2021 November 7

Daily news wrap-up

News - Nov/7/2021: Kremlin & Pashinyan repeat: Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey have agreed over road sovereignty __ Pashinyan discusses regional communication routes, army, border demarcation __ Armenian athletes win medals
by ar_david_hh

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This is your 8-minute Sunday briefing in 1918 words.

possible teleconference is planned between Pashinyan, Putin, and Aliyev next week

A month ago, Russian and Armenian sources reported that Pashinyan and Aliyev will sign some kind of an agreement about borders and humanitarian topics on November 9.

Azerbaijan and Armenia officially denied plans to hold a meeting to sign documents in Moscow next week. Later, Putin's spokesman revealed that a teleconference will be scheduled between the leaders next week.

Reporter: the media confirmed, then denied, then confirmed the existence of this meeting. What can you tell us?

Pashinyan: at this moment there is no agreement for a meeting, but during the recent Q&A, the deputy Foreign Minister stated that there are many ideas and proposals. We aren't against holding meetings, but the context, symbolism, and expectations from such meetings are important. We would never reject a meeting where it's possible to achieve results, but at the same time, we don't want to hold a meeting for the sake of holding one. //

Kremlin's statement about the state of affairs one year later: Russia does not intend to get a "monopoly" over Armenia and Azerbaijan. None of the tripartite documents initiated by Russia were imposed on any party.

A year later, it's safe to say that all the social media rumors about "Russian wanting to break away Karabakh to give it to Azerbaijan" or "Armenia becoming a protectorate" have all been populist claims that serve external orders and have nothing to do with reality.

The long-term solution to the problem is the launch of the AM-AZ border demarcation. We are ready to assist by providing consultation and the maps. Today, our border guards are stationed in the most problematic locations to prevent conflicts.

We are determined to continue the work as part of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Co-chairs plan to visit the region to continue the discussions.

The unblocking of regional communication routes will open a new North-South international artery between Armenia and Russia.

In light of the so-called Zangezur Corridor reports in the media, it's important to note that all parties have agreed that each country will preserve sovereignty over trade routes passing through its territory. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067533.html https://youtu.be/_Q1bH804c-c?t=109 https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/296561/ https://tass.ru/politika/12851767

Pashinyan gave an interview to H1's Petros

Most of it is a repetition of what has already been covered in my recent news posts so here are relatively "new" ones:

Petros: can we say that the topic of "corridor" has been closed?

Pashinyan: that topic was closed on November 9, 2020. I appreciate Russia publicly expressing its stance. Russia has never held a different position on this.

Turkey also agrees. Although they use the word "corridor", they explicitly state that the "corridor" should remain under Armenian control. Regardless of vocabulary preferences, we are all talking about the unblocking of regional communication routes. //

To the question about Armenia's position on the 3+3 regional platform proposal, Pashinyan repeated Foreign Ministry's statements made on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry on Thursday: 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. //

Petros: what's taking so long for OSCE co-chairs to visit the region?

Pashinyan: U.S. co-chair Andrew Schofer recently visited Armenia as part of a delegation. I asked him about it and he said they are working on it. I suppose there are some obstacles from the Azerbaijani side.

Petros: any update on the unblocking of regional communication routes?

Pashinyan: the tripartite working group has done extensive work. All possible routes were examined. Ijevan-Ghazakh (north), Berd-Tovuz (north), Angeghakot-Bicenek (center), Horadiz-Yeraskh, Horadiz-Meghhri-Ordubad-Yeraskh.

The Yeraskh-Ordubad-Meghri-Horadiz railway should be built in Armenia and Azerbaijan. The group is also discussing the connection with Russia and Iran. We have to discuss these routes during negotiations.

The technical part is laborious but it isn't difficult. The difficult parts are the final resolutions that will define how the unblocking is done. As Russia's deputy Premier Overchuk said last week, each side should have customs, passport, and phytosanitary control points.

Petros: Azerbaijan and Turkey complained that Armenia did not respond to their offer to sign a peace agreement.

Pashinyan: we ourselves have offered peace several times, so those claims are very strange. We've always said we are ready. That's the purpose of OSCE Minsk Group negotiations. We adopted an agenda to open a peaceful era after receiving the mandate from the people.

Petros: any update on border demarcation?

Pashinyan: it's a necessary process but it can't be done while the ceasefire is being violated on daily basis. Border demarcation, Karabakh resolution, and unblocking of regional communication routes are separate from each other.

We said in May that we're ready to sign Russia's border demarcation document. You remember the internal political "uproar" when someone published a redacted document. Later, when the redacted parts were already revealed, it turned out that in general, the moment of signing this document had already been missed. Demarcation is necessary but cannot be done when the ceasefire is being violated [Context: Azerbaijan encroached on Armenian lands in May, during the time of border demarcation talk, which led to the suspension of the demarcation process.]

On average, ceasefire violations are less frequent these days, but there have only been six days since Nov 9 with no ceasefire violations. It is important to create the right conditions for the delimitation/demarcation process.

Petros: which maps will be used?

Pashinyan: at first we must understand what we mean by a map because observations show that many maps are reprints. We often hear 1985 map, 1980, 1975, 1973, etc. They are mostly reprints.

