2021 October 6

Daily news wrap-up

News recap - Oct/6/2021: Pashinyan about new nuclear plant and copper smelter, Arstakh negotiations, Q&A in Parliament __ Azerbaijan resumes civilian flights over Armenia, releases a captive __ Aliyev wants a "new page" in relations __ Armenian-Azeri public figures hold debate in Vienna __ Trial
by ar_david_hh

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Your 13-minute Wednesday report in 3300 words.

the government prepared and discussed programs that will be implemented with EU's €2.6 billion aid

Read July 5 news to learn how the €1.5 billion aid will be spent. It's for North-South highway, thousands of small and medium businesses in provinces, promoting science and tech, eco-friendly urban development, etc. It was later revealed that the aid will reach €2.6 billion.

Today the government invited the EU representatives and European EBRD bank to discuss the priorities, deadlines, and investment mechanisms.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064913.html

did Armenia invest enough in Shushi before the war?

Context: After the war, the members of the opposition representing the former regime accused Pashinyan of "treason" for giving away lands. Pashinyan responded by accusing the former regime of intentionally not investing in some regions of Artsakh for decades, because they expected those lands to be given to Azerbaijan one day. The pre-war development of Shushi became a hot topic, with Pashinyan referring to it as a "grim" city due to lack of investments.

The topic was revived today during Pashinyan's visit to Parliament. An opposition MP confronted the Premier about the development of Shushi.

PU Abrahamyan: numerous apartment buildings, houses, cultural and bank branches were built in Shushi in the past decades. It had a population of 4,000. Did you even visit and see it yourself?

Pashinyan: whatever you listed can be written on one page. What were the investment volumes? Let's compare the investments in Shushi and Baden-Baden [the German health resort where Serj frequently visited and allegedly liked to gamble]. What is the premise of your question? Do you think you're the only one who visited Shushi and nobody else knows what was happening? Do we live in alternative realities?

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064923.html

Pashinyan: I'm responsible for the results of the war, and for not doing enough to rid the army of corruption after 2018

The context is the recent high-profile arrests of ex-MOD Tonoyan, deputy army chiefs, and army suppliers, accused of corruption and delivery of useless missiles that could not be used during the war.

Opposition MP: whose responsibility was the defeat?

Pashinyan: as I've said dozens of times from this podium, I am the culprit and the person responsible for everything.

Opposition MP: what was your role in the Lele Tepe operation in the south?

Pashinyan: there was no "Lele Tepe" operation. The term was introduced after the war for propaganda purposes. The opposition made up a story to claim that I was trying to liberate the Lele Tepe hill that Serj Sargsyan lost during the 2016 war, for political reasons. This is nonsense. There was no "Lele Tepe".

I gathered a meeting in Stepanakert to hear opinions on how to change the situation. There were suggestions. I asked the army command to analyze the suggestions and give advice. The army held discussions and informed me about their decision.

As for your accusations that I'm a "traitor and capitulator", people view you as a bigger "traitor and capitulant". The elections were proof. And I think we will soon have a chance to talk about your treason and capitulation in more detail. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064933.html

the direct communication channel between leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan

After 2018, the offices of Pashinyan and Aliyev established a communication channel with the hope to end the deadlock in negotiations and resolve the conflict. The former regime circulated conspiracy theories that Pashinyan was "bribed" by Aliyev.

PU Anna Mkrtchyan: you had a treacherous direct communication with the leader of Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan: that communication channel was managed by your party leader Arthur Vanetsyan, who was the head of National Security Services at the time. Why don't you torture your boss so he will give up the information he has (sarcasm). If he told you in private that he had some dealings with Aliyev behind my back, then it must be investigated. //

The context is the age-old $5 billion unsuccessful offer that Ilham Aliyev made to Serj and Pashinyan. It sum was supposed to be invested in Artsakh if Armenia agreed to give the lands in exchange for peace. Evidently, none of the Armenian leaders agreed.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064939.html

Pashinyan: the entire Karabakh negotiation process during former administrations was "fake", because everything was about keeping Nagorno Karabakh de jure part of Azerbaijan

Pashinyan: it began in 1998 when the Armenian side agreed to exclude Nagorno Karabakh from the negotiation table. In 1999, Armenia accepted the security charter in Europe [presumably referring to the one that emphasized the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan].

In the 2000s, under the context of resolving the Karabakh conflict, they discussed the exchange of territories. It was proposed to give Meghri (Syunik) in exchange for Karabakh. With these three actions, Armenia was essentially accepting that Karabakh was Azerbaijan.

