Lithuania welcomes the progress in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the agreements reached on the restoration of transport links, Lithuania’s Deputy Foreign Minister Audra Plepytė said in an interview with Armenpress during the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 international forum.

She noted that it is important to ensure the timely signing and ratification of the peace agreement, along with the full implementation of the other obligations stipulated in the Washington Declaration.

During the interview, Plepytė touched upon the current level of Armenia-Lithuania relations, Lithuania’s possible role in deepening Armenia-European Union cooperation, and the position of official Vilnius on recent developments in the South Caucasus, particularly the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process.

The Lithuanian deputy foreign minister also expressed hope that the European Union would be able to contribute to the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.

According to Plepytė, in the context of the implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) transit project, Vilnius sees an opportunity to make a concrete contribution by offering its experience with the facilitated Kaliningrad transit model.

-Ms.Plepytė, how would you assess the current state of bilateral relations between Lithuania and Armenia?

-This year Lithuania and Armenia celebrate the 35th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, and I’m glad that it is not only “on paper”, but we can see it in practice: in the last few years, we have significantly intensified our relations. Our bilateral agenda is full of high-level meetings and increasing cooperation on practical, sectoral level. Ready to continue and strengthen this cooperation even further.

Lithuania consistently supports Armenia’s commitment to a comprehensive reform agenda based on democracy, transparency and the rule of law. Ready to enhance our cooperation in the areas of border management and security, strategic communication and the fight against disinformation, renewable energy, transport, environmental protection, judicial sector and other areas.

I see strong potential for closer cooperation in areas such as energy independence, trade diversification, and the green transition. These are all critical pillars for the long-term development of any country. Lithuania has navigated these challenges firsthand and has valuable experience to share.

Lithuania is open for the discussion on expanding bilateral trade. Areas for exploration and potential mutual interest – ICT, Edtech, food and food-tech industry, tourism, renewables, startups.

Lithuania actively supports Armenia’s pursuit of closer ties with the European Union. The first EU–Armenia summit, recently held in Yerevan, marks an important step forward. With the launch of the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue and the signing of a Strategic Agenda for EU-Armenia partnership, the process has gained meaningful momentum—benefiting both Armenia’s future and Europe’s overall security and resilience.

-How would you comment on the participation of the Lithuanian Prime Minister in the 8th Summit of the European Political Community held in Yerevan on May 4?

– We welcome Armenia hosting high level events these days – the 8th EPC Summit, the first-ever EU–Armenia summit and the 3rd Yerevan dialogue.

It is a pleasure that our Prime Minister, Ms Ruginienė, had the opportunity to participate in these important talks in Yerevan. Prime Minister emphasised the need to maintain focus on supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression and on strengthening cooperation among European countries to enhance security and resilience.

In discussions with European leaders, the Prime Minister also raised the issue of hybrid threats, stressing the importance of increasing collective resilience and energy security. A separate roundtable discussion also addressed strengthening democratic resilience and countering hybrid threats.

As the Prime Minister noted, the partnership with the United States of America is of strategic importance to the continent – a constructive cooperation based on mutual respect and a shared focus on security is in our common interest.

During a warm and constructive bilateral meeting, Prime Minister, Ms Ruginienė, and Armenian Prime Minister, Mr Pashinyan, discussed prospects for strengthening bilateral relations and advancing EU–Armenia cooperation.

– What are your expectations from the Yerevan Dialogue, and how do you assess its potential role in fostering regional and international dialogue?

-We congratulate Armenia on establishing this format. This initiative represents a meaningful forum for discussions that go beyond regional matters and also address wider, and even global, cooperation priorities. We see strong potential for enhancing connectivity, expanding trade, and deepening people-to-people ties across the regions.

Lithuania actively supports the development of regional connectivity and unblocking of trade routes. Connectivity is also about people – people-to-people initiatives will strengthen societal resilience and facilitate exchanges in education, culture, and youth, thereby fostering long-term mutual understanding. This will bring tangible benefits, prosperity and stability to all populations in the South Caucasus and beyond. The EU is contributing to this effort through its “Global Gateway Strategy” and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, in close coordination with partners.

