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.

Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia Davit Khudatyan received Minister of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurlan Sauranbayev.

According to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Khudatyan highlighted the need to deepen existing relations with Kazakhstan. A number of issues of mutual interest were discussed, particularly in the aviation and transport sectors.

Both sides emphasized the importance of establishing direct air links between the two countries. The “Crossroads of Peace” project, as well as the railway sector within its framework, were also discussed.

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan has received a delegation led by Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, who is on an official visit to Armenia.

According to the Armenian presidential office, Khachaturyan welcomed the visit and said it reflected the continued strengthening of friendly relations and mutual trust between Armenia and Kazakhstan.

He also underscored the steady and forward-looking nature of bilateral cooperation.

Both sides highlighted the importance of high-level visits in advancing political dialogue and deepening cooperation across various sectors.

Kosherbayev thanked the Armenian side for the warm reception and hospitality, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s readiness to expand and diversify cooperation with Armenia on the basis of mutual respect and shared benefit.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed key areas of the bilateral agenda, including investment in infrastructure projects, the expansion of business ties, and the growth of trade and economic cooperation.

They noted that there is still significant untapped potential in bilateral relations, and that fully utilizing it could give fresh momentum to cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides also discussed the prospects for restoring direct flights, saying such a step could help boost people-to-people contacts, tourism, and business activity.

They also exchanged views on regional developments, including the opening of transport routes, improving logistical connectivity, and expanding broader economic ties.

Both sides stressed the importance of greater regional connectivity as a foundation for sustainable development and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Gagik Tsarukyan will head the electoral list of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), political analyst Suren Surenyants said after the party’s congress.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Surenyants — chairman of the political council of the Democratic Alternative Party, which has joined the “Proposal to Armenia” initiative — said Tsarukyan would lead the party’s slate.

“The first name on the Prosperous Armenia Party list will be Gagik Tsarukyan,” Surenyants said.

He also stressed that their political force rules out any cooperation with the Civil Contract Party.

According to Surenyants, several major political consolidations are already taking shape, and the upcoming elections are likely to unfold under a different scenario than in 2021.

He added that his political team is entering the election with the goal of winning.

“We are going into the election to win,” he said.

President of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, and other top officials attended the inauguration of TUMO’s first educational center in Uruguay. The facility is located near Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, an esteemed educational project launched in Armenia, was held in June 2025.

Uruguay’s Minister of National Defense Sandra Lazo, Minister of Education and Culture José Carlos Mahía, Minister of Tourism Pablo Menoni, President of the Ceibal Educational Innovation Center Fiorella Haim, President of the National Administration of Public Education Daniel Caggiani, and Canelones Department Intendant Francisco Legnani, as well as Martín Eurnekian, Chief Executive Officer of Corporación América Airports, and a number of other high-ranking officials were in attendance, according to the Armenian Embassy in Uruguay.

According to the embassy, the project was carried out through collaboration between Corporación América Airports, Aeropuertos Uruguay, and the Ceibal Educational Innovation Center.

Thanks to the initiative, 1,000 students selected from over 5,000 applicants will have the opportunity to study at TUMO Uruguay, covering eight technology tracks ranging from 3D modeling to generative artificial intelligence.

TUMO is a non-profit organization offering educational programs for teenagers. Aside from its Yerevan center and presence across Armenia, it has an international presence in cities such as Paris, Beirut, Zurich, and Berlin, among others.