2021 July 5

Daily news wrap-up

News - Jul/5/2021: Artsakh's tech summit, co-working __ 15 POWs return __ EU's 1.5 billion funding __ 3+3=? __ Armenia vs CSTO __ Big sports victories __ Cancel Culture __ It's hot __ Where is fake news? __ Shmays wanted __ Mayor arrested; Kocharyan rally __ Arm. improves fight against trafficking
by ar_david_hh

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Your 11-minute Weekend to Monday recap in 2887 words.

EU will invest €1.5 billion in Armenia's infrastructure and economy within next 5 years

First: €500 million to help 30,000 small and medium businesses to ensure a stable and competitive economy. The priority will be given to female-run businesses and those that use eco-friendly technologies.

Second: €600 million to help build the North-South highway network to improve communication between provinces and neighboring countries.

Third: €300 million to promote science, technology, and digitization. The EU says although Armenia has a great tech potential and achieved a 20% YoY growth, it needs additional investment to discover its full potential.

Fourth: €80 million to develop the Syunik province. The population is poor, there aren't many roads, it suffered from war.

Fifth: €120 million to make Yerevan eco-friendly with green projects, eco-friendly buses, manage garbage collection, recycling, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057313.html

how much is EU investing in Caucasus as part of this program?

€1,6b Armenia

€1,2b Georgia

€140m Azerbaijan

The projects will be discussed in December.

https://ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-enlargement/sites/default/files/eap_joint_staff_working_document_2021_en.pdf https://factor.am/389928.html

Armenia confronts Secretary of CSTO military bloc after latter downplays Azeri intrusion

CSTO secretary Zas: the events in Armenia's south do not fall under CSTO's charter because they are border incidents. CSTO is only used when there is aggression or attack. The border incidents must be resolved... There is a lot of work to be done to resolve border disputes. //

Zas held a phone conversation with Armenia's Security Council chief Grigoryan and congratulated the latter with the election victory. Grigoryan expressed concerns over Zas's earlier statement regarding the border intrusion not being a big deal.

Security Councilman Grigoryan: It isn't just a "border incident" because it has been a while since Azeri servicemen intruded and refuse to leave Armenia's sovereign territories. This is an obvious attempt to seize part of Armenia.

CSTO should formulate its statements carefully not to jeopardize the constructive efforts aimed at resolving the situation. We should organize the CSTO secretariat's visit to borders to get acquainted with the situation on the spot.

Ind. MP Babajanyan: CSTO's statement was a "gift" for Armenia. It's also nothing new. After this, Armenia should either push for radical changes in CSTO or review its relations with the bloc.

This does not mean a démarche against Russia because Armenia is not questioning Russia's legal-contractual commitment. Moreover, Armenia has announced efforts to reform the army by working with Russia.

Steps to resolve issues with CSTO should not fall under the primitive logic of being "anti-Russian". This logic has always existed in Armenia and deprived Armenia of ample opportunity for political flexibility.

CSTO's statement was a gift for Armenian political-military leadership to look towards other military alliances and to build relations with them freely.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057315.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057428.html https://factor.am/389977.html

[opinion] Lebanon-based Azdak newspaper's editor Gantaharian about regional politics:

Discussions are activating around the 3+3 regional format suggested by Turkey. There was a positive response to it during the recent meeting between Foreign Ministers of Russia and Turkey.

Iran is also interested. Their ambassador to Azerbaijan said the 3+3 platform will involve Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, and Turkey, and will contribute to peace, stability, and development in the region.

As of right now, the 3 major players support it. Of the 3 smaller players, only Azerbaijan is so far enthusiastic about it. Georgia is concerned that this would be a step backward from its commitment to move from Russia towards the West.

The 3+3 platform's format has not yet been developed but the discussions are intensifying. Under the pretext of peace, [the major players] are attempting to build barriers for the West's influence in the region. I do not believe forming this platform will be easy.

A political contest for South Caucasus peace has started. The EU announced plans to invest €1.5 billion in Armenia, while the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan announced America's willingness to help restore [infrastucture] in territories captured by Azerbaijan. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057399.html

U.S.-Turkish trade summit is canceled over genocide denial

California government was supposed to participate in a trade summit with Turkish and Californian businesses, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It was canceled because two of the Turkish participants deny the Armenian Genocide.

