2021 September 23

Daily news wrap-up

News - Sep/23/2021: Gen. Samvel Babayan on Khudaferin-style dam in Armenia; new Lachin road __ Ancient skull in Armenia: scientists recreate face __ Hemp license __ Gas vehicles to be inspected __ Ongoing reforms __ Governor's son arrested __ New nuclear plant talks __ Grape wars __ Genome editing
by ar_david_hh

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Your 14-minute Thursday report in 3564 words.

government begins issuing hemp licenses to individuals and organizations

They recently legalized the growing and sales of industrial hemp (not the type that Snoop Dogg smokes) and allocated $2M to help farmers grow high-value crops, including hemp.

The goal is to eventually produce high-value oil and other products and to "do something" on the unused agricultural lands.

One applicant has already received a license to grow, sell, import, and export hemp, per the Healthcare Ministry order.

https://iravaban.net/350819.html https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/295662/

interview with Gen. Samvel Babayan about the Artsakh conflict, his meetings with Pashinyan, borders, Khudaferindam, new Lachin road, ...

Q: you were in front lines since the 90s and helped shape the first victory. Today the opposition calls Pashinyan a "traitor" for the 2020 defeat. So why do you frequently meet the "traitor" and shake his hand?

Traitor, not a traitor, whichever it is, there will be a Parliamentary investigation soon. The non-Parliamentary parties, including myself, are included in the commission.

We will examine and find out who the "traitors" are, what happened in the past 20 years and what led to the defeat. Today, we need to shake hands and show unity to solve Armenia's problems.

Q: the opposition says "we are right" and that we should oust Pashinyan so we can save the country. Do you agree?

No. The same opposition does not have a plan. It's a fight for political status. Nothing has changed in negotiations. The only difference between now and then is that now it's Armenia that's asking for lands from Azerbaijan.

I want the public to understand that these people negotiated for 26 years and came up with a document, according to which. Armenians would give away 7 regions, get a mijankyal status, return the IDPs, etc. The war happened, Azeris took 4 of those regions, and we voluntarily gave the other 3. Now we want them to return 2 regions to recover Nagorno-Karabakh's 4,400 km^2, but Azeris say no.

Today our goal is to show the international community that they should start pressuring the Azeri side for being the aggressor. Nothing has changed. The text on the table is the same.

Our politicians should have a clear plan. My political party's stance is that Azerbaijan returns the NKAO area and both sides begin returning their refugees/IDPs, followed by discussions around Artsakh's final status.

Will Azerbaijan agree? If yes, may God be with them. If not, time will pass and the world will see that Azerbaijan is the real "revanchist", something that they accuse Armenia of being today.

Q: is this already part of our Foreign Affairs strategy or is this a proposal from you?

That's my proposal to Armenian and Artsakh authorities. That's what we discuss when we meet. We also discuss how to handle the 2020 war investigation, Constitutional amendment reforms, etc.

Nothing is lost. There is a solution. The only difference is that now the roles are reversed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Conduct diplomacy with one arm and professional defense with the other, so Azerbaijan will understand they should agree to concessions so we can finally stop killing each other.

Q: do you also discuss army reforms during the meetings with the government?

Let's not open too many parentheses, but whatever ideas you the public have about improving the army, I pass them to the government on your behalf.

Q: tell us about the Goris-Kapan border road in Syunik.

As you know, it crosses into Azerbaijan in some locations. Looks like everyone forgot that this road was problematic in the 90s, too.

Back in 1992, after Vazgen Sargsyan's resignation, as a Zangezur governor, he organized action to counter the Azeris who would often open fire towards the road.

Vazgen used mining Belaz trucks to dump sand on the side of the road to act as a shield, so our vehicle fleets could pass at night without being shot.

In 1993 I went to Ghapan-Goris as part of the operation to liberate those lands. The lands were liberated in October.

Since the Armenian borders were not drawn this way with the 1926-1928 maps, we should present those maps during the upcoming demarcation process.

Q: do you support the demarcation? How quickly can it be done?

