2021 November 4

Daily news wrap-up

Nov/4/2021: Yerevan-Tbilisi train could take 2.5h less, $400M project __ Armenia's logistics, sea ferry, railway link __ MFA about Karabakh & blockade __ ECHR vs Azerb. __ COVID: no lockdowns, yes vaccines __ Armenia makes Sputnik Lite __ Anti-corruption __ Road reforms: safety, snow __ EU visa
by ar_david_hh

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This is your 10-minute Thursday briefing in 2477 words.

bookmarked: soldiers recall 2020 war events before and after the failed "Sghnakh" operation that was supposed to cut off enemy advancement to Shushi

General Samvel Babayan had earlier mentioned this episode. Interviews were also taken with participants who told their version of events.

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/qmdxqv/13_spartans/

European Court for Human Rights sides with Armenian residents against Azerbaijan, in a 2014 case

Two Armenians were captured in 2014. Baku is found guilty of violating their right to life, torture, and other discrimination relating to human rights. They have to pay €40,000 compensation in each case.

One of the victims was returned to Armenia but he died shortly afterward due to organ problems. The second victim was killed in an Azeri jail; his death was reported as a "heart attack". ECHR ruled against Azerbaijan.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067312.html

COVID stats

12.2k tested. 2.3k infected. 1.3k healed. 41 deaths. 32.3k active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067270.html

several dozen vaccinations in the 12-18 age group

CDC revealed that 50 children have already taken the jab. Only Moderna is authorized for them for now.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067254.html

Education Ministry: at the moment, there are no plans to extend the school break

The Ministry had earlier extended the Fall break by a week, until November 7.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067266.html

Armenia plans to produce and export Sputnik Lite vaccine

Recently we learned that Russia shared some equipment and expertise with Armenia to produce Sputnik Lite locally. Some quantity was produced and was going through trials.

Update from Economy Minister Kerobyan: we're discussing the possibility of exporting Sputnik Lite manufactured in Armenia. We already have a batch that was manufactured and approved. We're discussing financial conditions. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067341.html

the government discussed COVID and vaccines

Healthcare Minister Avanesyan: it appears the recent extension of school vacations and switching to distance learning (soon to end) had a positive impact on the transmission rate. There is some decline. It will be visible next week.

Fewer people need hospital beds but the situation remains tense. Of the >3,000 hospitalized patients, only 97 are vaccinated. There have been 852k vaccinations.

Pashinyan: only those who have taken both shots should be considered vaccinated... The Healthcare system is overloaded. If someone is waiting at home, that means there are no beds in hospitals. People are dying. We witness tragic cases every single day.

Vaccination is the only solution. I want to make this clear: we will not introduce lockdowns. We have the tools to save people's lives. Please, we urge you to get vaccinated.

Punitive measures will be taken but overall, we plead with the public to help us to help them. Convey the message that vaccination is the only way to reduce the risk of drying. //

[I've been told some Yerevan clinics are currently overloaded with vaccine signups and very long lines because of the PCR mandate.]

https://youtu.be/KbGLozPqL8k https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067289.html

Healthcare Minister: it's possible that beginning December 1, unvaccinated workers will have to submit a PCR test every week

Currently, it's required once every 2 weeks.

Healthcare Minister: several doctors have been fired by clinics for anti-vaccination propaganda

Not many, but they are very vocal and are busy doing damage day and night, said Avanesyan.

Healthcare Minister: we need a doctor licensing institute to deal with anti-scientific doctors

This institute should have been tasked with examining whether a doctor can conduct activities that are directly against their profession. We have serious plans to hold discussions and establish this institute.

Healthcare Minister: I won't rule out that entry to restaurants and museums will require vaccination or PCR test beginning December 1

This will be discussed soon. It's also possible that only vaccinated people will be allowed to enter.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067291.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067295.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067305.html

Artsakh's Minister of Territorial Administration Hayk Khanumyan will not accept unvaccinated residents in his office beginning December

https://factor.am/437221.html

Russian Azimuth Airlines launches direct Astrakhan-Yerevan flights

Once a week.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067307.html

criminal charges are filed against a politician accused of using forged Russian documents to run for office in Armenian's June 20 elections

Prosecutors report: Tigran Arzakantsyan, the chairman of the Alyans Alliance council, submitted falsified documents in May, claiming that he studied at the Moscow Institute of Architecture and Construction (MGSU) between 2018-2019. [This would have allowed him to qualify to run for office despite not residing in Armenia. Several candidates were accused of during this.] //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067292.html