California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis said her delegation's participation would be against California's commitment to promoting human rights and values.

https://sjvsun.com/california/kounalakis-to-address-u-s-turkey-business-confab-with-armenian-genocide-deniers-at-center-stage/

https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2021/07/03/ԱՄՆ-ի-ու-Թուրքիայի՝-առևտրի-ոլորտում-գագաթնաժողովը-չեղարկվել-է-Հայոց-ցեղասպանության-ժխտման-պատճառով/509457

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217749

efforts to free Armenian POWs

Aram A catholicos visited the Vatican and met Pope Francisco to discuss the need to return Armenian POWs.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057329.html

Singer Ruben Hakhverdyan released a short video asking Kim Kardashian, Cher, and Serj Tankian to help release the POWs.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217710

U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone discussed the topic of POWs and bolstering US-AM relations with representatives of the State Department and DoD.

https://twitter.com/FrankPallone/status/1411132735490506755 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057348.html

14 Armenian POWs recently received "milder" prison sentences in Azerbaijan, ranging from 6 months to 4 years, instead of the possible 20 years that they were facing. Azerbaijan jailed them over bogus "illegal border crossing" charges.

Armenia's representative to ECHR explained the "milder" sentences as an attempt by Baku to boost its reputation amid "international pressure".

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057351.html

15 Armenian POWs returned home on Saturday

Families went to Erebuni airport to greet the 15 volunteers from Shirak who were captured during the Khtsaberd and Hin Tagher incident in December.

Azerbaijan said the POWs were returned to Armenia after they finished serving their jail sentences after being "found guilty" by the Azeri court earlier.

The POWs returned with the mediation of the Russian side. As an expression of goodwill Armenia gave Azerbaijan landmine maps in Fizuli and Zangelan regions. It shows the location of 92,000 landmines, reports TASS.

OSCE president: we welcome the return of POWs and the sharing of landmine maps. We appreciate the Russian mediation. I hope the strengthening of trust will pave way for a stable resolution under the OSCE Minsk Group. //

Chief Russian peacekeeper Muradov took the landmine maps to Baku with him. He said the Russian side will "continue to work to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the [Nov 9] trilateral statement."

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057360.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057361.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057375.html https://factor.am/390014.html https://factor.am/390037.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217754

a massive mud volcano erupts not far from Azeri oil reserves in Caspian Lake

explosion: https://youtu.be/DezxZxT701s

aftermath (the island isn't new): https://youtu.be/VhHnvVLosPE

https://www.newsweek.com/what-mud-volcano-explained-huge-explosion-fire-caspian-sea-oil-1606877 https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/blast-rocks-caspian-sea-sector-near-azerbaijani-gas-field/2021/07/04/7c887064-dd10-11eb-a27f-8b294930e95b_story.html

aAaAaAah! dat's hot...

A fire broke out in the sauna located in Gagik Tsarukyan Sports Center in Abovyan. Firefighters extinguished it in a few hours.

https://factor.am/390044.html

Yerevan's Hrazdan gorge was burning today.

Video: https://youtu.be/vPn5MLqih1c

Several farmers in Shirak villages briefly closed a nearby road to protest the lack of irrigation water.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057437.html

Firefighters isolated and extinguished 15 hectares of grass fire in Nerkin Khndzoresk.

https://factor.am/390137.html

Azeri-occupied Fizuli region of Artsakh is on fire again. Azeri firefighters reported that the area was landmined. The helicopters were unable to extinguish it.

https://factor.am/390218.html

what happened to all the fake accounts promoting misinformation and conspiracies? 🤔

The article notes that social media accounts promoting misinformation are not nearly as active after the elections, as they were in the past 7-8 months. Telegram is "silent".

Media expert Samvel Martirosyan: there has been a decrease in political activity so there aren't many political clients using their services at this time. This shows that the information wasn't being spread spontaneously. It wasn't ordinary people who were generating the rumors.

Repositionings are being made. They are figuring out how they should attack the opponent now.

Telegram was more popular for these activities because it allows for anonymity as opposed to Facebook. The "Telegram" culture is not as prevalent in Armenia.

This is where the Russian actors played a big role. There were people who were openly involved in all this. There were those residing in Russia but actively involved in Armenian politics for various reasons (money and politics). //

QP MP Hovhannisyan: the fake news hasn't been this quiet since 2018. The reason is the election results which decimated their hopes and goals.

But there has also been a fight against misinformation in the past 3 years. Consumers' behavior is also important. They no longer trust the crazy stuff.

