The Central Bank of Armenia informs “Armenpress” that today, 17 June, USD exchange rate down by 0.15 drams to 368.06 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.65 drams to 426.84 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.0438 drams to 5.0357 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.76 drams to 493.64 drams.

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

Gold price down by 251 drams to 51307 drams. Silver price down by 4.06 drams to 832.78 drams.

Thales and BooTech press release

Thales and BooTech have announced a new industrial partnership designed to strengthen strategic cooperation and enhance regional security. The partnership positions BooTech as an industrial collaborator in the field of battlefield management systems, tactical communication, cybersecurity, and more.

Through this collaboration, Thales will share its manufacturing expertise, while BooTech will contribute its integration and networking capabilities. Founded in 2019, BooTech develops digital systems for command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance on the modern battlefield, aiming to connect existing and next-generation platforms to improve operational speed and efficiency while reducing costs. The partnership’s goal is to deliver interoperable solutions that bridge multi-domain operations and create skilled jobs within Armenia.

“Thales’s global industrial scale paired with BooTech’s integration talent will accelerate the delivery of joint capabilities to armed forces in Armenia and worldwide,” said Marc Darmon, Senior Vice President for Europe, Thales. “This collaboration supports European security in light of Armenia’s growing rapprochement with the alliance and ensures that investments benefit both nations’ economies and peoples.”

“BooTech’s recognition as an industrial partner is a vote of confidence,” commented BooTech CEO Ashot Ghukasyan. “Together we are building a sovereign defence industry that strengthens regional stability and advances our technological self-reliance.”

The partnership demonstrates the continued growth of French-Armenian strategic cooperation and highlights the impact of business engagement in deepening ties between the two countries in defense, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

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About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability, and inclusion. The Group allocates €4.5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Cloud technologies. Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.

About BooTech

BooTech is an Armenian defense technology company providing advanced C2/C4ISR digital solutions that integrate existing and next-generation systems into network-enabled battlefield management platforms. BooTech’s solutions create a comprehensive common operational picture, enabling multi-domain operations and supporting faster, more efficient, and better-informed mission execution. A key integrator of the Armenian Armed Forces, BooTech is a Thales key industrial partner in Armenia and collaborates with leading global defense companies to deliver interoperable systems that bridge legacy and modern capabilities. With thousands of active users across services and proven performance in operational environments, BooTech contributes to enhanced mission effectiveness, regional security, and peace.

A regular meeting of the North-South Road Corridor Programme Management Council was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, participants discussed issues related to the construction of the 7-kilometre Kajaran tunnel and the reconstruction of an approximately 4-kilometre access road leading to the tunnel.

The council reviewed the results of the evaluation of financial proposals submitted under an international tender for technical supervision services for the Kajaran tunnel construction project.

Members also considered the first-stage results of tender procedures for the procurement of consultancy services for a project management consultant and technical supervision services for the construction of a 27-kilometre section of the 60-kilometre Sisian-Kajaran road project.

The agenda also included discussions on the expert examination process for the Bargushat tunnel construction project.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Khachatryan stressed the importance of implementing the planned work in line with the outcomes of the discussions and issued relevant instructions to the responsible authorities.

Paralympic medallist Rose Hollermann and three-time Paralympic gold medallist Steve Serio conducted a wheelchair basketball masterclass for young people in Armenia as part of the US State Department’s Sports Envoy Programme, organised with the support of the US Embassy in Armenia.

The initiative was implemented in cooperation with the Armenian Wheelchair Basketball Federation, the Yerevan Municipality, Ayb School and other partner organisations.

Held as part of events marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, the programme featured training sessions with Armenian athletes, while Hollermann and Serio also took part in an exhibition match.

“The goal of the Sports Envoy Programme is to build connections and raise awareness about accessibility in sports. People often think that having a disability means the end of life as they know it, but it simply means adapting life differently. We are working to make the world more accessible for everyone,” Hollermann told reporters.

According to Arsen Makvetsyan, head of Yerevan Municipality’s Sports and Youth Affairs Department, the city authorities continue to prioritise issues affecting people with disabilities.

“Our goal is to expand the scale of such tournaments. This is not the first time Yerevan Municipality has supported the organisation of similar events,” he said.

A similar initiative was also held in the city of Gyumri.

On June 17, Armenia’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Tsovinar Hambardzumyan, met with Bulgarian National Assembly member Galin Durev, deputy chair of the Progressive Bulgaria parliamentary group, chair of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of European Funds, and member of the Defence Committee.

According to the Armenian Embassy in Bulgaria, the parties discussed Armenia-Bulgaria bilateral relations, with particular attention to the recently signed Strategic Partnership Declaration between the two countries.

The discussions also covered opportunities for expanding cooperation in trade and the economy, culture, education and science, energy, information technologies and other areas.

The interlocutors exchanged views on regional issues, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, the TRIPP project, the recent parliamentary elections in Armenia, and the Armenia-European Union agenda.

Durev reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support, as well as that of the committee he chairs, for Armenia’s rapprochement with the European Union and for the Crossroads of Peace initiative.

The countries of the Group of Seven have agreed to increase arms supplies to Ukraine.

According to TASS, French President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement during a press conference following the G7 summit.

“We have agreed to increase deliveries of air defence systems and additional equipment, interceptor systems, as well as long-range weapons,” Macron said.

