The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) has retained the refinancing rate at 8.5%. The CBA press service has told ArmInfo that the decision was made during the CBA Council's meeting on Sept 24.

Armenia-Diaspora unity should help international recognition of the Armenian genocide and settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II said at the Bishops' Synod of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church that commenced at the Mother See Holy Etchmiadzin on 24 September.

The ongoing Episcopal Assembly of the Armenian Apostolic Church at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is a historical event, as the Armenian Catholicoses, Karekin II and Aram I, have attended it, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I said addressing those present at the Assembly.

Parliament of Armenia is expected to ratify an agreement with Russia shortly to get an exclusive right to make direct purchases from Russia's military enterprises, a Yerevan-based Hraparak newspaper writes citing its sources in the Parliament.

The opening ceremony of the programme "Talish studies" will be held at Yerevan State University on 24 September. The leader of the Talish movement, president of Talish-Mugan Autonomous Republic, Alakram Alekper Gummatzoda (Colonel Gummatov Alakram Alekper ogli) has arrived in Yerevan to take part in the event.

International Human Rights Defenders Committee has assigned Armenian Ombudsman's Office the highest status of "A" class for independent, impartial and efficient activity.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has removed four foreigners from the list of the people, who have visited  the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, APA said.  A member of Russia's State Duma Alexei Mitrofanov, head of the Moscow office 'Voice of America' James Brook , Johns Hopkins University students Ivan Benovich and Nicholas Vondra are those 'happy' people that have been removed from the list of "persona non grata" after expressing their sincere regret for visiting Nagorno Karabakh.

Georgia received 770,608 international tourists in August 2013, which is 28% more than a year ago, says Georgy Sigua, Head of the National Tourist Administration of Georgia.

Leader of Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan and members of the Field Council of Freedom-Fighters have discussed issues of domestic and foreign policy and the challenges Armenia has faced.

Episcopal Assembly of the Armenian Apostolic Church kicked off at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on 24 September. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I are presiding over the assembly. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan delivered a welcoming speech at the meeting, the press-service of the Armenian President told ArmInfo.

The process of merger of Cascade Investments CJSC and Ameria Asset Management (formerly Ameria Invest), member of Ameria Group, has successfully been completed.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has asked the CSTO member countries to help Armenia to receive an observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The Armenian Parliament's Ethics Committee has declined the Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center's request to inquire into the media reports saying that the Parliament's Vice Speaker Hermine Naghdalyan combines her office with business activities.

While speaking at the ongoing session of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan confirmed his support for Russia's position on the Syrian problem.

One more Armenian river has fallen victim to a small water power plant.

Moody's Investors Service has changed Armenia's foreign-currency bond ceiling to Ba1 from Baa3. The website of Moody's says that the lower ceiling means that the highest rating that can be assigned to a domestic issuer in foreign currency in Armenia is now Ba1.  Concurrently, Moody's changed Armenia's short-term foreign-currency bond ceiling to Not-Prime (NP) from Prime-3 (P-3). This action follows the local-currency ceilings adjustments to Baa3 from Baa1 announced on August 20, 2013.

EY (formerly Ernst & Young) is the world's most attractive professional services employer – and the second most attractive employer overall – in Universum's annual rating of The World's Most Attractive Employers.

Alexander Sirunyan, the lawyer of the former- candidate for president, folklorist Vardan Sedrakyan, told ArmInfo he is going to dispute the court verdict against his client. Sedrakyan was sentenced to14 years in prison earlier today.

Armenia will take part in the 65th Frankfurt Book Fair to be held on 9-13 October, the head of the Book Publishing Agency of Armenia Edward Militonyan told Arminfo correspondent.

Council of the Karabakh War Freedom-Fighters has addressed an open letter to President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, Acting Prosecutor General Aram Tamrazyan, and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan demanding release of Reserve Colonel Volodya Avetisyan.