2021 December 5

Daily news wrap-up

News - Dec/5/2021: Gen. Samvel Babayan about ongoing negotiations, international trade route through Armenia, and more __ Municipal elections across Armenia __ 10 POWs returned home __ US State Dept about religious freedom in Turkey __ Plastic surgeries in Armenia __ Fly Arna in May 2022 __ Cosmos
by ar_david_hh

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This is your 12-minute Sunday briefing in 3134 words.

update: Russian peacekeepers identify the Azeri soldier who killed shepherd Seyran Sargsyan in Artsakh last week

A group of Azeri soldiers kidnapped and killed a shepherd, motivated by ethnic hatred. A criminal case is launched. A group of Armenian, Russian, and Azeri investigators questioned the witnesses and identified the perpetrator as Rahimzade David Gabil oglu, who claimed he was "defending the military position".

Russian peacekeepers informed that Azerbaijan, too, has launched a criminal investigation.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069895.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069914.html

Azerbaijan freed 10 POWs on Saturday

It's part of the humanitarian efforts encouraged by the US, EU, and Russia to exchange POWs in exchange for partial landmine maps.

https://www.civilnet.am/news/642222/ադրբեջանը-վերադարձրել-է-տասը-հայ-ռազմագերիների-ստացել-է-ականապատ-դաշտերի-քարտեզներ/

US State Department's report about religious freedom in Turkey

>In 2021 religious freedom conditions in Turkey have remained poor, with Turkish government action, deliberate inaction, and rhetoric continuing to fuel a political environment hostile to religious minorities.

>Government tolerance of hate speech and acts of violence persisted as the COVID-19 pandemic hatched antisemitic conspiracy theories and new forms of intimidation towards Turkey’s Armenian community and others

https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2021-12/2021%20Turkey%20Country%20Update.pdf https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/297168/

OSCE co-chairs met Armenian and Azeri MFAs, but the two did not meet during the Ministerial conference in Sweden

OSCE was hoping to organize a face-to-face meeting between AM & AZ ministers but Azerbaijan refused, reportedly as a sign of protest after learning that a group of Armenian parliament members will pay a working trip to Artsakh.

Analyst Richard Giragosyan: It is noteworthy that as a result of the negotiations of the Jan 11 taskforce, a significant preliminary agreement was reached, which reaffirmed and recognized the sovereignty of Armenia over all road and railway connections between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan through southern Armenia.

It also reaffirmed Russia's unilateral oversight over transport and customs enforcement. The successful regional trade-transport restoration agreement is limited to Azerbaijan's Nakhichevan connection as a first stage, but with the planned reconstruction of the Soviet-era railway and the construction of a highway.

The Armenia-Turkey border will open during the second stage and will resume the Gyumri-Kars railway connection. This will also allow Armenia to connect to Russia through Azerbaijan.

The group is also discussing the delivery of Russian gas through Azerbaijan, which will reduce Armenia's dependence on the only gas pipeline coming from Georgia. //

https://factor.am/449975.html

interview with General Samvel Babayan about unblocking of regional communication routes, army reforms, 1990s episodes

Reporter: are steps being taken to strengthen the defense system?

Babayan: I honestly don't know because I'm not aware of what reforms are being done in the army. I've seen some policies that I disagree with. [Babayan says the army command is underqualified and isn't doing what it's supposed to do.]

Reporter: I have the impression based on your statements that we've lived in a lie, that we've never had a real army, real general staff.

Babayan: did we win or lose the war? Did they carry out the correct strategy? Why did they focus the entire nation on one hill?

Reporter: why don't you take the job and help the country in these difficult times, as in the 90s?

Babayan: it's not up to me, they didn't trust me. People didn't vote for me because every media outlet and so-called politician was busy attacking me as "Nikol's man". They said Nikol would appoint me anyway, so why vote. We have what we have now. So whose fault was it that I'm not in an office now? Which one of us is the real "Nikolakan" now? [jokes]

Reporter: regarding lack of trust towards you. The media always portrays you as a strongman who could get out of control and organize a coup if given enough power.

Babayan: I've heard that a lot. That's demagogy. When in 1999 they pressured me... I could solve every problem with certain people within 15 minutes... I chose to go home without resistance.

Reporter: everyone remembers the episode with Artsakh Premier Anushavan Danielyan, when you slapped him.

Babayan: I don't care your name is Anushavan Danielyan or whatever. If he moves from Crimea to Karabakh and makes disrespectful comments about us and the war, shouldn't I at least slap him? Don't talk if you don't know the full details of this story. He is lucky I didn't put him down, if you want my honest opinion. A deserter...

Reporter: ... the same concerns can be found in Armenia today.

