2021 October 26

Daily news wrap-up

News - Oct/26/2021: Passport reforms: fewer restrictions on diasporans, faster processing __ Fewer holidays __ Historic trip to Arabia __ Azerbaijan's new airport and... capital? __ Happy birthday Robo-judge __ Border demarcation & blockade __ Yerevan transport's super-duper payment system __ NSS vs
by ar_david_hh

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Your Tuesday briefing. 3445 words. 13-minute read.

President Sarkissian made a historic visit to Saudi Arabia

Armenia and SA do not have official relations because SA had backed Azerbaijan in the Karabakh conflict since the 90s. Last year, SA congratulated Armenia on its Independence Day. There were discussions that the relations would warm, especially under the context of worsening Turkey-SA relations, but the war began and things were suspended.

>during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Saudi Arabia, alongside the United Arab Emirates, was thought to be secretly backing Armenia against Azerbaijan, as Saudi channel Al Arabiya hosted a special speech delivered by Armenian President Armen Sargsyan condemning Turkey and Azerbaijan and urged international community to prevent Turkey and Azerbaijan from intervening in the conflict together

Sarkissian's visit is definitely a turning point in Armenia's international relations, said President's office. Armenian flag was raised at the airport and Sarkissian was greeted by Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.

In other news, Iran and Saudi Arabia move towards normalization of relations, although skeptics believe that will take a while.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066552.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia%E2%80%93Saudi_Arabia_relations https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/04/30/iran-saudi-arabia/

Azerbaijan inaugurated the new international airport in Fizuli

Turkey's Erdogan visited the southern town to celebrate the opening ceremony.

Erdogan: if Armenia displays sincere will towards Azerbaijan, there will be no obstacles to normalizing Turkey-Armenia relations. It's important for AM-AZ borders to be clarified and recognized. ///

Azeri MP suggesting moving the capital from Baku to Aghdam

The east-central region went under Azeri control in 2020. The Azeri MP complains that Azeris don't have jobs in provinces so they are forced to move all the way to Baku. The latter also has 72% of the country's transport system that leads to traffic jams. He wants to keep most infrastructure in Baku and move administrative offices to Aghdam.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066497.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066547.html https://factor.am/433351.html

Turkish ruling party has internal problems amid worsening polls, economy, and politics

10 western countries urged Erdogan to release opposition activist and political prisoner Osman Kavala. In response, Erdogan threatened to expel their ambassadors.

Turkish MFA Çavuşoglu told Erdogan that he would resign if the ambassadors are expelled without more internal discussions, according to Ahval and DW sources. Ruling AKP members then convinced Erdogan not to expel them.

Ruling AKP and MHP parties' popularity has been dwindling amid economic and political struggles. Some supporters have left the ship. Researchers found that they mainly went for ex-MFA Ali Babajan's party and ex-Premier Ahmet Davutoglu's party.

There are also some who joined CHP and UwU parties.

https://factor.am/433380.html https://factor.am/433337.html

judge in Kocharyan & Co's $4 million bribery trial will not recuse herself

Co-defendant HD MP Armen Gevorgyan's new lawyer Alexander Kochubayev wants judge Anna Danikebyan to recuse herself. He is concerned about the judge's impartiality because, in a different trial, he represents a defendant while the judge is the victim. That different trial is about a man leaking the judge's personal medical records.

As far as I know, today is your birthday, so give yourself a gift by accepting the recusal, urged lawyer Kochubayev. The judge rejected it.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/223938

Kocharyan's candidate for deputy Parliamentary Defense Committee chief fails for the 9th time

HD MP Ghazinyan did not receive enough votes to be elected as deputy committee chief. No opposition MPs were present during the process. The ruling members voted against him.

Kocharyan-ARF alliance is hellbent on appointing Ghazinyan, while the ruling party is hellbent on rejecting him, citing "lack of basic understanding of army structure and inability to work as a team".