What's important are the legal grounds. On what legal grounds did the demarcation take place during Soviet Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan? In general, what is the legal basis for the demarcation between Soviet Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan?

The reprints aren't all the same because there were some "traditions" during USSR. In honor of the N-th anniversary of the Communist Party, the "brotherly states" gifted lands to each other. This region gives this much pasture from this area.

Our preliminary study shows that this happened mainly on the principle of reciprocity. Now it is very important to understand the legal grounds. When we say maps we don't just mean drawings on paper, we mean legal justification, too.

We have come to the conclusion that in general, all of them were based on the legal groundwork between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1920-1930. The conditions mentioned in the text should be reflected on the maps. This is the work that needs to be done.

Petros: what do you think about the opposition's planned November 8 rally against the "Turkification of Armenia"?

Pashinyan: it's an absolutely baseless agenda that is detached from reality. What does "Turkification" mean? Many of the protest organizers attempted to improve relations with Turkey when they were in power. Were they pursuing a "Turkification" agenda? It has always been on Armenia's agenda to improve relations with Turkey.

Petros: tell us about army reforms.

Pashinyan: the reforms are underway, I can't give many details. Armenia is not preparing to attack anyone, it's about defending the borders.

We've had fundamental problems in the field of building an army. For years, the army was "untouchable". Sure, there were alarms about shortcomings in the army, but those who raised the alarm were often labeled as anti-Armenian.

What we saw was the tip of the iceberg. But what did happen in the army for years? How was the budget spent? How was it developed? These are the things that defined the outcome on the military stage.

Petros: what are some of the mistakes?

Pashinyan: when the [army command] briefs the Security Council that the front line can be protected per "not one inch back" principle. These are the questions that must be investigated in detail. Institutionally, we have to admit that the process of building the army was a failure, it was not capable of withstanding the challenges. Years of budget differences between Armenia and Azerbaijan were expressed in specific locations, specific frontlines.

It is unclear why no proper army reservist retraining had been conducted in Armenia all these years. In 2019 we organized the largest-ever mobilization in Armenia's history. It continues today. No work was done for years. //

https://youtu.be/_BamNjgPQMA https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067541.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067542.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067549.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067552.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067553.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067556.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067561.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067562.html https://youtu.be/uhulD0uwOSs https://youtu.be/_Q1bH804c-c https://youtu.be/aU1niVyGPzQ

ex-deputy Chief of General Staff drops a lawsuit against Pashinyan and Sarkissian

Deputy CoGS Tiran Khachatryan and CoGS Onik Gasparyan were fired earlier this year. Onik received a setback from the Constitutional Court last week when it ruled that the law, that was used to fire Onik, was constitutional.

Tiran Khachatryan, in turn, was suing to reverse the decision to replace him with Arshak Karapetyan. He decided to drop the case.

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/296572/

COVID stats

8.8k tested. 1.4k infected. 1.8k healed. 42 deaths.

26% of Vanadzor city has received at least one vaccine. Sinopharm is the preferred choice.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067524.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/224740

what does Armenia export, and where?

Minister Kerobyan: Armenia's exports grew by 17% in the first nine months. If we exclude minerals, they grew by 27%.

$578M copper

$162M cigarettes

$158M cognac and alcohol

$120M iron alloys

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60% are resource-based products ($1.270B)

10.5% are low-tech products

9.3% med-tech product

Some high-tech ones, too.

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$550M to Russia

$500 to European Union

$300M to China (almost exclusively minerals)

$237M Switzerland

$115 Iraq.

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On Sunday the Economy Minister met experts in a round-table session to discuss diversification of exports to China within the next five years.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067490.html

Armenia condemned the assassination attempt against the Prime Minister of Iraq

Someone used drones with bombs to attack the Premier's office in Baghdad's Green Zone. One of the drones was successfully downed. Several security agents were wounded, windows and doors were shattered.

Armenian MFA: we condemn the attack and express our support and solidarity with the efforts of friendly Iraq in the fight against terrorism and establishing stability in the region. //

U.S. State Dept.: we condemn the apparent act of terrorism. We are in close touch with the Iraqi security forces charged with upholding Iraq's sovereignty and independence and have offered our assistance as they investigate this attack. //

Iraqi Kurds and Arab League also condemned the attack. No one has claimed responsibility for the assassination attempt.

On Friday, one person was killed and dozens were wounded after supporters of Iran-backed militias clashed with Iraqi security forces after losing parliament seats in elections.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067534.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067536.html https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/06/middleeast/iraq-prime-minister-drone-attack-intl-hnk/index.html

Armenian athletes win medals in U23 wrestling world championship

Arasen Harutyunyan wins gold, Vazgen Tevanyan silver, Manvel Khndzrtsyan bronze, Hrayr Alikhanhyan bronze.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067523.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067548.html https://factor.am/438353.html

boxer Aram Faniyan becomes the IBO international super lightweight champion

Faniyan (22-1, 4 KO) plays under Ukrainian flag.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067530.html

92kg Armenian boxer Davit Chaloyan wins silver in the world championship

Chaloyan 1-4 Petrovski

This year Armenia had a team of 12, the largest since 2009. 63kg Hovhannes Backov won a bronze medal last week.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/224742

end of report

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

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/qp5izd/news_nov72021_kremlin_pashinyan_repeat_russia/