2021 December 8

Daily news wrap-up

News - Dec/8/2021: Pashinyan about unblocking regional communication; trade routes & jurisdictions; border customs; Karabakh negotiation process; and more __ Syunik roads & North-South project __ 2022 budget amendment __ Lebanon __ Covid news __ more
by ar_david_hh

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This is your 13-minute Wednesday briefing in 3247 words.

officials discussed the ongoing negotiations to lift the communication blockade in the region; North-South trade route; 3+3 regional cooperation platform

Deputy Premier Grigoryan: we formed a sub-group tasked with addressing issues relating to transfers in the event the borders open. The discussions continue.

Every meeting by the working group has been constructive. The group reached an understanding regarding the restoration and unblocking of the railway infrastructure.

There was an understanding that the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the roads will belong to the countries through which they pass. Our last meeting was in December.

Deputy Parlm. Pres. QP Rubinyan: the decision by Azerbaijan (and later Armenia) to install customs checkpoints on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border road in Syunik supports the logic of the Armenian side.

At first, Azerbaijan wanted to gain a "corridor" to Nakhijevan in exchange for allowing Armenians to use the Goris-Kapan road without passing through customs. But after they couldn't, and Russian deputy Premier Overchuck confirmed that there won't be a "corridor", Azerbaijan began installing the customs checkpoints, which is within the logic proposed by Armenia.

Every road that Azerbaijan uses through Armenia will be under Armenian control, will pass through Armenian customs with all relevant procedures. //

Pashinyan: Armenia is ready and is interested in opening all economic and transport routes in the region. Armenia will gain a road and railway connection to Russia, and a railway connection to Iran. Azerbaijan will gain road and railway connections to Nakhijevan.

Opposition MP: the transport link will be under the control of Russian agents. Isn't this a "corridor"?

Pashinyan: that is your interpretation. Are you trying to water Azerbaijan's mill? Are you trying to help them get a "corridor"? Our stance was very clearly stated by MFA yesterday.

Unblocking regional communication routes is in the best interests of Armenia. I disagree with those who want all the roads to remain closed and for Armenia to be isolated from international transit.

Opposition MP: if it's not a "corridor", then the border agents must be Armenian, Armenian customs should handle the customs, the incidents on this road should be investigated by Armenian authorities, and the communication routes will be built with Armenian funds.

Pashinyan: I agree with everything you've said but the border agent part doesn't make sense. Non-Armenian guards are currently standing on the border with Iran. Does that mean the road coming from Iran to Armenia is a [Russian] "corridor"? Everything else you mentioned is obvious and it's reflected in MFA's statement made yesterday.

The issue has two areas: legal and logistics. The legal part has been publicly addressed, including by deputy Russian premier Overchuk [that there is no "corridor"]. The road and railway in Armenia will be under Armenian sovereignty and will function under Armenian jurisdiction.

There are multiple railway options. Yeraskh-Nakhijevan-Meghri-Horadiz will be recovered. Armenia will invest in the Armenian section. There are also multiple options regarding roads. I hope we will reach an agreement soon.

government met ADB bank to discuss the ongoing projects to build the North-South communication route

Deputy Premier Matevosyan hosted the Asian Development bank representative.

Deputy Premier: we give great importance to North-South. Efforts are underway to finish the Tranche-2 and Tranche-3. The southern section is of strategic importance for us, which further emphasizes the need for active work in this direction. //

They also discussed rebuilding and seismic retrofitting of 46 vulnerable schools.

Infrastructure Minister: we're building more roads in southern Armenia, including in rural areas

Minister: In the near future, you will see several strategic and alternative roads, from big to small roads that lead through fields. Tatev-Aghvan's third layer will be built early next year. Tatev-Lchen will be 20km, from which 9km is partially done and continues at a high pace. We'll prepare the asphalt in March-April.

The 7km section of Vorotan-Khot is ready for asphalting but the weather won't allow us yet.

Chakaten (border village) will have two roads. Some sections were graveled for now, but we plan to build a 9km road here; the ground work is complete in one section. All these roads will be built in Spring.

Pashinyan: Armenia isn't against joining 3+3 platform as long as it isn't about Karabakh resolution or other topics that are already being negotiated under other formats

Pashinyan: it could be interesting as long as it's not about discussing issues that are already being discussed under other formats. Russia agrees with us.

We will send a deputy MFA to take part in the preliminary 3+2 session scheduled for December 10.