Babayan: everyone should have those concerns at all times. People served their country and fought a war all day long, just to have someone [Anushavan Danielyan] come and call them a donkey. You would have slapped him too. Is that your definition of "uncontrollable Babayan"?

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Reporter: November 26 Sochi meeting statement wasn't accepted well by the opposition. While the government says there is no "corridor", the opposition calls it a dangerous document.

Babayan: when people say "Meghri corridor", is that truly how they imagine in their head?

Reporter: how else should we interpret that?

Babayan: we're talking about an international trade route from the Mediterranean Sea to the Rostov tranche. How many countries are along the way? Everyone will use this international route.

This is a serious artery that was not developed during USSR. Now it's beneficial for Armenia to open this route with all the customs checkpoints, transfer fees, and an increase in Armenia's political influence. So, of course, it's beneficial for Armenia.

But people focus on childish things like "Look, Aliyev wanted a corridor and he is getting one". There is no "corridor". It's a border with customs.

It won't be a simple Azerbaijan-Nakhijevan road. It will be an international trade route passing through Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Central Asia, etc.

This will be a big blow to Georgia. They're going to lose $1 billion. All those long columns of trucks in Lars will become a thing of the past.

Reporter: our concern is we will lose control of our territory...

Babayan: nonsense. I don't like engaging with this type of nonsense. There will be a road and a railway. Armenia must finally stop being someone's buffer zone. Do you understand this?

We open those routes, and in exchange, we demand Azerbaijan give us routes. Azerbaijan uses two routes to connect to Nakhijevan, and Armenia uses two routes to connect to Artsakh [likely referring to the Karvachar road that Armenian lost after the war]. This is what the agreement should be about if we want peace.

If the opposition parties discussed what I just said, that would be one thing, but right now they make a blanket statement "it's not in Armenia's best interest to open communication routes". Then what is in Armenia's best interest? Name one point that is against Armenia's interest. Substantiate your claim why the international route is against Armenia's best interest.

Reporter: .... it's about the concern over a possible "corridor".

Babayan: there isn't going to be a "corridor". Forget about it. When you enter Armenia through a border checkpoint today, don't you see Russians sitting there? The same will be true about the new route, the border checkpoint still belongs to us.

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Reporter: opposition complains that Pashinyan isn't discussing Artsakh's status. Opposition fears that Artsakh will be forgotten and it will remain as part of Azerbaijan while maintaining economic and cultural ties with Armenia.

Babayan: do not discuss Artsakh's legal status. The moment you do it right now, you will give Artsakh to Azerbaijan de jure.

Reporter: so we should freeze the status negotiations? [Lavrov's plan]

Babayan: the word freezing is inaccurate. Give a mandnate. Remember when they used to call me a traitor for talking about a mandate? Now they have come to that point.

A mandate guarantees long-term independence for Artsakh until the two people establish trust. Once you build trust, sit down and do whatever you want, discuss a status if you want. But as long as we don't trust each other, discussing a status is pointless. Lobby the UN, France, US, and Russia and ask them to give an official mandate to Russia.

Why Russia? Because it's the predecessor of the USSR. It's them who forced us, Artsakh, into USSR, so let them take the mandate and carry the responsibility.

Reporter: opposition criticizes Pashinyan for not discussing the need to de-occupy Shushi and Hadrut.

Babayan: again, the UN-given mandate should restore territorial integrity [and refugees should return to Hadrut and Shushi]. For 26 years, Russia, France, and the US negotiated about giving an interim status to Nagorno-Karabakh. All three co-chairs have repeatedly stated that military action could not resolve the conflict, correct?

Now we're reminding co-chairs their own words so they can implement their plan. But since it's complicated and even they don't know what the "interim status" will look like, I'm suggesting giving Russia the mandate to establish lasting peace so the people will build trust, before status can be discussed.

I've been offering this since 2013 but the so-called nationalists called me a traitor. I told them you either buy the necessary weapons or get under someone's mandate for protection. They didn't listen. I even explained to them how they would lose and why.

Now they claim they were surprised that Armenia lost. What exactly was a surprise? You were warned, but you pretended to be a Rambo that knows how to catch a missile in the air.

Reporter: it appears the former administrations were not expecting war to break out, so they blame Pashinyan for "inciting" it.

Babayan: No. Be honest in front of your history. How was the first war won? [The former administrations] didn't value and cherish the victory. Their attitude was "meh, we are the boys who always win". That's what led to this. Who is this opposition that makes these claims now?

Reporter: Kocharyan-ARF and Serj-Vanetsyan.

Babayan: all of them, with the exception of a few members, have been the government since the 1990s. They haven't been a government for only 2-3 years throughout this period. They were the ones building the foundations.