This is why I referred to this negotiation process a "fake". Azerbaijan was insisting that Karabakh must choose its sovereignty while de jure remaining as part of Azerbaijan. //

Side note: I made a comment about this two weeks ago. It's about why Armenia was hesitant to accept the "phased" 5+2 resolution in which Artsakh's status as an independent state would be left hanging in the air.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064941.html

MFA Mirzoyan: the topic of NKAO occupied territories is on the table but public discussions can complicate the negotiation process

Hadrut and Shushi were part of Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast and are currently occupied. An opposition MP asked MFA if there are plans to get it back.

MFA said there will be negotiations regarding those lands when the process begins, but it's not appropriate to discuss it now.

Foreign Ministry had published an official message on July 19 stating that Armenia will pursue the de-occupation of those lands.

https://www.civilnet.am/news/635232/լղիմ-ի-մաս-հանդիսացած-ու-ադրբեջանին-անցած-տարածքների-վերաբերյալ-խոսակցություն-կա․-արարատ-միրզոյան/ https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1058500.html

Pashinyan about the construction of a new nuclear plant and a copper smelter in Armenia

Read Monday report if you missed the news about partial nationalization of Zangezur copper, new NPP, etc.

QP MP Bagratyan: the Russian miner GeoProMining recently announced about $2 billion mining investments and $1.5 billion for the new copper smelter. Tell us more.

Pashinyan: let's establish the fact that for the first time since the 2000s, Armenian people are partial owners of the Zangezur copper plant. I hope the public share will increase over time, but to such an extent that it will not distort the nature of our market.

When it was announced that the government will become a co-owner, the opposition circulated theories about shadowy dealings. A shadowy deal would be if those shares were owned by an offshore firm that was owned by another offshore firm. Some of the opposition members sitting here today [in Parliament] have done such dealings, and they must be investigated by law enforcement to find out if there were treacherous deals. [Likely hinting at Kocharyan's friends who co-own the plant.]

The GeoProMining and its co-owner [Roman Trotsenko] offered a deal. We discussed it to ensure it protects Armenia's interests. It's about building two very important things.

First, a copper smelter will allow us to produce and export copper instead of raw materials. That also means we won't have to import already-made copper.

Second, a new nuclear plant. It's part of the deal with [GeoProMining] and the copper plant. The government will take part in its construction and will have an ownership share in the plant. It won't be fully private.

We must launch the construction of the copper smelter by June 2025 [that's a pretty specific date]. The construction of the nuclear plant should hopefully begin simultaneously. It would be best if the utilization of copper smelter and new NPP launch together. [He recently said the new smelter would need lots of electricity so a new NPP would be helpful.] //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064943.html

Tags: #NPP #NuclearPlant #CopperSmelter

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and OSCE agree to meet and discuss humanitarian topics

The first meeting between MFAs was held during the UN session in New York. They agreed to meet again.

MFA Mirzoyan: the resumption of discussions and the negotiation process on this scale is definitely welcome, it is in the interests of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The conflict has not been resolved yet.

Azerbaijan likes to insist that the conflict doesn't exist anymore, but this process from the international community is yet another assurance that the problem exists and requires a solution. The solution should be found under the format of OSCE Minsk Group, the only body with an internationally recognized mandate.

The topic of discussion will be first and foremost about the confirmed and yet to be confirmed POWs, humanitarian actions in Nagorno Karabakh, and many other topics. I think that the positive solution to these problems will first of all be proof of Azerbaijan's willingness to have a constructive position. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064922.html

the new EU ambassador to Azerbaijan met President Aliyev

Aliyev said Azerbaijan wants to open a new page in AM-AZ relations to improve relations, launch peace negotiations, reopen trade communications, and launch the border demarcation process.

Aliyev said the process of resuming the communication routes has partially begun.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064919.html https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/295944/

Azerbaijan resumes civilian flights over Armenia after suspending it in 2014

An Azeri passenger jet flew from Baku to Nakhijevan over Armenia. There will be regular flights.

Russian media: this step shows the resolute readiness to unblock transport communication in the region, which is in the interests of all neighboring countries. //

Azeri airlines: we will be able to utilize all air routes from now on, including through Armenia and Iran. //

Civil Aviation of Armenia: we confirm that an Azeri jet was allowed to fly. The airspace of Armenia and Azerbaijan was never closed for two states, except during the war.

Such flights were held routinely until 2014 when Azerbaijan decided not to use the Armenian space anymore.

Meanwhile, Armenia has used the Azeri airspace towards various destinations and continues to do so. //

https://factor.am/425130.html https://factor.am/425324.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222432

Azerbaijan has released an Armenian captive

Lt. Arthur Davidyan had crossed the Azeri border on August 22 after being disoriented by thick fog. He returned with the Baku-Yerevan flight this evening.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064938.html

Armenian and Azeri public figures and diplomats held a meeting in Vienna

LHK leader Edmon Marukyan: an Austrian agency organized a closed-door meeting for Armenian and Azeri figures. The Armenian side was represented by HHK Armen Ashotyan [a diplomat to EU] and Karen Avagyan. Azerbaijan sent three MPs and analytic center representatives.