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066499.html https://youtu.be/_Os6560h3C0

army conducted artillery exercises

Deploy, locate enemy, fire.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066538.html

State Minister of Artsakh visited the United States

Beglaryan met U.S. Congressman David Valadao in California to discuss political and humanitarian topics. He then met the members of the Armenian community in Fresno.

Beglaryan: the people of Artsakh are determined to live and create in their own homeland. With hard work, it is possible to reach a final settlement of the conflict and international recognition of Artsakh's independence.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066467.html https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1066377/

anti-corruption: when the wolf becomes the prey

NSS reports: Justice Ministry's Compulsory Enforcement Service agents in Lori province were caught taking bribes from dozens of residents in exchange for lifting restrictions on their bank accounts.

One of the agents convinced two individuals, who had ֏9.9M in debt, to file for bankruptcy. They falsified documents to convince the judge.

Dozens of offices have been raided and evidence was uncovered. 10 individuals are charged with crimes. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066527.html

anti-corruption: court gives guilty verdict to multiple suspects in land embezzlement case; 13 mayors BOOM

Prosecutors report: there were multiple instances of land embezzlement incidents in Syunik, relating to the installation of cell towers. Mayors had abused their powers to embezzle the lands, knowing that their value would increase due to the planned cell tower installation.

Ex-mayors of 13 communities were charged. Some of them were cleared, others had died, some weren't charged due to confession and regret. 7 people were taken to court.

3 of them have been found guilty and sentenced. They received [presumably Pashinyan's 2018] amnesty.

Of the stolen ֏95M, the authorities have recovered ֏41M. Lawsuits were filed to recover the rest.

The illegal land contracts were revoked in the 13 settlements. //

https://factor.am/432880.html

Tags: #mayors

army and NSS representatives were summoned to Parliament for Q&A about borders

Parliament voted 63-0-17 to approve an initiative by opposition parties to invite CGS and NSS deputies for questioning. The session was held behind closed doors because the information could contain secrets.

HD MP Ohanyan was not satisfied with "incomplete answers". He repeated his earlier conviction that Armenian soldiers were not supposed to withdraw from several locations in southern Artsakh/Armenia per November 9 agreement. "The soldiers should have stood their ground." He believes the decision to withdraw was made later.

Ohanyan also believes that NSS and CGS should improve communication while conducting their border protection duties.

The army confirmed that we lost no positions in Paylasar hill in Syunik and that what was removed recently was a Russian base between the two sides, said Ohanyan, referring to a hill that Armenians withdrew from last year. A local mayor recently revealed that Russians were removed and replaced by Armenian and Azeri positions after some geo-markings. Today the Parliamentary Defense Committee chief urged media outlets not to circulate unconfirmed or inaccurate information for "points", after claiming that Armenians "withdrew" and "gave away lands".

PU MP Abrahamyan said the planned 11% increase in the 2022 defense budget is insufficient, "especially since the army has to spend more than before due to inflation."

Read more about 2022 budget here and here. Most sectors will see double-digit budget increase.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066459.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066515.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066522.html https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/296361/

All Armenia Fund debates in Parliament

Thousands of Armenians donated to the All Armenia Fund during and after the war. The government used -- and is still using -- the funds for several dozen humanitarian projects for Artsakh refugees, residents, wounded soldiers, road and housing construction.

After the war, the former regime and its allies, during the pre-election period, weaponized the topic and made unsubstantiated claims that the money was outright stolen by the Pashinyan administration.

The Fund director criticized the "smear campaign to discredit the Fund". An internal audit was conducted by the Fund's board about the funds. They released a statement saying that the money raised during the war was not misused.

>[Raffi Elliott at EVN report:] Kocharyan was present—for the first time in decades—at the Board of Trustees’ March 15, 2021 meeting. Immediately following that meeting, the Board published a press statement in the name of all those present, assuring “that funds raised during the war were not misused.” The Board also committed itself to “removing all doubt and maintaining the public's confidence.”

Additionally, the Fund hired an independent group to run another audit. Those results have not been published yet.

