2021 November 8

Daily news wrap-up

News - Nov/8/2021: Health & Edu. budget set to increase; free cancer treatment & medicine; ONRG __ Azeri troops target civilians near Shushi __ MOD visits Artsakh & Syunik's Sev Lich __ Demarcation & blockade __ Kremlin's correction __ Opposition rally __ Diaspora committee programs __ Land reforms
by ar_david_hh

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This is your 12-minute Monday briefing in 3092 words.

parliamentary opposition organized a rally in Yerevan's Opera square

The rally began at 6 pm. 3,700 people were present as of 7 pm. They want Pashinyan's resignation. A "resistance" movement was launched.

Kocharyan blamed the Pashinyan administration for the failure of the negotiation process.

Kocharyan about negotiations: our negotiation positions were strengthened by our victory in the first war. The 7 adjacent regions, Armenia's combat-efficient army, and the fact that Armenia was the guarantor of Artsakh's security. This gave us big strength during the whole negotiation process, and step by step we were recording diplomatic victories [?] until they lost it all. //

Kocharyan about the "resistance": we should all unite around the resistance movement. It won't last long, a matter of weeks or months. It all depends on you.

ARF Saghatelyan: the enemy continues to have ambitions for Syunik. They try to Turkify Armenia. What should we do? We must launch a national resistance in Armenia and across the diaspora.

The resistance movement must have two directions: internal and external. On the external front we must show the world that Nikol does not represent Armenians, he has no mandate for more concessions. Any anti-Armenian document signed by Nikol will be unacceptable to us.

They are taking us to a new capitulation with the "peace" agenda. There are many examples in history when the losing country found the strength to stand up and develop. That [presumably "peace"] is the path of destruction for Armenia and we must all reject it.

On the internal front, we must resist the corruption, plundering of the state budget, pressure on the judicial. We must form big and small resistance groups in every field... Nikol traitor, Nikol traitor! //

The ex-regime announced plans to form offices and sign up volunteers to join the "resistance".

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067648.html https://factor.am/438911.html https://factor.am/438911.html https://factor.am/438832.html https://youtu.be/m7Qr-sRmXgw?t=222

diaspora office chief Zareh Sinanyan presented budget stats

Sinanyan: our office will receive ֏579M in funding. ֏374M for the Armenia-Diaspora partnership program and ֏204M for attracting diasporan potential.

Step Toward Home program will be conducted in four phases with 400 diasporan participants.

Youth Ambassador program will get ֏12M. (new project that trains diasporan youth for pro-Armenian activism)

iGorts will get ֏124M. (invites diasporan experts to work in government branches)

The program that raises awareness among diasporans will get ֏60M.

We will carry out the "Work in Diaspora Communities" program in 24 cities. Visits are planned. The budget is ֏51M.

HD MP: the Diaspora Ministry was closed [after the revolution] and converted into an office to "work more effectively". Can you tell us some results?

QP MP: tremendous corruption risks have been eliminated, many "dead bodies" left the system. I began managing Hayrenik-Spyurk POAK after 2018. Of the 40 employees, it turned out only 29 were going to work. I fired 11. There were no complaints.

It was planned to carry out the Ari Tun program in 2018 with a ֏96M budget. We found that the same could be done for half the cost. We ended up spending ֏41M. The plunder was stopped in 2018. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067641.html https://factor.am/438786.html

US Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) deligation visited Armenia

The ONRG is an international grant funding program for the US Navy and US Army. Education Ministry and FAST foundation invited them to discuss funding opportunities that Armenian researchers can receive for cutting-edge research.

>[Head of delegation] Patrick Rose also introduced the funding opportunities for the blue sky ideas, disruptive to conventional science and technology thinking.

Education Ministry: implementation of these programs will generate ideas that will be turned into specific products. It is no secret that developed science and an educated society are among the guarantees of a strong, secure state.

ONRG rep.: One of the attractions for cooperation in Armenia is the rich history of science and education in Armenia and the prospects for the development of science. We invite the most strange ideas and technically sound scientific research ideas that Armenian scientists will offer.

We will work directly with scientists to better understand what resources are needed to bring those ideas to life. This is the first cooperation with Armenia. //

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1067637.html

education budget will increase by 27% next year

֏226.3B for 2022, up by ֏48.7B from this year.

Education Minister Dumanyan: all 1,400 schools must have labs for physics, chemistry, and biology. Other types of labs will be built in some of the schools. More on that later.

