determined third parties to implement the TRIPP.

”To help kick-start TRIPP and related arrangements, the United States has made an initial commitment of $145 million, which will unlock regional stability and economic growth. These funds will support investments in trade, infrastructure, and cross-border security in Armenia, and increase regional connectivity,’’ the State Department spokesperson said.

The spokesperson noted that on January 13, the United States and Armenia jointly announced the publication of the TRIPP Implementation Framework.

“This document outlines a concrete path to operationalize TRIPP. Reflecting the principles affirmed on August 8, it also underscores the importance of sovereignty, jurisdiction, territorial integrity, and reciprocity to the overall success of the TRIPP. As President Trump has said, TRIPP will go through “some of the most important places economically anywhere in the world,” and “will boost commercial activity on the other side of the Caspian Sea, helping nations throughout Central Asia.”

“The ultimate objectives of TRIPP are to strengthen the prosperity and security of Armenia and Azerbaijan and expand U.S. commercial opportunities by expanding regional trade and connectivity, as well as to create new transit links from Central Asia and the Caspian to Europe,’’ the spokesperson concluded.

The Armenian government has approved a new measure enabling farmers to access interest-free loans.

The subsidy bill was approved at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan noted that the government is currently implementing numerous programs aimed at developing the agricultural sector, which is understandable given that roughly one-third of Armenia’s population is engaged in agriculture in some way.

“Here we face a specific challenge: while the government implements targeted programs, one thing we have not had until now is a comprehensive program covering all sub-sectors of the agro-industrial sector, applicable to all farming businesses,” Papoyan emphasized.

He added that one of the key features of this program is that it targets small farming businesses, which, for obvious reasons, often lack the capacity to make significant investments.

“The program provides accessible financial resources for conducting activities in the agro-industrial sector. It is designed for 2026–2027, and the loan limit for each beneficiary under this program is 1–2 million drams. The government will finance the entire interest rate, but the program condition stipulates that the interest rate must not exceed 14 percent. As a result, farmers will effectively be able to obtain loans at zero percent interest,” Papoyan explained.

He added that the repayment term for the loan is up to three years, and farmers will not make any payments during the first six months after receiving the loan; only then will they begin repaying the principal. Another important point of the program, Papoyan noted, is that farmers can benefit from it multiple times.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it was “gravely saddened” by the hundreds of victims in Lebanon from the recent airstrikes.

In a statement on X, the foreign ministry said Armenia hopes for de-escalation and cessation of all hostilities.

“Gravely saddened by hundreds of victims & more than thousand injuries resulted by airstrikes across Lebanon on April 8. We extend our condolences for families of deceased & wish speedy recovery to all injured, expressing hope for de-escalation & cessation of all hostilities,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said on X.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posed a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East.

The U.S. and Iran on Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire, but Israel on Wednesday killed more than 250 people in its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since fighting ⁠with Hezbollah broke out last month amid the Iran war, according to Reuters. Israel said the two-week truce does not apply to Lebanon. 

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan held a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart, Yermek Kosherbayev, in Yerevan on Thursday.

Kosherbayev is on an official visit to Armenia. An expanded-format meeting is planned following the one-on-one talks.

Prime Minister of Lithuania Inga Ruginienė, following talks with Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev in Baku, said that Lithuania strongly supports the efforts towards lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In a post on X, Ruginienė said that Lithuania supports closer EU-Azerbaijan ties to strengthen security, stability, and economic prosperity for both sides, with energy cooperation among key priorities.

“In a time of growing instability and ongoing Russia’s war against Ukraine, cooperation between our countries is even more important. Lithuania strongly supports efforts toward lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, welcomes the progress achieved, and advocates for continued stability in the region,” she added.

The Armenian military is in its best condition to date in terms of armaments, morale, combat readiness, and provisions, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Thursday, denying allegations by a lawmaker about low conscription numbers after his bill was rejected.

“I must note that the Armenian military has never been in such good condition in terms of food, clothing, armaments, morale, and defense capability. The feedback from soldiers and their families is important to me, but that does not mean there are no problems. There is no army in the world without problems, and no country without problems.

Armenia’s Security Council, the government, and the Ministry of Defense have adopted a vision for the transformation of the military, and that vision is being implemented step by step. I do not see the need to comment on other statements, because when I try to clarify them, it turns out that what was said is not accurate.

It is another matter that when people make statements and it later becomes clear that those statements are based on incorrect facts, they should have the same political will to stand up and say, ‘Dear people, you know the fact I was talking about — it turns out it was not quite so,’” Pashinyan said, emphasizing that during meetings in communities across the country, many citizens have thanked him for reforms in the military.

The prime minister also expressed confidence that during a demonstration of military equipment acquired during his time in office, scheduled for May 28, the public will see the changes that have taken place in the army.

MP Hayk Sargsyan of the ruling Civil Contract party earlier argued that enlistment numbers have been declining and will continue to fall. He drafted a bill aimed at boosting enlistment, but it was rejected at a committee hearing. The Defense Ministry said enlistment numbers are, in fact, increasing.

The Cypriot parliament observed a moment of silence during the opening of its plenary session in honor of the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.

Armenian Ambassador to Cyprus, Inna Torgmonyan, participated in the session, the embassy said.

The plenary session was opened with a special address by President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, followed by the observance of the moment of silence. Member of the House of Representatives Vartkes Mahdessian, representing the Armenian community, delivered the main speech.

YEREVAN, 9 APRIL, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 9 April, USD exchange rate down by 0.26 drams to 376.06 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.98 drams to 438.86 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0305 drams to 4.8219 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.97 drams to 503.77 drams.

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

Gold price up by 2148 drams to 57945 drams. Silver price up by 56.22 drams to 928.62 drams.