In this context, we welcome the progress in the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process and the agreements reached on the restoration of transport links. We also welcome the positive developments in the Armenia–Türkiye normalization process that are key for expanding inter-regional cooperation.

-Lithuania has been a consistent supporter of closer Armenia–European Union cooperation. In which areas do you see the greatest potential for further engagement, particularly regarding democratic reforms and institutional development in Armenia?

-You are absolutely right. During the last years, Lithuania has actively supported the deepening EU–Armenia cooperation, including a more comprehensive dialogue, the democratic reforms in Armenia, its approximation to the EU standards, the launch of the Visa Liberalization Dialogue, which is also now the object of our bilateral cooperation in the key areas, such as migration, border management, document security, internal reforms. We are ready to share our experience in the processes related to the EU integration.

We welcome the outcomes of the first EU–Armenia summit – the launch of the Connectivity Partnership to develop resilient transport connections, energy networks, and digital links, and the launch of negotiations for the Security of information Agreement. We strongly welcome and stand ready to support with our expertise the new EU Partnership Mission in Armenia, which will further enhance Armenia’s democratic resilience. We also invite Armenia to consider the possibility of joining the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations.

These decisions are marking a new stage in our cooperation, and Lithuania looks forward to its further deepening.

The Strategic Agenda for the EU–Armenia Partnership, signed last December, provides an ambitious political framework guiding our cooperation in the coming years. It will enable to expand also our bilateral relations.

Looking ahead, Lithuania also encourages discussions on the revision of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the renewal of negotiations on the EU–Armenia Association Agreement, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) component. This would make a meaningful contribution to Armenia’s economic diversification efforts. It is worth recalling that prior to the 2013 policy shift, the European Union was Armenia’s largest trading partner.

-How does Lithuania view the ongoing peace process in the South Caucasus?

-We welcome the initialling of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty and the agreements reached on the restoration of transport links, witnessed by President Trump at the White House on August 8th—a historic milestone marking a major breakthrough toward ending decades of conflict. It is now crucial to ensure the timely signing and ratification of the Treaty, alongside the full implementation of the other commitments outlined in the trilateral declaration. Peace would greatly benefit both countries, their people, and the wider South Caucasus region by creating new opportunities for institutional and social development, strengthening people-to-people ties, and improving regional connectivity through transport, trade, and energy projects. A lasting settlement could also boost investment, economic growth, regional stability, and the South Caucasus’ role as a bridge between Europe and Asia.

We see promising signs of emerging cooperation: return of 4 Armenian political prisoners by Azerbaijan, fuel transit, and discussions on potential commercial exchanges.

We hope that the EU will also be able to contribute to these processes, offering its support. In the context of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) transit project, we see a concrete opportunity to contribute, offering our experience with the facilitated Kaliningrad transit model that could be adapted in the South Caucasus.

The transit scheme would help align smooth movement with reliable control, respecting Armenia’s sovereign territory while also addressing Azerbaijan’s concerns about free but secure movement of people and goods, as well as transparent inspection procedures.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has said that Brussels will support Armenia’s aspirations toward EU integration.

“Only the people of Armenia can decide about their future, and the latest European Political Community Summit, as well as the EU–Armenia Summit, have shown which path they want to take,” Commissioner Kos said when asked by reporters ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels to comment on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest remarks.

“And Europe will support them [Armenia]. Of course, we are aware of the geopolitical dynamics in this region, and we will follow this very carefully,” she added.

Asked at a press conference after the Victory Day parade about Yerevan’s EU aspirations, Putin said it would be appropriate for Armenia to hold a referendum to choose between the EU and its current membership in the Eurasian Economic Union. Putin has repeatedly said that it is impossible for a country to be simultaneously a member of both. Last year, Armenia’s parliament adopted a bill initiating the process of joining the European Union.

Earlier this year, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia will continue implementing the necessary reforms to meet the criteria for joining the European Union until it fully complies with those standards.

Once Armenia meets those criteria, he said, EU membership will become a matter of political decision and will depend on whether the EU is ready to accept Armenia. “If yes, the Republic of Armenia will apply for full EU membership. If not, the implementation of the aforementioned reforms will still be a strategic achievement for the Republic of Armenia, because Armenia will have become a country fully compliant with European standards,” Pashinyan said in April this year.