🎡 spin the magic wheel to find out which mayor is next 🎡

Today's anti-corruption award goes to the mayor of Ptghni, who is accused of illegally auctioning lands, ignoring the government's warning not to do it, selling the lands for ֏42M.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067310.html

couple dies of old age only a day apart

Akunk (Gegharkunik) residents Albert and Amalya Atoyan had lived together for 62 years. They were 86 and 80 respectively. The couple passed away one day apart, from natural causes.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067294.html

Armenian boxer Davit Chaloyan defeats Azeri opponent and advances to the world championship final

Armenia has an athlete in the finale after a 12-year break. The fight is tomorrow.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067350.html

Armenian boxer Hovhannes Bachkov wins bronze in the world championship

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067366.html

government approved amendments to law about refugees & asylum

Official: foreign citizens who cross the border illegally must be informed about their legal rights in written form within 24 hours of detention. They can submit for asylum within 15 days.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067331.html

deputy Foreign Minister about ongoing AM-EU discussions about easing the visa regime:

We are implementing targeted steps. There are discussions with the EU and individual member states. COVID isn't helping with the launch of the dialogue. We need to prepare a few things on our end before the launch of the direct dialogue. //

[One of the prerequisites was amending Armenia's law to accept and help Armenian refugees who are deported from the EU. Those reforms were implemented a few months ago.]

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067308.html https://youtu.be/RJWhgFmvJoM

snow = hunger?

QP MP Shirak Torosyan: today we've been discussing cooperation with the EU and EAEU blocs. In my opinion, without addressing Armenia's communication and logistics problems, it's pointless to discuss such a level of integration with the blocs. We truly have problems with communication routes.

For example, yesterday I entered a market that only sells products imported from EAEU. The shelves were empty. The owner said it was because the Lars checkpoint was closed because of snow, so our importer trucks are stuck. We don't have other land borders with EAEU. We depend on Georgia's Lars, which is always problematic in the winter. MFA and govt should work on alternative routes. //

deputy Foreign Minister about lifting Armenia's blockade:

Unblocking the region is also the basis for creating an atmosphere of peaceful and mutually beneficial coexistence in the region. The January 11 tripartite meeting was important. The process can take place when all parties adopt a constructive stance. At the same time, it cannot happen at the expense of the security and sovereignty of Armenia.

Support for Armenia's reforms, economic and infrastructure development, remains one of Armenia's top diplomacy priorities. //

Economy Minister about Armenia's trade routes & logistics, railways & Black Sea ferry:

Armenia has one of the worst logistics connections in the world. Globally, we are at a 100+ position out of 120. We plan to take multiple steps to address this:

The first is to connect Armenia's railway to the EAEU railway network. We held discussions with Russian and European cargo companies earlier this year. Right now a program is being drafted so we can establish a regular cargo ferry between Poti and Port Kavkaz.

This will connect our railway to the EAEU railway. It will improve our competitiveness and also increase trade with Kazakhstan and Belarus. We can multiply this trade. It's only a few dozen million with Kazakhstan. That's ridiculously small. The problem is communication. We expect the regular ferry to function beginning next month to connect the railways.

Armenia wants to reduce Yerevan-Tbilisi train travel by 2.5 hours

Economy Minister Kerobyan: we're working with Russian railways to speed up the Yerevan-Tbilisi train. It's a night train that takes 9.5 hours. We want to cut it down by 2.5 hours. It's a $400M project that we're working on.

https://youtu.be/0_pHngC2y1E https://factor.am/437346.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067267.html https://youtu.be/0_pHngC2y1E https://factor.am/437374.html https://youtu.be/0_pHngC2y1E

Tags: #TradeRoute #logistics

deputy Foreign Minister about Armenia's possible participation in regional 3+3 communication & cooperation platform:

Our stance is that regional platforms should not duplicate existing platforms. It is our priority not to allow any "redundancy" with the OSCE Minsk Group.

We are discussing the offer to join 3+3. It's too early to tell. 3+3 is one of several such initiatives, in which world powers and smaller regional powers form regional platforms.

We need to adopt a stance without prejudice or a bad attitude towards any offer that is made to us. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067275.html

deputy Foreign Minister about Karabakh conflict resolution:

In the near future, there will be AM-AZ meetings hosted by OSCE co-chairs. Conditions will be created for the full resumption of the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. There was an important meeting on September 23 during the UN session.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067271.html

deputy Foreign Minister about the legal case for Artsakh's recognition

HD MP Rustamyan: there are "secession for salvation" and "recognition for salvation" principles. My question is specifically about the latter so that it does not conflict with the right to self-determination. Do you discuss this principle?

deputy Foreign Minister Vahe Gevorgyan: the principle mentioned by you is clearly substantiated by the fact that Armenians of Artsakh cannot live under Azerbaijani control because of extermination policies. The events of the first and second Artsakh wars prove that.

The fact that today not a single Armenian lives under the Azeri-controlled territories is proof of that.

