Armenia is represented by three athletes at the ISSF World Championship in Doha, Qatar, which is being held from November 1 to 14.

The press service of the Shooting Federation of Armenia said the team has traveled to Qatar under the leadership of head coach Seyran Nikoghosyan.

The Armenian team comprises shooters Elmira Karapetyan, Gevorg Melkonyan and Artyom Grigoryan.

The championship is an Olympic qualification event, with 36 quota places to be awarded, three in each event.

Members of Armenia’s national weightlifting team continue their campaign at the 2026 IWF World Championships in Ningbo, China, with two athletes scheduled to compete on November 2.

Martin Poghosyan will compete in Group C of the 85kg category, while Rafik Harutyunyan will take part in Group B of the same category.

Earlier in the championships, Alexandra Grigoryan won bronze in the clean and jerk event in the women’s 57kg category.

The final standings in the 85kg category at the qualifying World Weightlifting Championships have been confirmed, the Armenian Weightlifting Federation’s press service said.

Competing in Group B, Rafik Harutyunyan finished 22nd with a combined total of 345kg — 155kg in the snatch and 190kg in the clean and jerk.

Martin Poghosyan, competing in Group C, placed 23rd with a total of 337kg — 147kg in the snatch and 190kg in the clean and jerk.

Earlier at the championships, Aleksandra Grigoryan won bronze in the clean and jerk.

A ceremony marking the completion of a project to renovate the judo and karate hall at the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport took place at the institute. The project was implemented under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects programme.

The ceremony was attended by Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia, Yutaka Aoki; Arman Andrikyan, adviser to Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport; the institute’s Rector Tigran Simonyan; and members of the institute’s management, students and guests.

According to a statement from the Japanese Embassy, Japan provided a grant of US$91,088 to reconstruct and equip the judo and karate hall. Following reconstruction and renovation, the hall’s floor area has increased, allowing more people to train in improved conditions.

The ceremony began with Ambassador Aoki and Simonyan cutting the ribbon to officially open the renovated hall. This was followed by demonstrations in which judo and karate athletes showcased their skills and discipline.

Following the demonstrations, Simonyan and Ambassador Aoki delivered congratulatory remarks. Simonyan said the new hall would enable the institute to organise teaching more effectively. He stressed that the occasion created an educational bridge between Armenia and Japan and could also help develop shared interests and cooperation.

Ambassador Aoki explained that a judo or karate hall is called a “dojo” in Japanese. The word consists of two parts: “do”, meaning “way”, and “jo”, meaning “place”. A dojo is therefore a “place of the way”: a space not only for learning martial arts techniques but also for physical and mental development.

He expressed hope that the dojo would become another bridge between the two countries and help strengthen their friendship in the future.

On November 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan delivered remarks at the closing plenary session of the Manama Dialogue, titled “Global Security Governance: Inclusion and Agency.”

The panel discussion also featured remarks by Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates.

The Ministry published the full text of Minister Mirzoyan’s remarks:

“Distinguished Ministers, excellencies, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure and an honor to address this distinguished audience at the closing session of this year’s Manama Dialogue.

As reflected in the theme of this panel, countries are often categorized as major or smaller powers, primarily on the basis of their territorial size, population, or economic capacity. However, I would suggest that there is another, equally important measure. 

Here I have two points:

Firstly, the role a country chooses to play in its neighborhood and in the international arena. Regardless of its resources, every state has the capacity to contribute to cooperation or to deepen divisions, to serve as a bridge between nations or as a source of further fragmentation. Ultimately, this is not merely a matter of circumstances, but also a matter of political choice.

Certainly, such choices are never made in isolation or independently of historical and geopolitical realities. They are shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including the wounds of the past, longstanding disagreements, conflicts that have been resolved and those that remain unsettled, as well as political, economic, and security constraints. 

Yet, the fundamental question remains which considerations should ultimately guide our decisions and define our course of action? For Armenia, the answer is unequivocal. Our choices are guided by a firm commitment to peace, a determination to advance cooperation, and a shared responsibility to build a more secure and prosperous future.

