Charles Michel stressed the importance for the European Union of stability and prosperity of the South Caucasus and of deepening relations with the two partner countries, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

A large Iranian navy ship caught fire and sank in the Gulf of Oman today according to Iran's news sources. The circumstances of the accident are unclear. 

Less than three weeks before crucial parliamentary elections in Armenia, France embraced the Armenian prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who was on a short working visit to Paris. At a meeting at the Elysee Palace, France's president, Emmanuel Macron, assured Pashinyan that "France will always be at Armenia's side".

The General Secretariat of the Arab League announced that Qatar will host a consultative meeting of the League Council at the level of Arab foreign ministers on 8 June. The meeting is part of the League's keenness to increase the frequency and intensity of consultation on topics of common interest.

2,581,093 voters are eligible to vote in Armenia's early parliamentary elections being held on 20 June. This was announced on Monday in Yerevan by the country's Central Elections Commission. The Central Elections Commission has also approved 26 parties and blocs to participate in the elections which some see more as a referendum on Nikol Pashinyan, his policies, his style of government, his strengths, and his weaknesses.