Armenia has to be active in regional affairs. I won't rush to judge [how effective 3+3 will be], but we must try to find platforms for regional dialogue. //

Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Russia discussed the 3+3 platform.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070145.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070147.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070197.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070213.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070232.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070244.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070259.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070268.html https://factor.am/451415.html https://factor.am/451494.html https://youtu.be/wZLtEL1y5tc https://factor.am/451598.html

Tags: #trade #communication #NorthSouth #3+3

Pashinyan confronts opposition over Karabakh negotiations and Artsakh's "status through a referendum"

Pashinyan: the people were misled for years that the "final status for Karabakh", as stated in the negotiations paper, was going to be "independence".

On September 27, 2020, I came here to Parliament and said that we can stop the war at any moment, and I told you what the price would be. I also spoke about the traps that were set for Armenia in the "referendum" part. I also spoke about Azeri citizens of Karabakh becoming part of the negotiations.

There was initially a discussion relating to the proportion of Karabakh Azeris who would participate in the referendum. This topic, too, was later smeared.

Nowhere does it say in the negotiation process that the referendum would be held in Nagorno Karabakh. Do you get it? It was never clarified. It never clarified the location where the referendum would be held.

There are so many nuances here. Now you [opposition MMP] make blanket statements "we would get a status after giving lands". Does any of you understand how it would all end, how it would be decided? No.

You were not honest with the public about the negotiation process. As I've said before, there was one way to prevent war: give away lands without [Karabakh independence]. This is what I inherited in 2018 on the negotiation table. As of 2018, there was not a single chance Karabakh would not end up being de jure part of Azerbaijan.

I'll tell you more. A catastrophe happened in the negotiation process in 2016. That's when Karabakh lost any practical and theoretical chance NOT to be de jure part of Azerbaijan. This is your negotiation legacy and I will prove this. Hold a closed-door session so I can present the negotiation documents. //

https://factor.am/451586.html https://factor.am/451560.html https://youtu.be/zlNjqKn3-fk

Tags: #Karabakh #KarabakhNegotiations #referendum #negotiations

Armenia will pursue Azerbaijan's compliance with International Court of Justice orders

Read yesterday's report for the interim ruling details. The majority of Armenia's arguments were accepted by the Court. It ruled that Azerbaijan must stop the Armenophobic policies, including at the state and official level.

Ministry about the ruling: The Court’s orders on provisional measures recognize the realities and create legally binding obligations under international law to address them. Armenia will consistently pursue Azerbaijan’s compliance with the Court’s orders and will inform the Court of any violation. We call upon the OSCE to address the identified issues. //

Azerbaijan recently removed the mannequins of Armenian soldiers from the Saddam Park in Baku but said it was done for restoration purposes only. However, the Foreign Ministry reports that during the trial, the Azeri representative said that the removal of mannequins and Armenian helmets would be permanent.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070188.html

US Congress approves a scaled-back version of NDAA resolution

ANCA: It stripped out hundreds of amendments, including several provisions backed up by ANCA. The pro-accountability provision remained in the final measure. It calls for the preparation of a "Report on Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict."

It points to four specific Azerbaijani transgressions:

1) US-made components discovered in Turkish Bayrakdar drones deployed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh

2) Azerbaijan's illegal detention and torture of Armenian POWs

3) Jihadist mercenaries recruited by Turkey to fight alongside Azerbaijan against Artsakh

4) Ongoing Azerbaijani violence and violations of agreements and international law

https://www.facebook.com/ancagrassroots/posts/10158767681121859

Pashinyan: Azerbaijan violated the Nov 9 statement when it attacked Artsakh's Khtsaberd and Hin Tagher last year

Armenian volunteers were dispatched to an area southwest of Shushi. 62 people became POWs. Some of them later returned home. A criminal investigation was launched regarding the incident. Prosecutors said the commander failed to properly communicate with units, leading to them being captured.

Pashinyan: Azerbaijan's actions were a violation of Nov 9 statement. Nine of our heroes fought and died for their country that day. There is a felony investigation about the incident. The court recently refused to arrest the main suspect [before the trial]. Such incidents contain a lot of information relating to state interests and confidential information that should be subject to additional investigation.

Pashinyan continues about POWs and investigations: My offer to exchange my son for POWs is still on the table. Work is being done every day to return them while the details about their captivity are being investigated, and will be investigated. Why are you surprised about this [responding to opposition MP]? Some investigations will reveal no crime, while others will.

Today some of you are circulating nonsense that the "higher-ups" ordered the soldiers not to fight. If there are such incidents, those who give such orders will be prosecuted. //

Ruling party MP urged the opposition not to politicize the topic of POWs because it can help Azerbaijan pressure Armenia during negotiations. "Azerbaijan is trying to use our POWs as hostages, against us. These discussions help Azerbaijan."