The package of draft laws “On Identity Document” and related legislation, presented by Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan, was adopted at the second reading and in full during an extraordinary session of the National Assembly of Armenia. The legislation envisages the introduction of a new biometric system in the Republic of Armenia.

According to the minister, the initiative aims to ensure proper legal procedures in the field of identity documents and bring Armenia closer to the visa liberalization process with the European Union.

Sargsyan noted that Armenia has already received the first report from the EU on the progress of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan, which includes a special reference to the Law on Identity Document.

Presenting the main amendments, the minister said the initiative envisages making identification cards mandatory for persons over the age of 16.

According to her, persons aged 6 to 16 will have the opportunity to obtain identification cards on a voluntary basis, while for children under the age of 6, a birth certificate will be considered an identity document.

Sargsyan stated that, under the proposed legislation, all travel documents will comply with ICAO standard 9303.

According to the minister, the biometric system is planned to be introduced within the framework of a public-private partnership, while the state will retain full decision-making authority.

“It is important that we are introducing the system within the framework of public-private partnership cooperation,” she said.

Summing up the discussion, Sargsyan noted that the biometric system would also support the government’s digitalization policy.

“I believe that by the fall of 2026, we will have a completely new situation in the Republic of Armenia, and the pace of digitalization will accelerate even more,” she stated.

The process of introducing a new system of biometric passports and identification cards in Armenia is currently in its final stages. Presenting the system to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan said the new system is important both for ensuring mutually recognizable and secure documents at border crossings and for advancing the visa liberalization process with the European Union.

The new biometric passport will have a red shade. An outline map of Armenia will appear on the left side of the first page, while the Armenian coat of arms and textual information will be placed on the right side.

The Armenian government plans to rename the Ministry of High-Tech Industry to the Ministry of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence, in a move aimed at aligning the ministry’s name with its expanded functions.

The bill proposing amendments to the Law “On the Structure and Activities of the Government” has been authored by the Ministry of High-Tech Industry and published online for public discussion.

“With the adoption of the draft, it is expected that the name of the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia in the Law ‘On the Structure and Activities of the Government’ will be changed to the Ministry of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence of the Republic of Armenia, making it consistent with the new function assigned to the ministry — the development and implementation of policies for the introduction and advancement of artificial intelligence and cloud computing services,” the bill states.

The initial stage of decision-making in the construction and real estate development sector is often lengthy, complex, and risky. ArchiWise AI, a startup founded by Armenians, aims to transform precisely this phase by bringing together the key analyses required for real estate development within a single platform and enabling developers, investors, brokers, and architects to make faster and more informed decisions.

Created based on the idea of Chris Vardanyan and Avag Simonyan, ArchiWise AI is an artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to manage the most complex decisions in the real estate development process – even before property acquisition and the launch of design work. It combines preliminary site analysis, zoning and legal restrictions, financial feasibility scenarios, permit viability assessments, as well as analyses of natural and market risks. The research is conducted individually for each land parcel.

Currently, ArchiWise AI operates in the U.S. market, though its founders say the technology is universal and could eventually be applied in other countries, including Armenia. Although the project is being launched in the United States, the team primarily works from Armenia.

“We started with one market to simplify the process, but the technology is universal and can be applied in any country,” the founders noted.

“In the real estate sector, we often have to make decisions quickly, but those decisions are not always sufficiently well-grounded. In many cases, delays lead to lost deals,” Chris Vardanyan said, emphasizing that the startup’s idea emerged from his own experience. He has decades of experience in the real estate industry.

According to him, the problem became especially acute at stages when rapid access to information about urban planning restrictions, permitted construction, or approval probabilities was required.

The platform addresses several key challenges. The first is land search. Previously, developers had to rely on brokers and wait weeks for proposals. Now, they can describe their requirements on the platform and receive suitable options almost instantly.

In addition, the system provides data on zoning regulations, permitted development, ownership, and other critical parameters related to land parcels. It enables investors and developers to uncover the true profitability potential of a site, anticipate and avoid fatal obstacles at an early stage, and choose the most viable and commercially efficient development path.