As part of the 2022 budget, we will rebuild or renovate 56 schools. Not every education project is being done with our budget. For example, Emergency Ministry and Asian Development Bank have separate programs. Currently, we're renovating 77 kindergartens. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067610.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067614.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067618.html

anti-corruption: three ex-mayors are charged with land embezzlement

Prosecutors report: mayors of numerous settlements from almost all provinces have been charged with land auction fraud.

In this case, it's about the mayors of Garni, Charentsavan, Karenis, and Meghradzor settlements in Kotayk province.

Beginning in 2004, the mayors learned about plans by telecom companies to install cell towers locally. To take advantage of their knowledge, they illegally gave the lands to their relatives so they could sub-lease the lands to telecom for higher prices.

Three mayors have been charged. The contracts with telecom companies have been renegotiated. //

https://factor.am/438645.html

Kremlin isn't sure when the teleconference between Pashinyan and Aliyev will be held

Read Sunday news for context. Last month Russian and Armenian media claimed there would be a meeting on November 9 to sign agreements over various topics.

After it was officially denied by Azerbaijan and Armenia, Kremlin said there would be a teleconference this week. Pashinyan said during his Sunday interview that such meetings can be held, but "when" and "why" is important. Today Kremlin said they don't know the date when the planned video conference will be held. "The work continues."

The process of border demarcation and unblocking of regional communication routes are separated from Karabakh negotiations and are being done under the mediation of Russia, while the Karabakh negotiations remain under the auspices of OSCE co-chairs.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067606.html

Azeri soldiers violated the ceasefire near Shushi, civilian killed

Artsakh NSS: civilians were working on a water pipe near a Shushi intersection at around 3 pm when shots were fired in their direction by an Azeri soldier. One person was pronounced dead, three others were wounded. An investigation is launched, peacekeepers have been contacted. //

The civilians are Jrmugh Koyughi water utility employees. Two-way traffic on Stepanakert-Shushi-Berdzor resumed after a temporary closure.

Human Rights Ombudsman: the presence of Azeri soldiers near civilians is already a violation of human rights. Their goal is to terrorize the population. //

Foreign Ministry of Armenia: what's noteworthy is that the incident took place on the day of Ilham Aliyev's visit to Shushi, where the latter delivered another Armenophobic speech. It was also on the eve of the anniversary of the Nov 9 statement.

The continuous anti-Armenian rhetoric of the top leadership of Azerbaijan and the repeated incidents of violation of the ceasefire, clearly show the vain nature of the statements made by official Baku about the normalization of relations with Armenia and the Armenian people.

This is the second such incident in the past month. Proper investigation of such crimes and bringing to justice all those responsible can prevent further attacks on civilians. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067625.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067635.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067639.html https://factor.am/438853.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067655.html

Defense Minister visited Artsakh and Syunik's Sev Lake

MOD Arshakh Karapetyan visited military positions in Artsakh and met Artsakh Defense Army soldiers. He gave some of them the Republic of Armenia awards.

The MOD also visited the shores of lake Sev Lich in Syunik where he met Armenian soldiers stationed on the lake shores. This is the lake where Azeris had encouraged in May. "Azeri soldiers must leave the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia," said MOD. Armenians have been conducting engineering work in this mountainous terrain.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067644.html https://youtu.be/mO1iOQQlQJA

Armenian army conducted artillery exercises

https://factor.am/438705.html

Iran held military exercises

They used Iranian-made "Arash" drones during exercises near the gulf. Infantry, navy, and air defense were also used.

https://factor.am/438717.html

Russian peacekeepers and benefactors donated 2 tons of aid to low-income families of Khnushink (Artsakh)

Around a thousand residents received household items, heaters, clothes.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067565.html

infrastructure programs

The school in border village Kakhak (Gegharkunik) has a modern heating system so they don't have to burn fuel in classrooms anymore, as part of a program co-financed by the government and Jinishyan foundation.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067603.html

The backyard of Noratus No1 school was asphalted as part of a federal subsidy program.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067605.html

A small bridge was built and a road was asphalted in Akhpradzor (Gegharkunik) with the help of ֏1.4B from World Bank.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067647.html

Four apartment complex buildings are having their roofs rebuilt in Vardenis (Gegharkunik) as part of a federal aid program.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067653.html

The 2.4km tourist road that leads to Vanavank monastery has been asphalted.

https://factor.am/438505.html

COVID stats

6.2k tested. 0.8k infected. 1.9k healed. 30 deaths. 30.3k active.

available bed stats

3,100 beds. It's overloaded. Slightly fewer people are waiting in a queue for a free bed. "Our entire oxygen, medicine, and expert potential have been mobilized. The solution is a speedy increase in vaccination rates," said Minister Avanesyan.