Present were OSCE and EU officials, Austrian MOD and MFA representatives.

The discussions were based on Chatham House rules so I can't disclose details, but I can assure you that our side fully presented and defended the Armenian positions while giving an appropriate response to the other side's statements. //

https://factor.am/425230.html

MFAs of Iran and Russia discussed the recent diplomatic conflict between Iran and Azerbaijan

Lavrov: we are against raising the military activity in the region. We're against any military drills that are provocative in nature. There are also concerns expressed by Azerbaijan about Iranian drills.

Amirabdollahian: Azerbaijan and its partner conducted 6 army drills. We did only one, after properly informing them ahead of time. Our drills are meant to send a message to establish peace and friendship in the region.

https://factor.am/425391.html

World Bank now expects 6.1% economic growth in Armenia, double the initial prediction

Mostly because of private consumption growth, copper prices, tourism inflow, capital expenditures on construction.

https://factor.am/425340.html

administration of Georgia's Poti port visited Armenia

Poti port is owned by Maersk, a global logistics giant.

The Poti commercial manager and CFO visited Armenia today. They meet their Armenian partner "Apaven" company and discussed its capabilities, carbo fleet, etc.

Earlier it was revealed that Armenia and the South-Caucasus Railways planned to restore ferry communication between Georgian Poti and Russian Krasnodar.

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/295934/

trial resumes for the "illegal sponsorship" case involving the former head of State Supervision Service Davit Sanasaryan

SSS reports to Premier's office and is tasked with auditing agencies and organizations that receive public funding to root out corruption. The agency made several high-profile busts after 2018 and continues today.

However, its president Davit Sanasaryan and his colleagues themselves were accused of corruption by Healthcare Minister Torosyan in 2019.

The SSS agents had uncovered an illegal dialysis medical device monopoly at a hospital, but instead of following protocols, several SSS employees, allegedly including chief Sanasaryan, sponsored one of the said agent's friend's dialysis company to win the contract. The authorities launched a felony case. Sanasaryan denied knowingly helping his subordinate to hijack the contract process.

QP MP Minister Torosyan (former Healthcare Minister) has been the main "witness" and testified as a witness today.

Torosyan: it began in mid-2018. We noticed intervention by SSS agents about the characteristics of medical equipment during the purchase process by hospitals. I contacted NSS. As for Sanasaryan himself, I have no information that he personally instructed those agents to commit the crime. //

Torosyan believes the other suspect agents had misled Sanasaryan during the contract takeover process. Torosyan has no evidence that Sanasaryan was aware that the medical company, that his subordinate agents were sponsoring, was affiliated with one of the subordinates.

Judge: so why did you report Sanasaryan to NSS?

Torosyan: I appreciate SSS's efforts to find medical device contractors that can provide the same devices for a lower price, but at that particular time, his actions would have placed medical patients' lives at risk [TLDR: it would take a while to redo the contracts properly but the dialysis process can't "wait"]. I asked NSS to investigate the agents so we can find out if there is corruption or we should thank them for doing their anti-monopoly work.

Defendant Sanasaryan: I expected this. Torosyan changed his initial testimony and clarified that he had no evidence that I knew that the sponsored medical device company belonged to my subordinates. I'm thankful that at least he presented the truth today. I think NSS was eager to charge me with corruption at the time.

more: https://factor.am/425108.html https://factor.am/425118.html https://factor.am/425124.html https://youtu.be/iHjn8u8LRAY https://youtu.be/SCByJhDGgZY https://youtu.be/-b4FJtMWdnw https://factor.am/425248.html https://youtu.be/KtsVKDnJTnY

Tags: #DavitSanasaryan #SSS

President Sarkissian met his Italian counterpart in Rome

The Armenian envoy arrived in Italy yesterday. In honor of the visit, the Italian president organized an exhibition of paintings by Ayvazovsky and other prominent Armenian artists, in the Quirinal Palace.

Italian Prez: Minsk Group is the platform that can help find a peaceful resolution for the Artsakh conflict. Italy is encouraging AM and AZ to find the right path and contribute to the development of the region.