ArchiWise AI also displays potential risks on the map, including those related to floods, fires, earthquakes, and other factors, while also providing demographic and economic data. However, according to the founders, the platform does more than simply collect information – it also analyzes the data and offers the most optimal solutions.

“The platform answers several key questions: where to build, what to build, and whether the project is likely to be approved. What previously took weeks or months can now be done in minutes,” Vardanyan stated.

According to the co-founder, the platform’s operation is based on multilayered legal data at the federal, state, and local levels. The system builds a knowledge base for each city and provides responses based on that data. At the same time, it also analyzes precedents to assess how likely similar projects are to receive approval in a given area.

Nevertheless, the founders emphasize that the platform does not provide absolute guarantees.

“Even official documents can contain errors. We ensure maximum accuracy, but we also show the sources so users can verify the information,” Vardanyan said.

The platform was presented during an industry discussion held at CBRE’s headquarters in Glendale – the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment company. According to the founders, the response was more positive than expected. Participants included representatives of both major companies and local government bodies interested in the platform’s capabilities.

Speaking about the future, the founders are convinced that artificial intelligence can significantly transform the entire real estate development chain.

“Within a few years, it will be possible to carry out the entire cycle – from land search to project approval – on a single platform. Project approvals should not take months or years. The goal is for a person to understand within minutes what is possible and what needs to be adjusted,” Vardanyan noted.

At present, ArchiWise AI is cooperating with several major organizations and has more than a dozen partner companies. The company is currently in an active growth stage. It has already secured initial investment and is preparing to enter a new phase.

At the same time, the team is working on a new solution that will also automate the review of architectural drawings, significantly reducing the time required for the process.

Armenian chess grandmaster Haik Martirosyan has won the silver medal at the Sardinia World Chess Festival 2026.

The Armenian grandmaster scored 7 points out of a possible 9 and shared second through fourth place with other participants at the international tournament in Italy.

He secured second place based on tie-break criteria.

Germany’s Frederik Svane won gold with 7.5 points.

Meanwhile, Armenia’s GM Mamikon Gharibyan also scored 7 points and finished fourth on tie-breaks.

Other members of the Armenian team, Grandmaster Emin Ohanyan and FIDE Master Sargis Manukyan, each earned 5.5 points in the competition.

The Saint Sophia Cathedral, an architectural monument and landmark in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, has launched an Armenian-language audio tour, AnalitikaUA reports.

There are two ways to explore the historic monument in Armenian: online, from anywhere in the world, via the official website emuseum.ua, or on-site by scanning special QR codes placed throughout the complex.

Ancient inscriptions written in Armenian have been preserved on the cathedral’s walls to this day.

Anna Porphyrogenita, who descended from the Macedonian dynasty of Armenian origin, played a key role in the Christianization and cultural development of Kievan Rus’, the report said. 

Saint Sophia Cathedral (also known as St. Sophia’s Cathedral) was built as the metropolitan cathedral of Kyiv during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise in the 11th century. Anna Porphyrogenita was the grand princess consort of Kyiv through her marriage to Vladimir the Great.

AnalitikaUA highlighted that the Union of Armenians of Ukraine donated an Armenian cross-stone (khachkar) to the cathedral, which was blessed in 2018 and symbolizes the unbreakable spiritual bond between the two peoples.

YEREVAN, 11 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 11 May, USD exchange rate down by 0.05 drams to 368.96 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.09 drams to 434.23 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.0489 drams to 4.9961 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.58 drams to 501.42 drams.

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

Gold price down by 31 drams to 56244 drams. Silver price up by 3.43 drams to 956.58 drams.

Yerevan First Deputy Mayor and Acting Mayor Armen Pambukhchyan received India’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia, Nilakshi Saha Sinha, at Yerevan Municipality.

During the meeting, the parties emphasized the importance of developing Armenian-Indian relations, the municipality said.

They discussed steps aimed at implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation signed between Yerevan and Delhi in 2008.

Pambukhchyan expressed hope for the ambassador’s support in strengthening ties between the two cities.

The sides also emphasized that Yerevan is open to foreign investments in various sectors and to the implementation of joint mutually beneficial programs.