Europe recently recognized Armenia's vaccination certificates

Healthcare Minister: the process of mutually recognizing each other's vaccine certificate is over. The QR codes in our app will be recognized in the EU.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067580.html https://factor.am/438582.html

vaccination stats

30% of the adult population has received a vaccine. 614,000 are first and 277,000 second doses.

Healthcare Minister: the large discrepancy between first and second doses is because the majority of vaccinations took place within the past month. We have daily 18-19k vaccinations.

Almost 900,000 vaccinations, yet no significant cases of complications have been reported. There were a few cases of fever and allergic reaction which have been resolved without medical help. Vaccines are safe and effective at preventing death. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067570.html

Arayik Harutyunyan receives a vaccine

Artskah president got sick last year and has been delaying the vaccination. He took the shot today in public.

Harutyunyan called for unvaccinated public officials to explain why they haven't received their shot yet.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067608.html

worldometers.info: Armenia ranks 20th in the world in the number of deaths per 1M population

1) Peru (5.9k)

12) Georgia (2.6k)

17) USA (2.3k)

20) Armenia (2.2k)

29) Moldova (2k)

97) Azerbaijan (0.7k)

207) China (0.003k)

https://factor.am/438614.html https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Deltra strain has lowered the average age of mortality

Healthcare Minister: Last year we didn't have this problem among young and healthy people with no chronic illnesses. But because of Delta, more young patients are suffering from serious cases. It progresses within 1-2 days and the patient dies. This is happening around the world. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067573.html

it can't be "100%"

Healthcare Minister: data from vaccinated countries shows that 98% of infections are mild and medium severity if the person is vaccinated. Many do not develop symptoms. Vaccines cannot be 100% effective. We have patients who died even though they were vaccinated; data will be shared soon.

On the other hand, unfortunately, we don't have the tools to determine whether a vaccinated person who dies is truly vaccinated or they had purchased the certificate. The anti-vax activists will point to such deaths to claim vaccines are ineffective. Law enforcement is under strict orders to uncover fake vax card distribution. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067574.html

Healthcare Minister warned people against abusing antibiotics and self-medication

MP: we received reports that clinics and hospitals treat the same Covid with different methods. What's behind the difference? There are also instances when doctors take people off of hormones too quickly or do not prescribe antibiotics properly. Aren't there universal rules for doctors?

Minister Avanesyan: the protocols for Covid were formed by a taskforce that was formed earlier last year. The taskforce continuously monitors international practice to introduce the latest changes in Armenia.

We have a big progress in hospitals in regards to protocol implementation. We conducted over 3,000 educational sessions in the past 1.5 years. It's one thing to have universal rules, it's another thing to have everyone follow them. We have teams that travel around and constantly monitor compliance.

Some doctors don't follow protocols, but some patients don't follow them either and never contact the doctor when they get sick. Instead, some people consult with relatives to learn what their treatment procedure was, and attempt to apply it to themselves. This is an extremely dangerous thing. Please do not do self-medication. In the case of Covid, it will lead to your death.

We have citizens who take large quantities of 3rd gen antibiotics when Covid is at early stages. There is this false notion that you should take antibiotics as soon as you get a fever, as a "preventative" measure. This is horrible. We have a disbalance. Total lack of safety with medicine, combined with irrational fear towards vaccines.

The damage we do to our body with self-medicine will become apparent years later. The vaccines are hundreds of times safer, yet we hesitate to take them? //

https://factor.am/438452.html

other acute respiratory infections have spiked this year amid a relaxation of movement restrictions

Healthcare Minister: we're seeing a large increase in acute respiratory infections. If last year the safety measures and movement restrictions led to a sharp decline in other types of infections, this year we have more flu and pediatric infections. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067572.html

chicken meat might be what poisoned the 171 visitors of Tashir Pizza over the weekend

Several pizza chain locations were closed for investigation. One of the Tashir Pizza employees suspects that a chicken is what poisoned them. She ate a pizza with chicken meat and mushrooms and fell sick, after having eaten chicken soup earlier.