QP MP during Parliament speech: the opposition has launched an intentional campaign to discredit the All Armenia Fund, to stoke distrust and the idea that it's not worth donating. Be careful while speaking about scoundrelism [response to opposition MPs]. The campaign against the Fund is what's scoundrelism. Of course, I welcome the opposition's role to pinpoint problems but don't mix wet with dry. //

HD MP Gegham Manukyan (ARF) gave a heated speech and shouted accusations about treason relating to Artsakh. Parliament speaker gave Manukyan an "ethics" warning. Manukyan was removed from the podium by security guards after refusing to step down. The opposition complained, saying Manukyan had the right to continue his podium speech.

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/31381958.html https://www.aravot.am/2021/07/29/1207130/ https://evnreport.com/raw-unfiltered/the-all-armenian-fund-donors-still-waiting-for-the-audit https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/poy5br/news_sep152021_artsakh_army_chief_recalls_march/ https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063222.html https://a1plus.am/hy/article/416240 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066486.html https://factor.am/432996.html https://youtu.be/W6KD6dkX-uU https://youtu.be/TRz2jp_n5kA https://youtu.be/O12-lgFuoVI

9km road is being asphalted north of Artsakh capital Stepanakert

It connects the Stepanakert-Drmbon to Astghashen-Patara. Financed by All Armenia Fund.

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/296362/

border demarcation & blockade / who supports what?

QP MP Karapetyan: the opposition appears to have launched a new struggle. They make statements about certain treacherous documents that are going to be signed [by Pashinyan, Aliyev & Putin next month]. I'd like to remind you that this rhetoric was played twice already.

First, it was in the winter of 2020, in December and January, when the opposition organized rallies and blockaded the Justice Ministry in search of a document with a hope to find and burn them.

That document was signed on January 12. It was about lifting the 30-year-long blockade on Armenia. To be more precise, it was actually about forming a working group that would be tasked with doing that. That's what scared our opposition colleagues so much.

I'd like to read the last point of that document: [give road access in exchange for receiving road access]. Additionally, we mentioned many times that there would be no "corridor" [Armenia losing sovereignty over south.]

The second instance was in May, when we were preparing to sign another "treacherous" document. [Mishik] published a document half of which was intentionally redacted to give the impression that the rdacted part contained treacherous paragraphs.

The full version was then published, and it turns out it was about forming a working group tasked with future border demarcation. That document was ultimately not signed because of Azerbaijan's actions.

Today, one of our colleagues from the Kocharyan-ARF alliance confirmed that border demarcation is important. It was also part of their electoral campaign that it's necessary to lift the blockade on Armenia.

The opposition agrees with these agendas. They agree that this is best for Armenia. The only difference is they want to be the ones to do it. The decision on who gets to do it was made by voters on June 20. //

https://factor.am/433259.html

Parliament discussed the government's bill that makes it easier for diasporans to obtain Armenian passport

Author: if the reforms are approved,

1) Parents of adult Armenian citizens will be able to obtain citizenship without having to live in Armenia for 3 years or passing a language test.

2) Ethnic Armenians living in Armenia, or ex-USSR citizens living in Armenia, will have the deadlines extended until 31 December 2023 for citizenship applications.

3) The application processing time for citizenship will reduce from 6 months to 90 days.

4) Applicants who receive citizenship will be able to take their first passports in Armenian embassies and consulars abroad.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066481.html

Parliament discussed the government's bill about reducing the number of non-working New Year holidays, aimed at boosting the economy

As you remember, on April 15 the Economy Minister suggested reducing the number of holidays to boost the economy. Armenia will have 11 instead of 16 holidays. At the time, the decision was shelved, pending more investigation on whether it would actually boost the economy.

December 31, January 1, and January 6 will remain non-working days. January 2-5 and 7 will become workdays.

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Opposition MP: wouldn't the hotel industry lose revenues?

