2021 November 30

Daily news wrap-up

News - Nov/30/2021: Armenia's space program __ Ishkhanasar: what's rumor, what's official __ When Azerbaijan recognized Karabakh is Armenia __ Politics, borders, negotiations __ Red button; Artillery training __ Water price agreement __ Thirsty bosses __ Fewer suicides __ Armenians' favorite drink
by ar_david_hh

---

This is your 9-minute Tuesday briefing in 2405 words.

interview with General Samvel Babayan about Sochi meeting, delaying Artsakh's status, demarcation & trade, UN mandate, army reforms & weapons

Consider reading that interview for better context before continuing with today's post: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/r5ge94/interview_with_general_samvel_babayan_about_sochi/

Russian translation: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArmDailyReports_RUS_/comments/r5m79m/интервью_с_генералом_самвелом_бабаяном_о_встрече/

Tags: #SamvelBabayan

Pashinyan met EU representative to discuss the December 15 Brussels meeting with Aliyev

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069498.html

Foreign Ministry: Sochi trilateral statement denies propaganda theses about "corridor"

MFA: with the Nov 26 statement, parties reaffirm commitment to an unconditional implementation of the Nov 9 statement, including about Azerbijan releasing all POWs and hostages.

Nov 26 also reaffirms Jan 11 statement about unblocking all transportation and economic routes, and again denies the propaganda theses about the "corridor" or "corridor logic".

We reached an agreement to take action to raise the level of stability on the AM-AZ border.

We are convinced that the complete implementation of the provisions will contribute to the peaceful settlement of the NK conflict under the OSCE mandate. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069435.html

MOD won't confirm or deny mayors' claims that Azeris retreated from positions they captured on November 16

Context in yesterday's post. The mayor of Ishkhanasar claimed that Azeris left the hills because of "harsh weather", and that it's a neutral zone right now. He provided no evidence and cited local shepherds who made the claim.

Today he rephrased the statement, saying it's possible Azeris are simply hiding in shelters (from weather) but might still be there, they just aren't "visible". He said Armenian positions remain where they are after November 16.

Rumors about Armenians retaking the positions were first circulated the day after the clashes, but it was later revealed that Armenians were simply allowed to visit the area to join Russians to canvas the area for missing soldiers. No evidence that the positions were "retaken".

The mayor of Sisian also somewhat confirmed Ishkhahnasar mayor's claims, but presented it differently. He said Azeris are still located in those positions but have withdrawn the equipment, and are going through the process of withdrawing troops.

MOD responds to rumors: do not spread information about border movements based on the words of village leaders. An official statement was released earlier. [It stated that Azerbaijan captured two positions.] //

--

Reporters: why are Azeris leaving Ishkanasar? Was it a result of Sochi meeting?

Parliamentary Sec. Com. chief QP Andranik Kocharyan: there is some information but let's not talk about it. Let our army manage the situation. There can be no foreign armed forces in Armenian territories. The sooner Azeris leave, the better.

Reporter: why hasn't Pashinyan fired military officials who were unable to conduct the necessary engineering work in front lines?

Andranik Kocharyan: are you aware of how many army officials were fired? How many criminal cases are launched? Heavy work has been done in front lines to build new positions in areas that weren't front lines in the past.

The efforts continue, even during today's harsh weather. Roads and inner-position paths are being created. Do you need us to discuss every single detail in public? Should the military come with the maps and reveal everything that's being done? It doesn't work that way. Look at it from the perspective of national security. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069449.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069492.html https://factor.am/447836.html https://factor.am/448088.html https://www.civilnet.am/news/641524/տեղեկություն-է-շրջանառվում-որ-ադրբեջանցիները-հետ-են-քաշվել-իշխանասարից/ https://www.civilnet.am/news/641615/ադրբեջանցիները-իշխանասարի-դիրքերում-չեն-երևում-և-հայտնի-չէ՝-ինչու․-իշխանասարի-վարչական-ղեկավար/

Armenia informed NATO about Azerbaijan & Turkey's recruitment of terrorist cells during the war

Parlm. Sec. Com. chief QP Andranik Kocharyan: our intel agencies were informed about the transfer of terrorists from Syria during the war. NATO leadership has been briefed. I handed over the package to Jens Stoltenberg's aide in Armenia. This is a serious package created with the efforts of our intel and diaspora. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069491.html

army conducted artillery exercises

Artillery units were trained to deploy and prepare for an assault.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/226412

14th time wasn't the charm

Kocharyan-ARF alliance candidate HD Arthur Ghazinyan did not receive enough votes to become the deputy head of the Parliamentary Defense Committee, for the 14th time.

We will not change our nominee, said ARF MP Geghham Manukyan.