Yesterday, ARF activists in France leaked a private video in which a ruling party member Simonyan expressed an opinion that Armenia should not allow Azerbaijan to use POWs to gain any corridor or other lands, and that if he had to choose between POWs and Armenia's sovereignty, then "POWs are dead to me". In the same tape Simonyan spoke about the need to return all POWs, but not at the expense of sovereignty. A group of POW family members protested outside Parliament building about his statement. Simonyan met the parents to inform them about the ongoing efforts to repatriate POWs.

Azerbaijan claims that landmine maps shared by Armenia are only 25% accurate

Armenia earlier denied the accusations about sharing altered maps, saying they are the original maps. Armenia hs been sharing partial landmine maps in exchange for POWs as part of humanitarian efforts lobbied by the US, EU, and Russia.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/227044 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070206.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070223.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070185.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070235.html https://factor.am/451642.html https://factor.am/451626.html

update: officials discussed yesterday's fight between MP aides in Parliament

Read Tuesday news for context. Yesterday, opposition MPs said their aides were assaulted by ruling party aides "in an ambush" in an office belonging to one of the MPs.

QP MP Rubinyan: lies were circulated claiming the incident happened in my office. It was inside, reading the news when I heard noises. I invited some people to my office to cool off.

QP MP Sisak: false information was circulated claiming I was a participant in the fight. I don't know the details of the story because I wasn't at the scene. I rushed there to find out what was going on. I picked one of the guys and moved him away from the fight. There were about 10 people. I don't know if anyone was "beaten", but it was an unpleasant incident indeed. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070149.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070166.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070169.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070186.html https://factor.am/451217.html

update: non-parliamentary opposition criticizes parliamentary opposition for the decision to boycott international meetings

Yesterday we learned that the Parliamentary opposition decided to no longer send diplomats to represent Armenia in foreign meetings, citing their displeasure with the ongoing criminal election/corruption cases against their colleagues.

Ex-LHK MP Ani Simonyan criticized her colleagues, saying "We fought for 2.5 years but it never crossed our mind to hinder or boycott the work of Armenian delegations, or to refuse to defend our country's interests abroad over internal political strife."

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/226987

COVID stats

8.5k tested. 0.4k infected. 0.4k healed. 10 deaths.

how to convince the elderly to get vaccinated?

HD MP: let's give $20 to any senior who gets vaccinated.

Finance Ministry: we don't believe that's the right approach at this stage.

HD MP: why not? You're willing to punish people with mandatory tests requirements but you won't reward them?

Finance Ministry: if you proposed this 1.5 years ago when we knew little about the virus, the effective measures, and the human behavior, we would think it was a good proposal, but today the situation is different.

First, we should continue to inform/convince citizens that vaccinations are the main tool to protect public health. Second, the vaccination rate is already increasing. Third, the international experience shows us that giving cash isn't how you reach high vax rates.

Nevertheless, the Healthcare Ministry is monitoring the situation and could implement the proposal if they believe it will be effective. //

==Artsakh authorities bust a fake vax certificate

NSS reports: the ARMED database records show that a resident of Martuni received a Sputnik V vaccine in July, while in reality, he was not in the country at the time. A criminal investigation is launched. //

Minister: ambulance workers will receive a raise and the working conditions will improve

... as part of the 2021-2026 government program, said Healthcare Minister Avanesyan today. The raise will be tied to their qualifications and professional knowledge, and the services provided by them.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070152.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070160.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070218.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070222.html

Lebanese economic crisis & the Armenian community

Lebanon-based Azdak Daily presents the situation: There is a shortage of necessities. The currency was sharply devalued, dropping from 1,500 per dollar to 23,000.

>Market dealers said the Lebanese pound was trading at around [outdated number] to the dollar, losing around 90% of what it was worth in late 2019 when Lebanon's economic and financial crisis erupted.

The fuel prices are up. The state cannot subsidize it anymore, while residents cannot afford the market prices. Poverty has deepened amid struggled with day-to-day expenses. Power outages are regular.

The pandemic aggravates the situation. Education centers have reduced their hours. Holidays were extended.

There isn't a large wave of migration from Lebanon to Armenia yet, mainly because people are unable to withdraw their bank savings. Banking was frozen. You can only withdraw small amounts each month.

Armenia should work on apartment and employment aid programs to accept possible migrants, but unemployment is currently an issue around the world, which will make it difficult to provide all the necessary aid. Closed-door meetings should be held between Armenia-based agencies and Middle Eastern diasporan institutes to handle this. //

Armenia's Diaspora Commission: There is a financial-economic crisis in Lebanon. The currency has devalued 10-15 times. Salaries shrank multiple times.

