2021 October 5

Daily news wrap-up

News recap - Oct/5/2021: Bill to reform the law of classified information __ New Anti-Corruption Committee __ Army drills __ Iran-Azerbaijan dispute escalates; Aliyev provokes; Armenia seizes moment __ Defense Committee & 2010 border law __ Nairi theater __ Inflation stats __ Diasporans return
by ar_david_hh

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Your 10-minute Tuesday report in 2702 words.

the newly appointed president of the new Anti-Corruption Committee met the U.S. ambassador to discuss reforms

The Special Investigation Service chief Sasun Khachatryan was recently appointed to lead the new ACC institute. It'll have a separate team of investigators that will handle corruption cases from start to finish, reducing reliance on other bodies, increasing cooperation with foreign agencies to combat laundering, etc.

Ambassador Tracy: congrats on your appointment. The anti-corruption fight is an area where the cooperation between Armenia and the U.S. is continuous. We're ready to help the newly established ACC.

Khachatryan: four things will make us successful: will, hard work, professional knowledge, and material-technical base. We still need to work on the latter two. Studying your experience will be very useful. //

The two spoke about training the agents to combat money laundering.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064826.html

authorities want to reform the law that regulates access to secret information and the levels of classification

NSS reports: we presented a bill that regulates what information is considered classified, how it's protected, who has access to it, how it should be destroyed. The current law, written in 1996, is outdated and needs to be completely reformed to meet modern standards. //

This is part of two dozen army and other reforms presented by Parliamentary Defense Committee chief on August 9.

https://www.e-draft.am/projects/3612/about https://factor.am/424779.html

Azeri soldiers shot at a military vehicle near Nakhijevan borders, no injuries

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064851.html

the army held exercises

Communication units were brought to the highest alert level and given instructions to take positions. They underwent physical and knowledge tests.

The reservists held shooting exercises.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222379 https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222389

support for Turkish ruling coalition continues to decline

Ruling parties would have a combined 40.1% today. That includes Erdogan's AKP 32.3%, and MHP 7.8% (below passing threshold).

Opposition parties would have a combined 54.3%. That includes CHP 30.9%, IYI 12.1%, and HDP 11.3%.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064842.html

smiling Ilham Aliyev took a photo next to an Israeli Harop drone, just a few kilometers away from the Iranian border

If you somehow missed the massive scandal in Azeri-Iranian relations, and Iran's recent "pro-Armenian" rhetoric, read yesterday's news.

https://factor.am/424832.html

Baku temporarily shuts down the office of Iran's Supreme Leader

The police and health inspectors entered the building and decided to shut it down, citing COVID risks. It comes a day after Aliyev accused Iranian "provincial mullahs" of "opening their mouths" and "defaming" Azerbaijan.

https://factor.am/424912.html https://www.civilnet.am/news/635096/635096/

Iran reportedly bans the transfer of Azeri military aircrafts through its air

Iranian military informed Azerbaijan that they are no longer allowed to fly military jets to Nakhijevan, where Azerbaijan was holding exercises with Turkey, according to Azeri media, which described it as "yet another betrayal committed against Azerbaijan at the behest of Armenia". The outlet says Azerbaijan can use other routes.

https://factor.am/424915.html

Armenian MFA Mirzoyan gave an interview to an Iranian media outlet

Most of it has already been covered if you've read the recent news posts. Here are some notable parts:

Q: what is your view on Iran's role in maintaining stability in the region?

Mirzoyan: Iran's potential is obvious. An example is Iran clearly expressing the inviolability of the borders of the Republic of Armenia [no "corridor" for Azerbajan]. Iran's involvement will not only benefit AM-IR relations but also help establish peace and a prosperous region.

[About Russia] When we discuss the issue of unblocking regional communication routes, it must be noted that nowhere does it mention that Armenia should give Azerbaijan a "corridor" to Nakhijevan. This was confirmed by the Russian side. //

https://factor.am/424919.html

Parliamentary Defense Committee still doesn't have a deputy president after Kocharyan-ARF alliance appoints the rejected candidate the 6th time

HD Nazaryan: our candidate is HD Arthur Ghazinyan again. You know him so there is no need to introduce him again. Please express your position because all this has been going on for too long.

Committee President QP Andranik: did Robert Kocharyan not offer you to nominate someone else?

HD Nazaryan: we discussed it within the party and decided to re-nominate Ghazinyan.

Candidate Ghazinyan: you cannot force the opposition to change its candidate. We will not yield this position to the government.