We fully recognize that building peace is neither a simple nor an automatic process, and it cannot take place in isolation from existing challenges. Nevertheless, peace is, above all, a deliberate and strategic choice. It requires sustained political will, responsible leadership, and the determination to guide our societies and future generations toward an environment characterized by mutual trust, cooperation, and prosperity, rather than allowing the divisions and uncertainties of the past to determine our future.

Armenia has made its strategic choice. We firmly believe that lasting peace, strengthened regional cooperation, and greater interconnectedness constitute the foundation of a more stable, secure, and prosperous future for our region.

In this context, the Washington Peace Summit of August 8, 2025, marked a historic milestone in advancing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of Azerbaijan and U.S. President, as a witness, signed a Joint Declaration, while me and my Azerbaijani counterpart initialed the Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the two countries.  This important achievement opened a new chapter and created opportunities to transform the South Caucasus from a region marked by confrontation into a space of dialogue, cooperation, and possible shared prosperity. 

Thus, the experience of the South Caucasus illustrates not only the costs of prolonged confrontation, but also the possibilities that diplomacy can create. 

However, political commitment must be accompanied by concrete actions and tangible results. To translate the principles of cooperation into sustainable security and stability, we must ensure that our initiatives generate mutual benefits, not only for the countries of our immediate region but also for partners beyond it. Connectivity that creates opportunities and shared benefits for all genuinely interested stakeholders generates common interests and strengthens the collective commitment to preserving peace and stability.

It is precisely this approach that underpins Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace initiative, an inclusive vision that is particularly relevant at a time when countries across the world are seeking to diversify transport routes, strengthen connectivity, and explore new logistical opportunities. In this context, the TRIPP project with its railway, electricity, fiber optic, oil and gas infrastructure to be implemented on the territory of Armenia, is expected to play a significant role in strengthening connectivity not only between Armenia and Azerbaijan, or the close neighborhood, but between East and West and North and South, creating new opportunities for regional and interregional trade, and contributing to the diversification and resilience of international supply chains.

And here the second point is how resilient and enduring a statehood is. Armenia is pursuing a comprehensive approach aimed at strengthening its resilience and adaptability in an increasingly complex international environment. This entails deepening and diversifying our international partnerships, expanding economic opportunities and enhancing our economic resilience through diversification. 

S&P notes that Armenia’s average growth in 2022–2025 was 7.8%, among the highest of the 143 countries it rates. Economic activity grew 8% year-on-year in the first five months of 2026, beating forecasts. 2026 January–July economic activity index is up 7.7% year-on-year, with July alone up 17%.

In this regard, I would particularly emphasize the importance Armenia attaches to further developing its relations with the countries of the Gulf, including through the expansion of trade, the promotion of mutual investments, and the identification of new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.

As I approach the conclusion of my remarks, allow me to draw a parallel with an initiative of our own – the Yerevan Dialogue, the international forum hosted by Armenia to foster open and constructive exchanges on pressing regional and global challenges. In May 2025, we convened under the theme “Navigating the Unknown,” reflecting the profound uncertainty that characterized the international environment – a reality that, I believe, resonated with many of us. This year, in 2026, we chose the theme “Riding Through the Storms,” acknowledging the growing complexity of geopolitical developments and the challenges confronting the international community. As we prepare for the next edition of the Yerevan Dialogue, scheduled for May 2027, I would like to take this opportunity to warmly invite you to join us in Yerevan. It is my sincere hope that, by then, we will witness greater stability and predictability in the Middle East, with renewed prospects for dialogue and lasting peace.

The storms are real. But so is our choice. We can let them drive us apart, or we can choose to ride through them together, creating stronger bonds and functioning crossroads.

Dear friends,   

To conclude, and to return to the central question of this session: if the voices of smaller states are to be heard and respected, it is essential not only that multilateral mechanisms and rules function effectively, but equally that each state defines a clear role and vision for itself, creates mutually beneficial bonds and interconnectedness, and, finally, tirelessly pursues that goal.