We do promote the principles aforementioned by you, during the negotiations. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067268.html

Pashinyan about the size of infrastructure projects:

In 2018 we adopted the policy of using federal subsidies as a key tool for balanced territorial development. The way it works is someone submits a development project, we discuss and approve it. Federal funds are then allocated that cover a certain percentage, depending on the type of project.

Lately, we've been allocating more funds to Syunik province. 1,193 projects were implemented across Armenia between 2018-2020. They were worth ֏47B ($98M). It's about roads & lighting, drinking & irrigation water, drainage systems, renewable energy, connecting villages to the gas network, kindergartens, etc.

More subsidies are given to settlements that merge with others for efficient management. It's fair to say that there is not a single settlement where a notable subsidized program hasn't been implemented.

2018-2020: $98M

2021 alone: $102M

which provinces saw the most subsidies? (billions, rounded up)

Gegharkunik 17.6

Syunik 14

Kotayk 12.2

Lori 10.4

Shirak 10.3

Ararat 8.4

Aragatsotn 6.8

Armavir 5.8

Tavush 5.6

Vayots Dzor 4.1 (Armenia's Alabama)

Pashinyan about pastures: ~80% of Armenia's pasture land is gone unused due to lack of roads. Farmers often complain about the lack of animal food.

These subsidies need to be used for building new roads. Let them be at least gravel but "modern gravel". It doesn't have to be asphalt in these areas. More attention will be paid to small villages next year.

https://youtu.be/TfdQsX9sI_Q https://youtu.be/qHOS92DZTCE https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067280.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067314.html

road reforms: new system to monitor & manage highways, safety, etc.

Pashinyan: the goal is to set new standards for the equipment involved in road maintenance, design new regulations aimed at improving road safety, clarification of some rules, etc.

The new road monitoring system will use an interconnected mobile application. It will allow the body in charge of roads to carry out control functions on the digital platform. Digital collection of data will make the work more transparent and easier. Ready by January 2023. //

Infrastructure Minister: goodbye the stone-age practice of using shovels to dump the sand on snowy roads

Minister Sanosyan: one of the changes under the aforementioned road reforms will be the introduction of new requirements for companies that service the roads.

They must have a better equipment fleet with snow cleaners, vehicles that dump the sand in the winter, positioning devices. We want to leave behind the practice of using shovels for sand.

Pashinyan: you promise?

Minister Sanosyan: the new vehicles must clean the snow and dump sand simultaneously. Every 40km must have 1 such unit. The vehicles cannot be older than 15 years. The servicing company must own at least 70% of it.

In return, the state will provide extra funding to companies. The tender process begins next month; the new system won't be ready this winter though.//

https://youtu.be/390kyCJ3MZY https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067321.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067314.html

Tags: #road #WinterRoad

solar company receives a tax waiver to invest in a 5MW station in Astghadzor (Gegharkunik)

֏1.65B in planned investments for "high efficiency" two-sided monocrystalline PV modules manufactured by Risen Energy [Google Translate]. Their annual efficiency reduction does not pass 0.5%. Most of the work is already done. ֏230M/year in expected revenues.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067348.html

Pashinyan: there are thousands of vacant job positions in Armenia

Right now the most common complaint we receive from businesses is the lack of workers. This is true for all fields, from construction to high-tech. We have a worker shortage everywhere. We need to work on this. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067286.html

to discourage theft of license plates, victims will be able to restore their plates easily

Some morons have been stealing license plates and extorting victims via Telegram in exchange for revealing the location of the plate. The victims often pay the ransom to avoid the headache of losing the numbers or going through a lengthy registration process.

This was possible because the law did not allow the rightful owner to receive the same plates if both of them were lost.... so the thieves would simply steal both plates.

The law has been amended to allow the victim to receive the same license plates, with some visual changes.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067329.html

new soccer school will be built in Yerevan

The government donated the land on 11 A.Manukyan Street to Soccer Federation to build the "Khoren Hovhannisyan" soccer school.

There will be €760,000 investments, most of which will come from UEFA. The shit will take 10 years to build and implement.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067314.html

new parental resource center in Tavush will encourage fathers to play a more active role in parenting

Today the government donated [for 3 years] one of its Ijevan buildings to the "Center for Youth Initiatives" NGO. The goal is to create a "Family Corner" center.

The center will hold courses and meetings to change public perceptions about the men's role in parenting, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067354.html

today in history

1956: Soviet troops invade Budapest, putting an end to the Hungarian revolution.

1979: Iranian students take 90 U.S. embassy workers hostage. The ordeal would last 444 days.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067249.html https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/iraniancrises

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/qmt5no/nov42021_yerevantbilisi_train_could_take_25h_less/