The ruling party members earlier accused Ghazinyan of lacking military knowledge and not having the skills to work as a team. They want the opposition to nominate someone else.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069487.html https://youtu.be/0-ifUoo443E

who has access to Red Button in the event bad guys fly a hijacked jet in Armenian air?

That's among the things the government wants to clarify with legal amendments. Who can order air defense to shoot, and under what conditions?

Military aircrafts are allowed to intercept and force a rogue flying object to land, or to shoot it down.

MOD: according to the AM-RU agreement on the establishment of a unified CSTO air defense system in the Caucasus region, during peace, the parties reserve the right to decide how they use their troops that are part of the unified system. The country, where the air intrusion takes place, decides the procedures for the use of weapons in its territory. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069457.html

helicopter crash kills over a dozen ranking Azeri army officials

The copter was flying in the Gharaheybat training ground in eastern Azerbaijan when it crashed. 14 died, 4 severely injured.

Among the dead are a Colonel, Lt. Colonel, five Majors, three Captains, and three Senior Lt.

Photos: https://factor.am/448025.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069490.html

Armenian space program

Space has been in the news lately. A law was approved in March 2020 to boost Armenia's scientific, tech, and economic potential relating to the space industry.

High-Tech Ministry issued the first license to GeoCosmos. They will be exempt from certain taxation. The company conducts aerial scans that can be used for defense and the economy.

High-Tech Ministry recently launched a ֏200M grant program for robotics and space engineering.

Ministry official: this field is rapidly developing and is very diverse. Astronautics is just a tiny share of the field. Space activities can be used for agriculture, border protection, GPS maps, etc.

Our goal is to satisfy our internal demand and export services. For example, if our space programs discover valuable information about Australian agriculture, we could provide services to them across the ocean.

Having a space program isn't cheap so we'll cooperate with experienced countries and organizations. The prices have declined over time. For example, the European space agency sends devices designed by students for an affordable price.

We have the right strategy for the development of the sector in Armenia, starting with the involvement of school-age children. This year 40 children joined the camp. I'm confident that some of them will be excited about these programs.

The ֏200M grant program will help us reveal the existing potential in Armenia. We already have applicants from diverse fields. We'll see the first results after a year.

We recently participated in NASA Space Apps Challenge. Now we're taking part in European Space Agency's video and arts program relating to space; we're trying to raise the interest in space.

This is Space 2.0 for us. We want to continue the Soviet-era successes. Armenia had a very developed industry. Recently we marked the 100th anniversary of Alexander Kemurdzhian. He was the chief designer of the first lunar rover [Lunokhod-1]. He also worked on the first Mars rover. //

More: https://youtu.be/OTdh-wi0J8w https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069437.html

Tags: #SpaceProgram

you need a good elevator to reach space

In 2019, Yerevan began installing new elevators to replace the outdated and dangerous ones in apartment buildings.

2019: 20

2020: 500

2021: 54

This year's installations were in buildings resided by wounded soldiers. Another 46 will be installed next year, with possibly more TBD.

The city: please do not flood the elevator shaft with water after washing the stairs. It's risky. These are modern elevators with electronics and chips.

DO NOT try to fool the weight-limit sensor by jumping in the elevator. // [bruuuuhhh]

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069450.html

correction: Yerevan's new power plant has a significant capacity but it won't cover 20% of all internal demand

A few days ago, the Italian Renco company opened its new cheap electricity plant in Yerevan. One of the representatives gave an incorrect figure (or there was a misunderstanding) about the plant meeting upwards of 25% of the country's demand.

More: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/r55rwm/news_nov292021_rurik_semyonov_new_cheap_power/hmmuldq/

rgulator sets new water prices for 2022

A 15-year contract was signed with Veolia Water in 2016 to manage Armenia's water network. Every year they ask regulators to raise the fees, due to inflation, contract obligations, etc.

Veolia wanted the price to go from ֏180 to ֏223 next year, but the regulator was against it. They agreed to keep it ֏180 for low-income families and raise it to ֏200 for others.

The government negotiated and signed an agreement with Veolia so it won't attempt to make sharp pricing changes for the remainder of the contract (next 10 years).

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069504.html https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/qdvfmz/im_back_with_a_news_recap_oct14212021_new_nuclear

anti-corruption: medics facing criminal charges relating to bribery and psychoactive drug scheme

Prosecutors report: the narcologist and nurses at Gyumri Mental Health Center decided to forge documents to steal psychoactive drugs to sell them to residents.

The group also took $10-$60 bribes from drug addicts to help clear their papers so they could regain driver's licenses.

2 medics and 9 bribe-givers were charged with crimes. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069448.html

COVID stats

6.5k tested. 0.4k infected. 1k healed. 32 deaths.

last-ditch effort to convince people to get vaccinated?