We're in touch with our embassy and the Armenian community. The situation around the Lebanese government worsened last year. Add to this the August 4 port explosion. That day marked the beginning of a migration wave. Some of them came to Armenia. The 2020 war temporarily paused the wave, but it resumed this year. The migration from Beirut was visible in the summer.

We have reviewed the Lebanese assistance package in accordance with the current realities and opportunities in Armenia.

Last year we drafted an aid package for Lebanese-Armenian repatriates but it was paused because of the war. The package was partially implemented later. Lebanese repatriates received aid with establishing businesses, tax exemptions, helping children to find kindergartens, getting documents, etc.

As for providing aid to Armenians living in Lebanon, we sent three jets with humanitarian aid. There are no active plans to send more in 2021, but we have identified the needs, which are mainly medicine and food, and sent relevant proposals to the government. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070144.html https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanon-currency-drops-new-low-financial-meltdown-deepens-2021-06-13/

Tags: #Lebanon

2022 budget will be amended to reflect the shrinking deficit / More capital expenditures expected

Details about the budget can be found in older posts.

Finance Minister: we're making these amendments because the deficit is set to reduce by ֏6.7B ($13.6M), to ֏236.2B.

Revenue: ֏1.948T

Expenditure: ֏2.184T

The Debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to reduce from 63.5% to 60.2% by the end of next year. The debt structure will be significantly improved, increasing the share of [local currency], while reducing foreign exchange risks.

Capital expenditures will be 4.5% of GDP, up from this year's 3.2%. //

HD MPs advised the Ministry to revise the expected 7% economic growth to 5%. They are skeptical that the capital expenditures will be complete at full scale, a problem that occurs every year.

Finance Ministry last month: the implementation of capital expenditure programs is a key topic. It depends on two things: the government's actions and the private sector's actions.

Often when capital expenditures are not implemented on time or in full, it's due to the responsible department not organizing auctions on time. But sometimes the private companies that win tenders do not keep their promise regarding completion deadlines.

In both cases, there are objective and subjective reasons. We're working on it. For example, right now, before the arrival of 2022, we have already launched preparatory works in all areas of expected capital expenditures. We're preparing auctions.

The construction companies that intend to participate in the auctions are currently upgrading their equipment and hiring experts to prepare for the high volume of construction work next year. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070150.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070170.html https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/qw9arz/news_recap_nov172021_pashinyans_speech_in/

Parliamentary Budgetary Committee chief presented other budget details:

1) Defense budget will increase by ֏34B (+11%). NSS budget, part of which also goes towards defense, will increase by 23% or ֏8B.

2) Development of human capital is another important direction. We emphasize science, education, and healthcare. The science budget will +89% to create the necessary environment for development.

3) Allocations to the high-tech industry will double.

4) Capital expenditures, investments, & infrastructure to +60%. These are the roads, bridges, tunnels, reservoirs, canals, and education centers. They will provide economic growth in the future.

5) Social expenditures will increase by ֏76B.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070191.html

Q: will Amulsar gold mine open next year?

Finance Minister: we view the possible re-launch of the Amulsar Mine as a "positive risk". But you should know that it takes 12 months just to prepare the mine for operation. Contact the Govt for more info. //

A government member recently said the criminal investigation around the mine's environmental assessment process has not ended yet, and that more info will be available about the possible launch once that's done.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070158.html

Kalashnikov manufacturer denies the accusation that it stole a gun design from a video game

The developer behind the video game "Oceanic" designs weapon concepts that can function in real life and look highly futuristic at the same time.

Last year a Kalashnikov contractor asked the designer for permission to turn one into reality. The designer says they never gave formal permission, but later learned that the contractor presented a gun that resembles theirs. The contractor denies stealing the design.

is real Kalashnikov. And here is the gamer's design.

https://kotaku.com/indie-game-says-kalashnikov-stole-their-shotgun-design-1848176543 https://www.pcgamer.com/ak-47-maker-denies-accusation-that-it-stole-a-gun-design-from-a-videogame/ https://www.ign.com/articles/stolen-gun-kalashnikov-oceanic-mp-155-ultima-ward-b

today in history

1918: Bolshevik newspaper "Communist" is printed in the Armenian language in Tbilisi

1991: former USSR republics from the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States)

1991: Turkmenistan exits USSR

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1070130.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/rc1ho6/news_dec82021_pashinyan_about_unblocking_regional/