People serving Kocharyan and Serj wasted their money. TThefakes are on a vacation today. //

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217674

Constitutional Court will discuss the election results on July 9

Kocharyan and Serj are challenging the results.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057423.html

ARF's Armenia branch holds a meeting to elect Supreme Body, discuss plans

Ishkhan Saghatelyan tops the list. The party analyzed their 2019-2021 activities and drew a plan for the next two years.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057412.html

Serj's party promises to continue the street struggle

HHK (now PU) Armen Ashotyan has reasons to believe that political processes will continue to boil. His concerns are over freezing the Artsakh conflict, the border demarcation, and the comprehensive peace agreement with Azerbaijan.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057336.html

anti-corruption: mayor of Qarahunj (Syunik) arrested and charged with voter bribery to help Kocharyan-ARF

Police report says: mayor Lusine Avetyan is under arrest. While issuing $200-$400 as monetary aid to four residents, she forced them to participate in Kocharyan's June 8 rally in Goris, and to vote for his HD alliance.

The mayor gave another $200 in disability aid to a family. After the snap election date was announced, she contacted the family and claimed they received the funds in exchange for voting for Kocharyan and participating in his June 7 rally in Goris. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057434.html

bankruptcy court issues warrant for ex-HHK MP Arakel Movsisyan

Remember Shmays? He allegedly owes money to AmeriaBank. The bank asked the court to declare him bankrupt. The court sent the paperwork to his address but received no response. He no longer resides in the old address. The court wants to find and freeze his assets.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217835

Pashinyan congratulated Joe Biden and Americans on Independence Day:

We are pleased that your administration has reaffirmed its commitment to its role as an international leader in strengthening democracy, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights.

We share these values. They are at the core of our relations. Thanks for the continuous support in democratic reforms.

Lately, we've been battling a pandemic, climate change, and wars. We thank the international community for the financial and medical aid during the pandemic.

Armenia is ready to expand our bilateral relations within the framework of strategic dialogue.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057364.html

U.S. says Armenia has improved the fight against human trafficking

The State Department report moved Armenia two positions higher. There is room for improvement but they noted the government's anti-trafficking efforts last year.

The prosecutors formed a working group to address issues during the trafficking investigations in the 2018-2019 period, while the government set forth new requirements for social workers to combat child trafficking.

U.S. report: for the first time, the state dedicated resources to repatriate trafficked individuals, while the healthcare & labor experts conducted checks in working conditions for the first time since 2015. //

The U.S. will continue to finance the anti-trafficking efforts in Armenia.

https://1lurer.am/hy/2021/07/05/Մարդկանց-թրաֆիքինգի-վերաբերյալ-ԱՄՆ-պետքարտուղարության-այս-տարվա-զեկույցում-ՀՀ-ն-բարելավել-է-դիրքը/510462

Pashinyan congratulated Armenia on Constitution Day and handed out promotions:

The June 20 snap elections showed that after decades, the constitutional provision about the power belonging to the people has been irreversibly established in Armenia.

Among the priorities of our forthcoming actions are the external and constitutional security agendas, the reform and the establishment of institutions to serve those agendas. //

The road police marked its 85th anniversary. Police chief Ghazaryan and NSS chief Abazyan are promoted to Maj.Gen. Several rank-and-file NSS agents and prosecutors received various medals and promotions.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057385.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057403.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057405.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057406.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217826

parents of 13 children receive Medal of Parental Glory

Gohar and Gevorg Bejanyans have 13 children. The latest addition to the family was baby Eve, born a few days ago.

Can you Keep Up with Bejanyans? MrBeast is giving away $1,000,000 to any Armenian who gives birth to 14.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057410.html

a newborn boy was found abandoned in Gyumri parking station

A passer-by noticed the boy under a fence after hearing the cry, before calling the police. An investigation was launched.

Doctors did not find birth defects in the child, who was born only hours prior. The temperature has stabilized and he began gaining weight.

[Gyumri + gaining weight = going to become a weightlifting champion one day]

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057332.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057409.html

400 families in Yerevan's Ajapnyak will have regular water delivery

... after a program to replace 5-kilometer-long 70-year-old water pipes on two streets.

The water company discovered numerous illegal pipe tappings by water thieves.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217713

76 Artsakh IDP families are resettled in other areas of Artsakh

376 people so far. 39 last month. It's a program that builds houses in rural areas.

https://factor.am/390067.html

update: 130 new houses will be built in Artsakh's Karmir Shuka

The process began on April 25. Three houses are ready, the interior is being shaped. Another two houses are in the works. "Himnaqar" was chosen as the construction company.

https://factor.am/390398.html

3,800 Artsakh citizens traveled from Yerevan to Artsakh in June

... with the use of free Yerevan-Stepanakert buses.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217841

Tech Week Artsakh 2021 / co-working space for remote work

Artsakh hosted a large tech conference attended by 1,500 techies, including 400 from Armenia.