You don't build an army in one day. You can't destroy it in one day, either. Who were Nikol's generals who became CoGS, MODs, and deputies? Did Nikol give birth to Davit Tonoyan? Did Nikol bring Onik Gasparyan from his home?

These are people who came from the system. Today's opposition promoted these people into deputy ranks, so when Nikol came, those were his options for MOD and CoGS.

Nikol came and unknowingly appointed a bad general to CoGS, and the latter didn't even admit that he wasn't ready for the job. Nobody from the general staff warned Nikol about it.

Reporter: Pashinyan is the one responsible for the task.

Babayan: I'm a Premier, a civilian politician, I don't know about all the inner workings in the military system. What I do know is there are high-ranking military officials with a very long biography. I look. It all matches. I appoint one. The question is, why were these bad generals promoted through the system all these years?

We need to cut the circus around "Nikol is selling Zangezur". Everything will fall into its place. Work on establishing the second road link to Artsakh. Use your international ties to lobby. Convince the West to forgive Armenia's debt so we can use the interest money on the army. Get a UN mandate for Russia and internationalize the Karabakh issue so it won't be treated as an internal Azeri issue. //

https://youtu.be/fSfy3CvkPxQ

Armenia and Russia discussed connecting their railway networks

Economy Minister Kerobyan met his Russian colleague Denis Manturov to discuss the possible connection of AM & RU railway networks, establishing joint productions, and topics about increasing the competitiveness of the Armenian economy.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069926.html

Pashinyan held another meeting with non-parliamentary opposition parties

The practice began after the June elections. The goal is to involve them and keep them up to date on the ongoing processes.

Present were Aram Sargsyan's Republic party, General Samvel Babayan's Azatakan party, and many others.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069908.html

next round of municipal elections were held across Armenia / ruling party winning ~23 out of 36 / incumbents win big

The ruling party recently won the right to govern or to form a coalition in 6 out of 9 elections. Exceptions were Meghri (pro-EU Aram Sargsyan & Gen. Samvel Babayan), Kapan (incumbent local businessman), and Goris (incumbent Arushanyan). The power of incumbency, as in the past, played an important role this time, too.

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Partial List

Vanadzor: "incumbent" Mamikon Aslayan won reelection. His alliance includes the Free Democrats party, which was part of Menk Alliance in 2018. The latter was led by pro-EU Aram Sargsyan (Vazgen's brother).

Masis is Serj's stronghold. The incumbent HHK won reelection in a close contest against QP.

Noyemberyan chose QP.

Vagharshapat chose QP.

Tumanyan went to pro-EU Aram Sargsyan's Republic Party in a very close contest against QP. [Margarita Simonyan rooting for Nikol like never before.]

Pro-EU "For The Republic" party, led by Arman Babajanyan who is highly critical of Russia, won enough votes to have some representation in at least four settlements (Ararat, Artik, Noyemberyan, Araks).

Ashtarak chose QP by a 10x margin over ARF.

Abovyan is Gagik Tsarukyan's stronghold. BHK won reelection.

Martuni chose QP

Gavar: local incumbent Gurgen Martirosyan alliance won reelection.

Vardenis was picked by Aharon Khachatryan alliance, led by a pro-Pashinyan candidate who decided to run separately.

Vedi was snatched by Im Hzor Hamaynk newly formed political party consisting of locally known figures, some of whom decided to ditch their former "Serj brand" and run under a new format.

Hrazdan went for QP.

Aparan went for the "incumbent" Karen Yeghiazaryan alliance, which is affiliated with Norayr Norikyan's Fair Armenia party ("pro-Pashinyan" opposition).

Parakar went for Aprelu Yerkir, a new opposition party consisting of former Pashinyan cabinet members.

Armavir voted QP. No one challenged them.

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Pashinyan's QP was poised to win in 23 out of 36 settlements according to preliminary results: Jermuk, Artashat, Garni, Hrazdan, Tsakhkadzor, Talin, Ashtarak, Martuni, Sevan, Vayk, Armavir, Ejmiatsin, Metsamor, Baghramyan, Araks, Khoy, Ashotsk, Akhuryan, Amasia, Spitak, Pambak, Noyemberyan, and Artik.

Authorities are investigating around two dozen election violation reports in several provinces.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069915.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069918.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069915.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069931.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069935.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069936.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069939.html https://politik.am/am/menq-payqari-mej-enq-mtel-mer-arhestavarzh-timov-u-mer-havaknord-tsragrov-aharon-khachatryan https://factor.am/450008.html https://www.panorama.am/am/news/2021/12/05/Ապարան-համայնք/2609133 https://factor.am/450012.html https://factor.am/450028.html https://factor.am/450018.html https://factor.am/449993.html https://factor.am/449988.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/226739

anti-corruption: former mayor of Stepanavan is arrested

Investigators report: in 2004-2012, the mayor gave away forest lands illegally, including to a foundation founded by him, and his family members. The lands were later transferred to his sons after forgery. The ex-mayor is arrested and charged with crimes. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069921.html

COVID stats

5.1k tested. 0.3k infected. 0.7k healed. 14 deaths. 10.7k active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069917.html

plastic surgeries: how much do they cost and what are the risks?