Committee President QP Andranik: Kocharyan doesn't allow you to nominate someone else, or you don't have someone else in your party? //

One of the ruling party MPs announced that she will not vote for anyone from the HD alliance, and suggested for their fellow PU to step in and nominate a candidate instead. The ruling party threatened to amend the law to limit the number of times a failed candidate can be re-nominated, so the Defense Committee can move forward to discussing other topics.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064814.html

opposition and ruling MPs argue over Syunik road, 2010 border law, and Defense Committee session

Azerbaijan recently began "taxing" Iranian truck drivers on their section of Syunik road, and took two Iranians hostage to pressure Iran to suspend cargo transfers to Artsakh. It led to the diplomatic crisis in AZ-IR relations.

HD MP Gegham Manukyan: four of my colleagues summoned a Defense Committee session yesterday to invite security officials to discuss the Syunik road, but the officials did not show up. //

QP MP Andranik: there are rules that should be followed while summoning such meetings. You called for a meeting without properly specifying what the topic would be... I'm under the impression that these are partisan tactics by you, and that you intentionally wait for a moment while we are away to schedule a session. Last time we were in Syunik when there was an attempt to summon a meeting. //

The issue with road began after Armenia returned Artsakh's adjacent regions to Azerbaijan after November 9 agreement; part of the road travels through these areas. Opposition MPs complained that the government should not have given these territories, while the government argued they had no choice because they were forced to follow [Soviet-era border map and] the Armenian law approved in 2010 by today's opposition parties. That law clarified where Syunik boundaries end and where Azerbaijan begins, said ruling MPs.

The law in question is the 2010 administrative division law. The opposition argued that the law was only about drawing boundaries within Armenia, while the ruling party pointed to parts of the law that explicitly clarify where Syunik ends and where the "Republic of Azerbaijan" begins. This law essentially confirmed the Soviet-era borders. Here is a snippet from the 2010 law relating to Shurnukh-Azerbaijan borders:

>ԲԱՐՁՐԱՎԱՆ-ՇՈՒՌՆՈՒԽ ՍԱՀՄԱՆԱԳԻԾԸ` «Գ»-«Դ»

>Բարձրավան, Շուռնուխ գյուղական համայնքների և պետական սահմանի (Ադրբեջանի Հանրապետություն) տարածքների բաժանման «Գ» հանգուցային սահմանակետից սահմանագիծը ջրատարով թեքվում է դեպի հարավ-արևմուտք, ապա հարավ-արևելք, թիվ 1-50 սահմանակետերով անցնում 3685մ, հասնում թիվ 51 սահմանակետին: Թիվ 51 սահմանակետից սահմանագիծը լանջով թեքվում է դեպի արևմուտք, թիվ 52-55 սահմանակետերով անցնում 1041մ, հատելով ձորակներ, հասնում թիվ 56 սահմանակետին, որտեղից լանջով թեքվում է հարավ-արևմուտք, ապա հարավ-արևելք, թիվ 57 սահմանակետով անցնում 814մ, հասնում թիվ 58 սահմանակետին: Թիվ 58 սահմանակետից սահմանագիծը բարձունքներով թեքվում է դեպի արևելք, ապա հարավ-արևելք, թիվ 59-60 սահմանակետերով անցնում 1112մ, հատելով ձորակներ, հասնում Բարձրավան, Շուռնուխ և Տանձավեր գյուղական համայնքների տարածքների բաժանման «Դ» հանգուցային սահմանակետին:

and Bardzravan...

>ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՆՐԱՊԵՏՈՒԹՅԱՆ ՍՅՈՒՆԻՔԻ ՄԱՐԶԻ ԲԱՐՁՐԱՎԱՆ ԳՅՈՒՂԱԿԱՆ ՀԱՄԱՅՆՔԻ ՎԱՐՉԱԿԱՆ ՍԱՀՄԱՆՆԵՐԻ ՆԿԱՐԱԳՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆԸ

>Բարձրավան գյուղական համայնքը գտնվում է մարզի հյուսիսային մասում:

>Համայնքը հյուսիսից «Ա»-«Բ» հատվածով սահմանակից է Որոտան գյուղական համայնքին, արևելքից «Բ»-«Գ» հատվածով պետական սահմանին (Ադրբեջանի Հանրապետություն), «Գ»-«Դ» հատվածով Շուռնուխ գյուղական համայնքին, հարավից «Դ»-«Ե» հատվածով Տանձավեր գյուղական համայնքին, «Ե»-«Զ» հատվածով Աղվանի գյուղական համայնքին, արևմուտքից «Զ»-«Է» հատվածով Հալիձոր գյուղական համայնքին, հյուսիս-արևմուտքից «Է»-«Ա» հատվածով Շինուհայր գյուղական համայնքին:

HD MP: this law was about administrative divisions in Armenia. It does not define where the state border is with Azerbaijan.