The government drafted a bill to allow employers to terminate workers who refuse to submit a vaccination card or a PCR test. A relevant Parliamentary committee gave it a green light to proceed in Parliament.

Labor Ministry: The employer will be able to bar the non-compliant worker from visiting the workplace. After a certain period of non-compliance (10-20 days), the employment contract can be terminated with 3-day advance notice.

The law cannot legally apply to public officials who are appointed through elections or other Constitutional procedures. //

HD MP Tadevos Avetisyan: I urge everyone to get vaccinated. We should do like Sweden, though. They don't punish the unvaccinated. They conduct explanatory work instead. // [which has been attempted over the past 2 years?]

Healthcare Minister: Vax/PCR document is necessary to enter restaurants beginning January

Minister: It's similar to Paris and in many other cities. There are technical mechanisms to monitor the entrance. The police have been using it for a long time.

The pandemic has caused unwanted pressure on healthcare and the economy. Our goal is to keep it under control and reduce human and economic losses. We're doing this to encourage more vaccinations.

Our daily vaccination numbers tell us that the January requirement won't cause serious damages to the restaurant business. // [So they believe enough people will get jabbed in December to bring the total number to a reasonable level.]

Greece will make vaccination MANDATORY for residents over 60

Monthly €100 penalty for unvaccinated seniors, beginning January 16. [Soviet anthem starts playing as the booties line up.]

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069443.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069476.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069486.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/226434

thirsty bosses looking for slutty secretaries is a ticking #MeToo timebomb that will one day explode and give us the much-needed popcorn drama we've all been craving for 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

Many employers in Armenia continue to be guided by the principle that only good looks are required when hiring women. More specifically, sexual attractiveness and "free-thinking". Good luck if you're over 40. Of the 87k registered unemployed residents, 57k are women.

An ad posted on List.am: boss needs a personal secretary. Must be under 35, relaxed, open in communication, free-minded women and girls. Send us your bio and four photos in a free style [aka DM me pics]. Applications without photos will be ignored. //

Another ad: office needs a good-looking secretary with modern views and without insecurities. Must be friendly. No experience is required. $600. 10:00am to 3:00pm. //

Some users complain that List.am allows the slutfest to continue while preventing people from posting normal ads.

Various NGOs and institutes have raised awareness on the issue of trafficking and women's abuse in recent years, but the stereotypes are rooted deep and many women are still afraid of coming forward with their abuse stories.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/226199

Survey: what do Armenians prefer to drink?

35% wine, 23% cognac, 21% vodka, 11% beer.

Men: 35% vodka, 22% cognac, 18% wine

Women: 50% wine, 25% cognac

87% believe vodka is a man's drink. 72% said the same about beer.

59% believe wine is a woman's drink.

Over half believe cognac is a rich person's drink. Wine and beer for the middle class, and vodka for everyone.

25% of people drink wine multiple times a month. 19% vodka. 18% beer. 16% cognac.

More: https://www.civilnet.am/news/641288/ի՞նչ-են-խմում-հայաստանցիները-և-ինչքա՞ն/

fewer people committed suicide this year

2020: 180

2021: 116 (75 men, 41 women)

The number of suicide attempts has dropped almost in half, from 125 to 68. Threats to commit suicide was slightly down. The average age is 42-53.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/226410

PHOTO: thick fog landed on capital Yerevan today

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/226368

Armenia wins 2 gold and 2 bronze medals in World Armwrestling Championship for Disabled

Sargis Stepanyan and Naira Mesropyan won gold. Narine Mkrthcyan and Alexander Movsesyan won bronze.

https://factor.am/447977.html

where is the National Stadium?

You may remember about talks to build a new stadium in Armenia with international standards to host matches. The negotiations were suspended due to the pandemic, but they recently resumed, said HFF chief Melikbekyan today. There isn't much to talk about right now. Negotiations continue.

newly renovated soccer pitch opens in Armavir city

It'll be home for youth teams but could also host some teams in the Armenian Premier League. The stadium can house 3,100 fans. There are several smaller fields nearby. The project was worth ֏688M. Members of HFF and gov't went to mark the opening ceremony today.

Other pitches will open in Vanadzor and Abovyan next year. Gyumri stadium will receive lighting.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069469.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069470.html

today in history

1835: Mark Twain is born

1874: Winston Churchill is born

2021: Barbados parts way with Queen and becomes a republic

1920: Soviet Azerbaijan does a major oopsie and recognizes Karabakh and Nakhijevan as part of newly established Soviet Armenia.

>However, under the dictation of Moscow and Stalin's direct interference, on the night of July 5 the decision [...] was reviewed and the forced decision of incorporating Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan and forming on its territory an autonomous oblast was made, not even keeping procedure.

Read more here about the kerfuffle here.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1069417.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.

---

Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/r5wh70/news_nov302021_armenias_space_program_ishkhanasar/