Victoria's nose was deformed when she fell during her childhood. She recently removed the "bone" through surgery at the age of 18. The surgeon allegedly failed to inform her about a need for a secondary "mandatory" surgery to keep the tip of the nose high. Months later, she developed a problem with the tip of her nose. Now she needs plastic surgery.

Plastic surgeries are cheap and quite popular in Armenia. Restorative plastic surgeries have been available since the 1980s. Aesthetic surgeries were introduced in the 90s.

Patients often have unrealistic expectations or do not listen to surgeons' warnings about a "bad design" that they often chose.

PRICES

Nose - from $570 to $3,000

Breast - from $1,200 to $3,200

Face - up to $1,200

Lip filler - from $60 to $300

MOST POPULAR:

1) Nose

2) Breast (gaining popularity lately)

3) Repair droopy eyelids (both men and women request this)

https://factor.am/449762.html

Armenia's new national carrier Fly Arna will make its first flight in May 2022

There will be four destinations initially.

Fly Arna is a joint project between Armenian government fund ANIF and low-cost giant Air Arabia. The project was announced in July.

The name Fly Arna, which pretty much means "flying dick" translated from Armenian, was suggested by Armenian citizens during a hot contest. 🍿

http://arka.am/en/news/business/armenia_s_new_national_air_carrier_to_operate_maiden_flight_in_2022_spring/

Russia: all EAEU countries are interested in Roscosmos's projects; could develop Eurasian Space Agency

>The idea of the Eurasian Space Agency is really relevant and in demand.

>The year 2028 will be a very critical one for the further work of the International Space Station, so we have already begun to work on the Russian orbital service station.

Things aren't going smoothly in Baykonur cosmodrome, said Russian space agency chief Rogozin. When they signed the contract with Kazakhstan 25 years ago, there were 18 launch complexes/pads (startovaya ploshadka). Only 3 are left today.

2 of them are for Proton rockets that were scheduled to go out of circulation in 2024.

Only one is for Soyuz rockets, and it was built back in 1961. It has been overused.

For Baykonur to continue to develop, we need more than just words, said Rogozin. They launched a development project "Baiterek" to create the conditions to fly the new Soyuz-5 rockets (aka Irtish, formerly Fenix). They hope the rocket compound will help the spaceport get its second birth.

Rogozin invited EAEU member states to send their payloads to space once it's complete. First trials are expected for 2023.

Simultaneously, Russia plans to create its own reusable payload launcher "Krylo-CV". It will be more like a jet with a wing. It will be able to return from space by lowering in horizontal flight, with landing both on the runway and on the ground. It will resemble many characteristics of a jet. Roscosmos said they can't create a reusable launcher similar to the one used by Elon Musks's SpaceX.

They've been working on Krylo-CV since 2019. The first trial is scheduled for 2H2022.

https://m.vz.ru/news/2021/12/3/1132288.html https://ria.ru/20211203/baykonur-1761987597.html https://m.vz.ru/news/2021/11/3/1127449.html You might like: https://naked-science.ru/article/cosmonautics/kosmodrom?amp https://tass.com/science/1370555 https://tass.com/science/1353875

new education center will use the Japanese Yokomine Method to make children independent in the future and help concentrate

Ani Child Development & Recreation Center cooperated with the Japanese embassy to implement the new education program.

What is Yokomine Method? I'm going to copy-paste this wonderful Google Translate from the official Japanese website, alright guys?

>The method of education is created by Yokomine Yoshifumi who is the uncle of Pro-golfer Yokomine Sakura player.

>To make children independent in the future, we increase children’s power of concentrate by letting them challenge purposely and raise their ‘power of learning’, ‘ The physical strength of the body’ and ‘power of mind’

>By the age of five years old, they will be able to jump over 10 steps of vaulting horse, also they will be acquired how to calculate multiplication using Japanese abacus.

The education will be free for low-income families. Japanese experts will arrive to retrain teachers.

https://www.yokomine.jp/data/photo/newsippan/NEWSIPPAN201812121445174517xg8mo-11.pdf https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069904.html

end of report

The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in the court of law, even if they "appear" guilty.

News archive: http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Daily_Anti-Corruption_Reports

Donations: soldiers' families, humanitarian aid, US tax-deductible donation.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/r9wwpe/news_dec52021_gen_samvel_babayan_about_ongoing/