QP MP: if it doesn't, then you should have written that east of Shurnukh is Switzerland, and not "Republic of Azerbaijan", or at least "Armenian border ends here", instead of specifying that it's Azerbaijan. //

HD Gegham Manukyan (ARF) accused the government of treason.

QP MP: if you voted in favor of this that means you supported it. Our dear colleagues from ARF voted in favor of this bill which clearly states that on the other side of the border is the Republic of Azerbaijan. It doesn't make sense that the next day you call it treason to give those areas.

HD MP: Pashinyan later voted in favor of this bill.

QP MP: Pashinyan was not in Parliament at the time when it was first introduced and discussed in 2009.

QP MP who leads the legal department: the approval of this law was rushed, it wasn't discussed and approved by all necessary platforms. There was an attempt to fix the mistakes later. Of course, borders aren't supposed to be drawn with laws about internal maps, that's understandable, but the discussion you [opposition] started today is very dangerous, and you know it. You are doing this for internal consumption but there is one thing you aren't talking about. You forgot about [Dabinter?]. They gathered in 90s and decided that under some circumstances, borders could be drawn according to certain principles. It was decided that administrative division maps could be used to define the border. Nothing was done against this in the past 30 years. Please end these pointless discussions about borders now. This is fruitless and can lead to very serious consequences. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064788.html https://youtu.be/6AWhVQJsUxU https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064792.html https://youtu.be/Ice58lIlBEg https://youtu.be/d8a4tvYpfr8 https://youtu.be/0tfSHBv-7t4 https://youtu.be/wouwF8q0kXw?t=1695

Iran wants to take part in the construction of the alternative road in Syunik

Armenia is currently building a bypass road in Syunik, away from the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. Iran sent a delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Roads to discuss Iran's participation in road construction. They want it ASAP.

https://factor.am/424808.html

Parliament votes to allow public workers to use their social aid packages to visit gyms and swimming pools

... as part of a campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle and to make public work more appealing to increase worker retention. The public workers who receive and accumulate benefits will be allowed to spend it on two more types of health facilities: gym and swim.

It does not increase the size of the allocated sum, nor does it expand the list of workers who qualify.

Opposition MP asked why this bill was being discussed now when there are "other urgent topics". A ruling MP responded "it doesn't prevent us from discussing other topics" and that "people have been waiting".

Parliament voted 55-0-24 to approve the bill.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064800.html

Healthcare Ministry threatens the e-cigarette sellers who target students with advertisements

Ministry report: we approved a law in February of 2020 to ban the advertisement of cigarettes and similar products. Lately, we've been receiving complaints that ads began targeting students. It's mainly about e-cigs and nicotine devices. They are presented as having "benefits". This is against the law.

[lists the types of e-cigs, how they work, and the dangers they pose] Some of these, which recently hit the markets, contain carcinogenic materials. They have not been properly studied yet. The advertisement ban applies to all types of cigarettes and their electronic alternatives. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064790.html

Armenian delegation concluded Lithuania trip with a concert dedicated to the 30th anniversary of AM-LT relations

Pashinyan and ministers joined the Lithuanian hosts for a concert, a day after meetings in which they discussed cooperation in healthcare, trade, and EU partnership.

https://youtu.be/ul2fIFtCzWk https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064773.html

50,000 doses of Moderna vaccines arrive from Lithuania, their first-ever Moderna donation to a foreign country

It's part of an EU campaign in which countries with extra supplies of vaccines help others, with the expectation that one day they would receive similar help if needed. The governments of Armenia and Lithuania signed a medical cooperation memorandum yesterday.

Moderna will be made available in Armenian clinics and street booths.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064808.html https://factor.am/424892.html

COVID stats

6904 tested. 891 infected. 534 healed. 22 deaths. 14193 active. [have we peaked yet?]

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064791.html

how much did Armenia spend on COVID in the past 9 months?