She said she wanted to get hospital care but "there were no available beds", so she hired a doctor.

Felony investigation is launched over the food poisoning. Lab results will be available this week.

https://factor.am/438909.html https://factor.am/438640.html

healthcare budget will increase by 5% next year

Healthcare expenditures can be further increased throughout the year as it was done in 2021 with the additional ֏27B allocations (mostly for Covid). The 2022's initial budget will be ֏120B.

more people are receiving cancer screening thanks to surgeries being made free; the budget will increase

Healthcare Minister: the oncology budget will increase to ֏5B next year, up from ֏4.4B. This program began in 2019. There has been a sharp increase in the number of applications since then. The state is paying for the surgery services regardless of the [patient's income].

Few people seek preventative medical services. However, making the surgeries free has led to a large increase in their numbers.

We have a mobile mammogram lab in Lori. It's currently located near Vanadzor medical center.

6,000 screenings so far - that's great. 55 came positive. The patients were referred to a hospital where they received treatment to prevent death and disability.

the list of beneficiaries receiving free/subsidised medicine will expand in 2022

Healthcare Minister: the budget is ֏3.9B. It will cover 12 illnesses with 267k recipients. We will have additional programs to provide quality urgent care in an emergency situation. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067567.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067587.html https://factor.am/438719.html

Healthcare Ministry wants to reform the emergency ambulance services & salary system

Several ambulance drivers recently went on strike and complained about low wages. They earn ֏11,700 per shift/duty, which has the frequency of once every three days. That's about ֏120,000/month on average. A driver complained that it's difficult to follow the schedule to earn that much.

Healthcare Minister: the number of ambulance vehicles in our possession has doubled. Japan will soon provide vehicles equipped with modern tech. We will review the whole process of organizing the ambulance service. We're working to design the right system. //

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/296584/

who will form a coalition in Meghri?

Pro-Europe and Pashinyan-friendly "Republic" party won 6 council mandates, against Pashinyan QP's 5 mandates, General Samvel Babayan's 2, and Aprelu Yerkir's 2.

The council must elect a mayor, who needs 8 votes, so someone has to form a coalition.

Republic attempted to negotiate with QP to form a coalition but it failed because QP wanted to appoint the official that overseas some municipal programs. Republic said "no, we plan to use that office to deliver our campaign promises".

QP managed to convince one of Aprelu Yerkir members to vote for them, but they are still short two votes. If they convince Babayan, the trio could possibly form a coalition. (if that's allowed)

Meanwhile, Republic wanted to convince Babayan to join them. This would give them the necessary 8 votes. Someone from Babayan's party recently claimed they reached an agreement. Babayan later denied it.

Babayan party member revealed that they initially planned to form a coalition with "another party" (possibly QP).

6 Republic + 5 QP = over 8 (the original deal that failed)

5 QP + 1 Aprelu + 2 Babayan = 8 (seems increasingly likely)

6 Republic + 2 Babayan = 8 (would need to renegotiate the failed deal)

6 Republic + 1 Aprelu + 1 Babayan = 8 (hasn't been tried)

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/224855

update: Expo Dubai 2022 continues

Economy Ministry: work was done to represent our country in multiple areas. The UAE education minister visited our pavilion and discussed his possible visit to Armenia.

We held a meeting with representatives of Kuwait's direct investment authority. We exchanged info. An agreement was reached for the Armenian delegation to visit Kuwait to discuss cooperation. //

Armenian pavilion is promoting cooperation in agriculture, food and light industry, tourism, pharmacy, and high-tech.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067636.html

agricultural land reforms to boost productivity

Economy Minister Kerobyan: we are launching the land reform program. One of the most important topics is land productivity and income.

Land fragmentation is very high in Armenia. The average villager owns 4 pieces of land with a combined 1.5-hectare area. This configuration does not allow them to earn enough to improve their living standards.

The goal is to combine the lands and increase the processing coefficient from 50% to 80%.

Some pressure will be applied on landowners who do not cultivate their lands. At the same time, there will be incentives for them to join and form a large-scale production. //

A conference was held on Monday to discuss the planned reforms.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1067576.html

Armenian wrestlers finish U23 world championship with 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze

The team is 3rd with the medal count.

https://factor.am/438395.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/qppqrn/news_nov82021_health_edu_budget_set_to_increase/