Economy Minister: that's if you assume that hotels would shut down, but we have done the calculations and it shows that restaurants and hotels could actually generate more revenues. Most Armenians would stay in Armenia instead of traveling abroad on those days. Calculations idicate growth for GDP and trade turnover. //

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Opposition MP: every third person I've spoken to is against reducing the number of holidays. You've mentioned that it's being done so people will work more. Hasn't it crossed your mind that our people already work too hard?

Economy Minister: it has crossed our mind, but as it turns out, this change is widely supported by the business community, and it has also crossed the minds of your colleague Karen Karapetyan's administration, who had attempted to approve this change in the past. //

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Ruling MP: there are some concerns that reducing the number of non-working days around January 6 would not allow for sufficient celebration of Christmas. [An opposition MP also accused the government of "yet another anti-Christian policy"]

Economy Minister: as a Christian, going to church has never been a problem even on working days. January 6 remains a non-working day. On its eve, people can go to church in time for the candlelight vigil. The real anti-Christianity is when we spend an entire week on gluttony. //

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Ex-Healthcare Minister Torosyan: do we really have to take cheap shots with "traditional values"? This is a bill to move Armenia closer to the practice used in civilized societies. I've always wondered how we [doctors] can afford to take such long breaks while patients wait. //

Opposition MPs interrupted Torosyan from their seat, presumably calling Torosyan an "atheist".

Torosyan: yes I am an atheist. Do you have a problem? Unlike many others, I do not hide it. Anyways, Armenia is one of the countries with a world record in the number of non-working holidays. Even after the amendment, workers will have several consecutive days of rest because weekend often comes after the preserved non-working days. We need to promote working culture. //

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Opposition MP: we recommend keeping January 2 and 7 as non-working days. //

Ruling MP: I think most citizens would appreciate the opportunity to work more. We have industries, such as healthcare and banking, where 7-8 consecutive holidays cause problems. But we need to do more to address the concerns about the hotel industry. //

Ruling MP: there is no communication between Armenia and the civilized world due to the "mismatch" in the New Year holidays. Our economy loses a lot. We will begin to notice the difference a few years after approving this change. //

The opposition said the law should apply only to politicians because they are the ones who need to work hard, while the ruling party accused the opposition of populism.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063280.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066460.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066474.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066477.html https://youtu.be/9UbwrwhcGL8 https://factor.am/432894.html https://youtu.be/-1nm8vD4Yls https://factor.am/432911.html https://factor.am/432919.html https://factor.am/432924.html https://youtu.be/RMZN4csV-rI

Syrian investors are interested in opening a textile factory in Armenia

Economy Minister Kerobyan met the Syrian ambassador to discuss economic relations. Syria is interested in Armenia as a transit state for the EAEU market.

There are discussions in Syria about implementing a system to make purchases with Armenian dram.

https://factor.am/433145.html

Gucci and Valentino designers are training children in Artsakh

Artsakh Education Ministry: with the help of Armenian-Italian writer Antonia Arslan's charity foundation, a new education facility has opened in Stepanakert, in the place of former vocational school and No4 school.

This is a wonderful project. It brings the Italian education model to Artsakh. Right now we're hosting designers from Gucci and Valentino who are teaching sawing and design technologies to children. We won't publish the designers' names to avoid political headaches.

The education center could soon receive international certification. There will be exchange programs. Out kids will attend Italian vocational colleges. //

https://www.aravot.am/2021/10/26/1224956/

COVID stats

12k tested. 1.5k infected. 1k healed. 57 deaths. 27.7k active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066472.html

will Armenia have its "Herman Cain Award" moment before we witness mass vaccinations?

COVID was discussed in Parliament today.

QP MP Arsen Torosyan (ex-Healthcare Minister): we have a 7% vaccination rate as of right now. 16% have taken at least one dose. Those are rookie numbers. 38% of the world is fully vaccinated. It's over 70% in many countries.