Armenian Prez: grazie to the Italian Parliament for adopting a resolution calling for the release of Armenian POWs. We welcome resolutions adopted by 50 Italian municipalities in support of Artsakh and its people. We appreciate Italian experts' visits to Armenian cultural monuments after the war and their efforts within UNESCO. //

Sarkissian invited Italian firms to invest in Armenia's education and tech sector.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064875.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064911.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064917.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064928.html

church leader Garegin B met Pope Francis in the Vatican

They spoke about humanitarian issues in the region.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064948.html

refugees from Artsakh's Hadrut region want apartments in Armenia

A group of Hadrut residents, who moved to Armenia after the war, are waiting for an answer about receiving apartments in Armenia. Earlier, Kashatagh region residents held a similar gathering. They were told that the apartments are being distributed in Artsakh, and not in the provinces of Armenia.

Hadrut residents had earlier met government members and agreed on some topics. A resident said they want the issue addressed before the winter.

A resident said that those who remained in Artsakh are receiving ֏150,000/mo in subsidies to live in hotels, while those who moved to Armenia are only getting ֏130,000 for a family of eight. They are hoping for more help.

The governments of Armenia and Artsakh had earlier announced that those who stay and live in Artsakh will receive more benefits as part of efforts to improve Artsakh demographics.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064888.html

COVID stats

8947 tested. 1155 infected. 381 healed. 21 deaths. 14945 active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064886.html

apparently Chinese Sinopharm vaccine is popular among Armenians, leading to supply shortages

There was recently an interview with Yerevan residents and Sinopharm appeared to be equally/more popular than Sputnik and AstraZeneca. (anecdotal interviews)

Healthcare Ministry says the increased demand, coupled with production shortages, often leads to vaccine shortages around the world, including Armenia. They are negotiating to import another batch.

They said it's not dangerous to take the second dose later than the usual 2-week period, once the supplies are made available. [can't they use Sputnik or Astra for the second shot?]

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064891.html

Healthcare Ministry could soon treat the recently-healed COVID patients similar to those who got vaccinated, when it comes to PCR mandate for employment

The recent law requires unvaccinated workers to take a PCR test every two weeks. Critics argued that those who have just been infected and healed have shown to be adequately protected against the virus [for a few months].

Minister Avanesyan said there are very few cases when a patient was re-infected within a month of healing. The Ministry experts are working to amend the PCR requirement to exempt the newly-infected from the PCR requirement.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064916.html

group of doctors from Fresno, CA arrive to assist the residents of provinces and Artsakh

Heart experts, physiotherapists, dentists, and others will provide free services for two weeks, while sharing their skills with Armenian colleagues.

Soghomonyan from St. Agnes: this is my sixth trip to Armenia. This time our group, consisted of Armenians and other nationalities, has 40 experts from several clinics. I'll be treating Gyumri residents for three days.

Physiotherapist Dr. Putnam: my wife and I are in Armenia for the first time. Great country, very hospitable. We treated many patients with various problems. This trip is too short for full physiotherapy but hopefully our advice will be helpful.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064882.html

gas prices continue to skyrocket in European markets

$1,600 for m^3. That's +15% from yesterday. It was "only" $515 in August.

The shares of Russian giant Gazprom rose to unprecedented ₽386.5 rubles.

Experts say it's because of low supplies in storages, lack of enough deliveries from the main suppliers, and Asia purchasing LNG gas right and left.

European Commission said the price hike is because of high demand that's unprecedented in 25 years.

The system that's meant to discourage greenhouse gas emissions by introducing cap and trade for market companies had little effect on the price hike, found the Commission.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064885.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064895.html

VIDEO: Dilijan curve road was covered in snow

It snowed in the morning. Equipment was used to clean the roads but it was too much for heavy trucks; it's blocked for them. The police reminded residents to undust the winter tires. Keep calm and look straight. Winter is coming.

https://youtu.be/SsSZBCpRDmU https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064889.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064900.html

awwwww that's so... DEADLY

Bears have activated near the lake Arpi in north-western Armenia. A mama bear with cubs recently "attacked" and ate multiple beehives in Mets Sepasar.

The residents were glad to see the bears: "We are glad that we did not have any human casualties. At the same time, the presence of bears is very gratifying, which speaks of the improvement of the quality of biodiversity of the area, as well as the calm environment."

FACEBOOK DOES NOT WANT YOU TO READ THIS NEWS BECAUSE IT ISN'T PART OF YOUR DAILY DOOMSCROLL. It would be a shame if your friends learned about this.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064902.html

today in history

69 BC: the battle of Tigranocerta between king Tigran the Great and Rome. The Romans, led by general Lucullus, achieved a victory and captured the capital Tigranocerta, which was still under construction.

1977: MiG-29 makes a debut, engineered by Soviet-Armenian scientist Mikoyan Anastas.

1982: grandmaster Levon Aronian is born.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064867.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/q2rvp7/news_recap_oct62021_pashinyan_about_new_nuclear/