Thank you.”

Minister of Defense of Armenia Suren Papikyan met with journalists accredited to the Ministry of Defense on October 30-31 as part of a training course titled “Specifics of the Defense Sector.”

During the meeting, presentations on various aspects of the defense sector, ongoing work and current developments were delivered by First Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Edward Asryan; Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Artur Yeroyan; Head of the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Arsen Mangasaryan; and Head of the Combat Training Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Colonel Davit Aleksanyan, according to the ministry’s press release.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a question-and-answer session was held, during which media representatives had the opportunity to put their questions to the speakers.

As part of the two-day event, the journalists also visited an army position and a fortified area, and took part in a practical shooting exercise at a Ministry of Defense firing range in one of the regions.

Armenia’s state budget revenues for 2027 are projected at 3 trillion 604 billion drams, or approximately $10 billion, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during discussions on the draft 2027 state budget at a joint session of parliamentary committees.

“We should note that the increase in the revenue component of the 2027 state budget compared to 2017 stands at 191%, meaning that revenues have nearly tripled compared to 2017. The increase compared to 2021 is 114%, or approximately 2.1 times,” Pashinyan said.

Capital expenditures are projected to increase 3.2-fold compared to 2017 and 3.5-fold compared to 2021.

“In the education sector, the increase compared to 2017 is projected at 181%, or 2.8 times, and 2.3 times compared to 2021. In the science sector, the increase is 2.7-fold compared to 2017 and 2.5-fold compared to 2021,” the Prime Minister said.

Pashinyan emphasized that as the budget grows, expenditures and expectations also increase.

“The higher the level of well-being in the country, the higher the level of well-being people expect. The funds in Armenia’s state budget are generated through the activities of the citizens and residents of the Republic of Armenia,” Pashinyan said.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Monday that the government plans to publish the draft of a new Constitution in November.

“We will publish the draft of the new Constitution, public discussions will begin, proposals will be submitted and discussed. This will continue until we are convinced that the draft of the new Constitution has been sufficiently discussed among the public, after which we will organize another discussion of the draft,” Pashinyan told lawmakers at a joint session of parliamentary committees discussing the draft 2027 state budget.

The Prime Minister said that one of the government’s most important upcoming objectives is the signing and ratification of the peace agreement already initialed by Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context, the opposition has raised the question of whether the adoption of a new Constitution will guarantee the signing of that agreement and comprehensive peace.

“Our efforts in the coming period will be directed precisely toward obtaining answers to these questions. If Armenia’s ruling majority gives a clear affirmative answer to this question that has been raised and provides convincing answers to the questions arising from it, allow me to express my conviction that if we proceed with the process of adopting a new Constitution under these conditions of affirmative answers, the overwhelming majority of citizens of the Republic of Armenia will go to the polling stations and vote in favor of the new Constitution. If we have affirmative answers and the parliamentary opposition expresses its opposition, that will mean that the opposition is opposing peace with Azerbaijan. In that case, public pressure on the opposition will undoubtedly build, and I believe that Armenia’s ruling majority should lead that pressure,” the Prime Minister said.

Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed a peace agreement on August 8, 2025. Azerbaijan is making amendments to Armenia’s Constitution a precondition for finally signing the peace agreement, claiming that it contains territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan makes this claim by referring to the reference to Armenia’s Declaration of Independence in the preamble to the Armenian Constitution.

The Armenian side has repeatedly stated that Armenia’s Constitution contains no territorial claims against any country, including Azerbaijan.

Armenia’s leadership has stated that it is ready to sign the peace agreement with Azerbaijan at any time.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has also previously stated that the draft of Armenia’s new Constitution should not contain a reference to the Declaration of Independence and that the constitutional reforms are entirely a domestic matter.

The Government of Armenia has effectively already begun implementing the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) project, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told lawmakers on Monday.