According to the French president, during summit discussions, U.S. President Donald Trump emphasised the importance of mobilising the American defence industry and its capacity to provide such equipment.

Macron also noted that several G7 members stressed the importance of establishing licensed weapons production in Ukraine.

The leaders of the G7 countries see the framework agreement between the United States and Iran as a “historic opportunity” to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, according to a statement released early on Wednesday.

The deal between Washington and Tehran, which is due to be signed on Friday, could bring “peace and security for all in the region,” the heads of the Group of Seven (G7) said in a joint statement.

“We recognize the breakthrough and the opportunity that currently exist in the Middle East. We welcome the announcement of a deal between the United States and Iran, secured under the strong leadership of President Trump, with the support of mediating countries, which provides an historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon and tackling the threats related to its regional and ballistic activities. We support and are ready to contribute to its implementation. We reaffirm that the right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the bedrock of international trade. We agree that the multinational, independent, and defensive initiative led by France and the UK can play an important role to facilitate the resumption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz by protecting merchant vessels, reassuring commercial shipping operators, and supporting verification that all mines are removed. We strongly support a robust and comprehensive diplomatic follow-on agreement to the Memorandum of Understanding secured by President Trump that can bring peace and security for all in the region. We underline the need for the negotiation to this end to address the threats posed by Iran in the region and beyond and ensure that they never obtain a nuclear weapon. We agree that such a negotiation would benefit from the contributions from relevant regional and international partners, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We reaffirm that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon. In Lebanon, we support, through an immediate robust ceasefire, the Lebanese leadership’s efforts to achieve the disarmament of Hezbollah and the monopoly of arms, and to protect Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty with the appropriate international security guarantees. In Gaza, we will accelerate humanitarian and reconstruction efforts and the swift implementation of relevant political and security measures. We call for ending violence in the West Bank. We commit to accelerate the diversification of energy supply routes in order to reduce global vulnerability to the Strait of Hormuz and to increase our energy stocks. We welcome the potential for Canada to deliver significant additional capacity to global markets in coming years.”

The leaders also expressed support for Ukraine.

“We, the Leaders of the G7, stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We reaffirm our solidarity with the Ukrainian population suffering from attacks on their critical infrastructure and cultural heritage. We commend Ukraine for its resilience and progress on the battlefield in recent months and emphasize there is now a new momentum. To support and accelerate this new momentum, we agree to increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities. We are also ready to consider extending to Ukraine the benefit of licenses to allow for an increase in Ukraine’s military production. We stress the importance of energy resilience, on the basis of the needs and priorities expressed by Ukrainian authorities. We agree to provide further support to get the country through next winter. We commit to increase the pressure on the Russian war economy. In this context, we will strengthen our sanctions, including those on the oil and gas sectors. We consider this the right moment to proceed with additional measures, as President Trump has delivered a deal that we support in reopening the Strait of Hormuz,” the G7 leaders said.

The statement also touched upon the Indo-Pacific region, namely North Korea.

“We highlight the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. We reaffirm our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or coercion, in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait, which should only be resolved peacefully through dialogue. We express deep concern about North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. We urge North Korea to resolve the abductions issue immediately. We reiterate the need to jointly address North Korea’s cryptocurrency thefts and cybercrimes. We welcome the Global Convergence for Growth Summit convened by President Macron on June 11th 2026, with the participation of China. We reaffirm our common interest in converging with other large economies on the causes of large and persistent global imbalances and on the need to address them. We will continue these efforts within the G20 under the United States’ host year and in other relevant fora.”

A large-scale search operation involving hundreds of rescuers and volunteers in Lori Province has resulted in the recovery of the body of one of two sisters who went missing in Vanadzor on June 15, authorities said, as efforts continue to locate the second child.

The body of Nare Martirosyan, 7, was found in the Pambak River at around 9:30 on June 17, some 500 meters from where she allegedly fell into the river, the Rescue Service reported.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement earlier on June 16 that the missing children are sisters aged 7 and 13.

One emergency call reported that a child had been seen in the nearby river.

The ministry, in a statement on June 16, detailed: “The first emergency call was received on June 15 at 14:45. A citizen reported seeing a child in the Pambak River. Later the same day, at 17:05, another citizen called and reported that the two sisters, aged 7 and 13, had left an address on Narekatsi Street in Vanadzor and had not reached their intended destination.”

The Rescue Service Director and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aram Ghazaryan, is personally coordinating the search efforts on site. Multiple first responders, including rescuers, police officers, volunteers, and divers, as well as special equipment such as UAVs, have been deployed.

Russian authorities have claimed that the ban imposed on a variety of Armenian goods is not politically motivated and have insisted that the reason is phytosanitary violations detected in the products.

Agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor director Sergey Dankvert told Russian state media that the problem allegedly lies in the organization and oversight of production in Armenia.

Dankvert told Rossiyskaya Gazeta that in Armenia there are many small farming businesses that export their products. “However, between production and delivery, there is effectively no internal system of control and cooperation.”

“In one truck, thousands of bundles of greens are collected, after which regulatory bodies must inspect this huge volume of goods. This is physically impossible,” he said.

Dankvert emphasized that product control should take place directly at the production stage. He added that for the system to work effectively, cooperation, production oversight, as well as responsibility from producer unions are necessary.

“This is what is missing today. Therefore, the reasons for restrictions lie in product quality and safety, not politics,” Dankvert said.

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.”