HD MP Manukyan: the low vaccination rate is party due to mistrust towards the government. We need rational decisions instead of forcing recently infected people to get vaccinated. //

In other news, Medical University rector Muradyan urged everyone not to politicize the topic of vaccines, calling it "dangerous, with catastrophic consequences". He revealed that 90% of 3700 university staff have been vaccinated.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066525.html https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/us-money-armenia-misinformation-covid-vaccines/ https://factor.am/432955.html

daily vaccinations surpass 20,000 for the first time

Herman Cain Award DENIED?

It has reached 20,000/day, and it's growing, revealed Healthcare Ministry today. Armenian officials held a meeting with the U.S. ambassador about a possible vaccine donation by the U.S.

https://factor.am/433361.html

Armenia backtracks, eases the restrictions on free vaccination for foreign citizens

Non-citizens, regardless of how long they've been in the country, will be allowed to get a free AstraZeneca or Sputnik V.

This is how it used to work until a few months ago when Healthcare Ministry received complaints that foreigners were "taking our jabs". [DID YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE?]

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066516.html

Yerevan is installing hundreds of coin machines in public transport, ahead of the "super" electronic card system

The city allocated ֏68M to purchase and install 405 coin counters, including in all of the new buses, to improve the efficiency of passenger flow. There will be no need to obtain a ticket separately.

This is a temporary solution ahead of the plans to switch to an electronic card-based payment system, which is expected in 2-3 months. There are tender auctions to install the card system. "Ours will be better than the ones in many European states because we are using the latest technologies, while their systems were installed years ago."

The city already has the 211 new buses with 6-8 meter length. Five buses were damaged during the transfer. RIP. The manufacturer has sent experts to train the Armenian drivers on how to operate them.

More: https://youtu.be/AynV1Iv1a1Y https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066498.html

Yerevan will install the statue of legendary artistic gymnast Albert Azaryan

The 92-year-old won three Olympic gold medals. He is the first person to do one of the most famous variations of the Iron Cross called the Azaryan Cross.

The statue will be on Moskovyan 3, in the territory of a sports school named after him. The city decided not to renovate that school as it had promised earlier because the building was found to be in hopeless shape. Instead, the city found a location near Tsitsarnakaberd to build a new one.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066507.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Azaryan

260,000 trees will be planted across Armenia on November 14; new round-the-clock forest protection agency

The planting campaign is part of the 10 million tree project.

Nature Ministry: we're trying something new this year. 10k trees will be issued to private organizations. The goal is to develop a compassionate and caring attitude towards nature in society, by involving citizens in nature-protection activities. Our experts will guide the organizations during the planting.

We have already planted 702k trees last year and earlier this year. Land preparation works are carried out before planting. We mainly give closed root seedlings, the stickiness of which is almost 100%. A too wet or too dry environment sometimes causes issues but we fill the gap throughout the year.

We need to protect the forests. We plan to form round-the-clock services in Forest Committees. Small mobile groups will patrol all day. This will make forest guards more vigilant and combat deforestation.

More: https://youtu.be/VrJ5-6aKUFc https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066512.html

it's snowing in southern mountain passes

The main roads were open as of writing this. It's time to switch to winter tires, reminded the Road Department.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066457.html

Venezuelans went missing

The emergency department received a call about two Venezuelan tourists being unable to find their way back after a camping trip. Rescuers canvassed 9km of difficult terrain before finding the tourists 5km from Lake Parz in Tavush (a small lake north of Sevan).

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066485.html

today in history

1636: Harvard University is founded

1900: New York is building a subway

1905: Sweden and Norway break apart as a "result of a conflict over the question of a separate Norwegian consular service. The fact that Norway did not have its own foreign service missions, and was subordinate to Sweden in all matters of foreign policy, was a clear indication of Norway’s lesser role in the union."

1994: Jordan becomes the second Arab state to formalize its borders with Israel.

2011: SOPA/PIPA anti-piracy bill is introduced in U.S. Congress, leading to a massive shitshow with then-teenager Justin Bieber lashing out at bill authors.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1066448.html https://www.royalcourt.no/seksjon.html?tid=28690

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/qghsra/news_oct262021_passport_reforms_fewer/