“Before organizing the subsequent processes, the Government of Armenia will, on its own initiative, launch the process of commissioning the design of the railway, highway and power transmission lines under the TRIPP project, so that we do not lose time and can begin work on the project,” he said at a joint session of parliamentary committees discussing the draft 2027 state budget.

“As soon as the TRIPP Development Company is established, the Government of Armenia will simply transfer the work already completed to the company,” the Prime Minister added.

Pashinyan emphasized that through this project, Armenia is overcoming a blockade that has continued for more than 30 years.

“It is indisputable and unequivocal that as a result of the implementation of the TRIPP project, Armenia will be unblocked in all directions. It will be unblocked in the east-west and north-south directions. The unblocking of all these directions does not mean that all infrastructure will be part of the TRIPP project. The TRIPP project will include the Nrnadzor-Karchevan railway, as well as power transmission lines and a highway there. The issues of a gas pipeline and an oil pipeline are matters for discussion at a later stage,” Pashinyan said.

On October 28, the National Assembly of Armenia ratified the Framework Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America on Strategic Cooperation Concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Armenia intends to gradually transfer full control over its state borders to the Border Guard Troops of the National Security Service (NSS).

“I consider it important to emphasize that on November 1, we launched the biometric passport system in Armenia, which is a very significant and major reform. Today, we have introduced a system that meets all modern requirements and standards for biometric passports, and this system is very important on the path toward achieving visa liberalization with the EU. Of course, quite complex reforms are needed to address this issue because, if we want visa liberalization, it means that we must meet European Union standards in at least certain areas. In the context of addressing this issue, the necessary systems must be reformed, and I want to say that we are determined to pursue this path. What does this entail? In particular, it entails a certain transformation of the status of the border guard troops and means that, at least in the medium term, all state borders of the Republic of Armenia must be controlled by the relevant border guard service of Armenia. We have already addressed this topic in the Government Program as well, and we will move steadily along this path. You know that previously, our Border Guard Service did not even control all of the Republic of Armenia’s border crossing points. However, for several years now, all border crossing points in Armenia have been controlled exclusively by the Armenian border guard troops. And, of course, step by step, we will delegate control over the entire border of the Republic of Armenia to the Border Guard Service of the Republic of Armenia, which will also have to undergo a certain process of reform,” Prime Minister Pashinyan told members of parliament at a joint committee hearing on the 2027 state budget bill.

Since January 1, 2025, the Border Guard Troops of the NSS have been participating alongside Russian border guards in guarding the Armenia-Iran and Armenia-Türkiye state borders. At the border checkpoint on the Armenia-Iran state border, however, service is carried out entirely by the NSS Border Guard Troops. Since August 2024, the Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan has also been staffed exclusively by Armenian border guards, whereas Russian border guards had previously served there as well. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Border Guard Service has been guarding the Armenian side of the Armenia-Türkiye and Armenia-Iran state borders since 1992.

Speaking about biometric passports, Pashinyan said that one of the most visible and welcome developments related to them is that holders of biometric passports will soon be able to cross Armenia’s border through electronic gates (the e-gate system).

“What is special about this? There is no contact with any official. This system is already in operation in many countries. This opportunity will first be introduced at Zvartnots Airport and subsequently at all border crossing points in Armenia, without exception. Of course, later on, we will have to start negotiations to make these services available to Armenian citizens in other countries as well, because each country has its own specific regulations, and there is an agenda for making these services mutually available. What is the specific feature? There must be a comparative database of information. When a biometric passport is presented, the system must have something to compare it against to determine whether the person is indeed the person they claim to be. In Armenia’s case, when a citizen does this in their own country, there is no difficulty because all the systems are interoperable. When a citizen holds their passport up to the system, it quickly checks the information against the State Population Register using the biometric system to verify how accurately the data corresponds to reality. To use similar services in foreign countries, we need to establish a certain system for exchanging information with those countries, and that is already a matter of bilateral arrangements,” the Prime Minister said.