Artsakh State Minister Beglaryan: thanks to organizers for this massive event. Our goal is to change the mood after the war and to show that life continues and that it is our duty to take steps to resolve issues.

Our next goal is to change the post-war mood in Armenia, to promote visits to Artsakh, to help the wounded Artsakh.

We should develop IT in Artsakh with educational and business programs. I'm glad we were able to organize this event. //

A trilateral agreement was signed between Artsakh Infrastructure Ministry, Tech Week, and Արդյունավետ կառավարություն Foundation.

They will launch co-working spaces in Martakert, Martuni, and Askeran. The goal is to modernize the Artsakh workforce and eco-system to allow residents to work for global companies remotely.

Full: https://factor.am/390295.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217767

Armenian engineering lab "ArMath" will open two new branches in Ninotsminda, Javakhq, Georgia

https://factor.am/390215.html

Armenian and French architects will discuss improvements in Yerevan's historical Kond district

The French embassy and Goethe Center, with the cooperation of universities and cultural organizations, will hold a Kondensé festival for series of cultural and scientific events in the Kond district, followed by discussions involving French and Armenian architects on how to develop the district.

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/294098/

forest protection official flees with the loot before being arrested over illegal hunting of bezoar goat

Police report: we received a report that the director of a local ArmForest branch in Vayots Dzor illegally hunted a bezoar goat near the Yelpin village, and was transporting it to the village with this vehicle.

The police stopped his vehicle. The suspected attempted to flee on foot, before dumping the goat in a nearby river. He claimed the animal was killed by another forest protection agent.

The director and the other forest protection agent were taken to the police station. A felony case is launched. The director is under arrest.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057357.html

update on the anthrax story in Shirak and Gegharkunik

The government-run agricultural services agency has asked village mayors and cattle owners to approach the animal vaccination responsibly. "Help the veterinarians and ensure every animal receives a vaccine. The mayors should not sign any vaccination documents without verifying."

Double-vaccinations were done in Shirak's Isahakyan and Gegharkunik's Vanevan and Torfavan villages after several residents contracted skin anthrax from dead animals.

Food safety inspectors visited Armenia's largest livestock market in Martuni to check if sellers follow the meat transportation and other safety requirements. The villages affected by anthrax are prohibited from shipping their meat. No sick animals were discovered by the inspectors.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057337.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057380.html

COVID stats since Saturday

13,054 tested. 267 infected. 221 healed. 9 deaths. 2780 active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057312.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057365.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057393.html

88,000 vaccinations so far

66k first dose, 22k second dose. Doctors visited nursing homes to administer shots.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057394.html https://factor.am/389839.html

Germany lifted travel restrictions for Armenians

The entry is permitted without an "important" reason even if not vaccinated.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057422.html

Diaspora Youth Ambassador

... is a program by the government and the Jinishian Memorial Foundation to create a network of Armenian youth (22-35yo), who will have the opportunity to become Diaspora youth representatives of the homeland in their respective communities around the world.

The candidates will visit Armenia for two weeks for series of lectures and workshops to learn about the pressing political, social, and economic issues.

More: http://diaspora.gov.am/en/programs/19/Diaspora-Youth-Ambassador#b870 https://factor.am/389878.html

Levon Aronian is the winner of Goldmoney Asian Rapid chess tournament

Be defeated Vladislav Artemiev 2:0 in the finale.

https://www.chess.com/news/view/aronian-wins-goldmoney-asian-rapid https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057379.html

Karen Khachanov [Khachatryan] in Wimbleton tennis

He made it to the quarterfinals. That s so far his best result in Wimbledon. He plays under the Russian flag.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/khachanov-korda-wimbledon-2021-monday https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217860

Armenian boxer defeats Turkish opponent during European Youth Championship

80kg Davit Simonyan dominated the opponent during the first two rounds. The opponent was removed from the ring after too many illegal punches during the third round.

video: https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217787

video: second Armenian boxer defeats a Turkish opponent

44kg Eric Arstamyan

https://youtu.be/8DiqsGqZvYE

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/217848

famed conductor Riccardo Muti visits Armenia for Ravenna festival dedicated to Dante Alighieri

Armenian and Italian musicians performed pieces by Mozart and others in Yerevan's Opera building on July 4. This was conductor Riccardo's first visit in 20 years.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1057435.html

yesterday's news

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/ochl35/news_jul22021_1_anthrax_story_takes_a_weird_turn/?

Перевод на русский by Impossible-Ad-

https://reddit.com/r/ArmDailyReports_RUS_/comments/ocrenq/новости_армении_за_2_июля_2021/

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/oefpmx/news_jul52021_artsakhs_tech_summit_coworking_15/