$30 million by the Healthcare Ministry alone. Most of it could have been saved if residents were vaccinated.

https://factor.am/424800.html

Armenian delegation arrives in Rome for high-level meetings

President Sarkissian, Central Bank chief Galstyan, and several Ministers landed in Rome. The President will meet his Italian counterpart and discuss various topics, including education.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064796.html

roads & infrastructure repairs

A 1.9km sidewalk is being renovated with new tiles near a major road in Lichk (Gegharkunik) to increase pedestrian safety. Kids regularly walk on this road to go to school.

Overall, $14 million worth of water/road/roof/gas/playground/solar projects were approved for Gegharkunik province this year, as part of a special federal subsidy program.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064803.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064815.html

STATS: consumer price index

Consumer prices +8.9% in September year-over-year.

+6.7% from January to September.

Food and beverages +15.4%

Alcohol and tobacco 9.3%

Clothing +12.4%

Utilities +1.6%

Household appliances +9.9%

Healthcare +5.5%

Transport +8.8%

Communication +0.8%

Recreation and culture +2.7%

Education +1.4%

Hospitality +2.6%

Non-food +9.9%

The projected economic growth is 5.4% instead of the 3.2% predicted earlier. Fitch expects 5.5%.

http://arka.am/en/news/economy/armenia_s_consumer_price_index_in_september_2021_up_8_9_year_on_year/

one of Yerevan's largest movie theaters "Nairi Cinema" suspends operations amid a contract dispute with the property owner

The company that displays the movies reportedly leased only the theater room, yet they kept using the adjacent infrastructure as well, complained the landlord, who wants to remove the popcorn booth, ads on the walls, and other stuff outside the movie room.

Things reached the breaking point when the company installed two Armenian flags on the roof without permission.

The company says they did not break the contract. Both parties are suing each other in court.

https://factor.am/424495.html

catholicos Garegin 2 departs to Rome where he will meet Pope Francis

There will be a religious conference where Garegin will give a speech about strengthening ties between churches.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064825.html

Armenia celebrated the Teacher's Day

Teachers received congratulations and words of encouragement from public officials. "Teacher's Day is not limited to this day. It starts every morning from the classroom and student desk. Your work is rewarded with the realization of a better future."

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064785.html

teachers in Artsakh will receive a $50 gift from the government

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222356

thousands of students were greeted by brand new classrooms after the rebuilding of Yerevan's #135 school

New labs, elevators, sports center, event hall, solar-powered heaters, disability access, and of course seismic resilience, which was the main goal of rebuilding the school from zero.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064856.html

Armenian weightlifters finished #2 with a big medal and gold medal count in European U23 Championship

Yesterday we learned that Armenian athletes won multiple gold medals in the under-23 junior championship. The team has won 9 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals (big ones).

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064786.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_European_Junior_%26_U23_Weightlifting_Championships

international ChessMood tournament begins in Tsakhkadzor health resort

Two hundred players from eleven countries will compete for Facebook likes.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064797.html

Lucas Zelarayan accidentally discovers that he is Armenia, joins the Armenian national soccer team /jk

Armenian team is preparing for a crucial October 8 match against Iceland, before another important one against Romania on October 11. Armenia is aiming for victories to maintains its position as the second team in the group, in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Ethnic Armenian Lucas Zelarayan, born and raised in Argentina, has never been to Armenia, but he will soon make his debut. Armenia offered him a passport.

Zelarayan: I’ve never been to Armenia before, so in that sense, I don’t have a connection, but I’ve known about my last name being Armenian and my heritage, so while it is about the footballing side of things, there’s a real family connection. //

Zelarayan has 13 goals and eight assists in 42 matches with his team.

Make sure to study the Armenian cuisine AFTER the games. We need these victories.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/how-lucas-zelarayan-ended-up-with-armenia-s-national-team https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064798.html

Belgian-Armenian diasporan moves to Armenia and establishes a tech firm

The 28yo Hayk Arslanian moved to Armenia last month and founded the SPARKERS firm. He found it easy to settle. The fact that everyone around him speaks Armenian is a big plus, he said.

It's a firm that analyzes tangible/digital sales and helps companies adapt to the market. They are also working on boosting tourism and repatriation to Armenia.

https://youtu.be/vqEMtsUTDW4 https://factor.am/425062.html

Harvard Business Review: 5 Techniques to Build Rapport with Your Colleagues

https://hbr.org/2021/09/5-techniques-to-build-rapport-with-your-colleagues?utm_placement=newsletter

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/q24voa/news_recap_oct52021_bill_to_reform_the_law_of/