It's not a matter of one or ten years. Azerbaijan has been conducting demarcation with Russia since 2009. They have not finished yet, and that's when you consider the fact that the AZ-RU border isn't nearly as long as the AM-AZ border. AM-AZ have 940km of borders in the west and east. It'll take many years to demarcate.

We should use the map that was used when Armenia joined USSR, and not what's being pushed today. Even if we don't have those maps, Russian archives have them. That shouldn't be an issue. Armenia and Georgia are still conducting the demarcation since the fall of the USSR.

As for the reopening of regional communication routes, it's a similar issue, it'll take years to build. Azeri government officially announced that it'll take 3-4 years to build the southern road (near Meghri). I say it will take at least 7 years.

In Meghri, we have a memorandum signed with Iran about building a Khudaferin-style dam, like the one on the Azeri-Iranian border in the south. Armenian nuclear plant won't last forever. We should gradually use our water resources for energy. The €2.6 billion EU aid can be used for that.

Q: what will the Khudaferi-style dam give Armenia?

Araks River has rich fish reserves, the accumulated water can boost agriculture, and solve economic and energy issues. It will also put an end to Azerbaijan's southern corridor talk. If you want access to Turkey and Nakhijevan, use Armenia's Dilijan-Yerevan road in the north. We can offer you railways and roads.

If they desperately want access to Nakhijevan via Syunik, we can offer through Jermuk or Goris with tunnels. If they don't agree with that, then we don't agree with the southern road.

A powerful army is needed so both sides can go for a compromise, instead of killing each other. Unfortunately, instead of that approach, our leaders had long chosen to negotiate for the sake of negotiating, which has lead to 2020 defeat.

Q: do you feel like a citizen of Artsakh or Armenia?

We are one. Some people think the Karabakh issue has been resolved, the Russians will help us to find a solution any moment, etc. Folks, nothing has been resolved. The conflict is the same, with the only difference that now we're the ones asking for lands.

Q: you don't seem disheartened after the loss...

Of course not. There is no reason...

Q:... well, you invested so much in the 90s victory just to find yourself in prison later...

... I would be disheartened if this loss was a surprise to me. I've been screaming for years [the 2011 letter to Serj], warning officials not to go with a certain route, but nobody heard me. The attitude for every leader has been "Artsakh is our property".

I recently warned Artsakh Foreign Ministry not to shy away from speaking up and defending its position. Don't let others dictate you. This was the mistake they made for 20 years.

Q: about the alternative road in the Lachin corridor.

We're supposed to build a new Lachin road within 2-3 years. The existing road, which was built for 8 years by donations from the entire Armenian nation, is only class-5, which is why it takes 2 hours to travel that 60km.

In comparison, in under a year, Azeris built a class-2 road to climb from 400m to 1700m altitude in Shushi.

Now our plan is to build a new class-3 road in Lachin. That means the travel will take 1.5h instead of 2h. But if you were to build class-2, it would only be 45 minutes. This would have a big positive psychological impact on Artsakh residents who think "Armenia has abandoned us, let's leave". By building a faster and better road, you're telling them that Artsakh is only 45 minutes from Goris, which is nothing. Let's make sure the government hears this.

Q: your party has a mayoral candidate in the upcoming Meghri elections. Why in Meghri?

Yes. Azatakan Party has its nominee. Meghri is poorly managed. They have rivers going through them, they have Araks nearby that would be enough for irrigation and drinking, yet they have water issues.

Q: there were rumors that you could be appointed as the Defense Minister but someone else was given the position.

It doesn't matter who MOD is as long as they listen and understand. We always try to help.

https://youtu.be/LkDjLTwQO74

ongoing 2020 war investigation has so far resulted in 2,000 criminal cases and charges against 800 individuals

41 of them are already in court, revealed the prosecutors' office today. 28 of those are about stealing weapons during the war, 7 about abandoning the service area, 9 about avoiding army service.

7 are high-ranking military officials. Among them is the deputy army chief General Andranik Makaryan, who was recently charged with negligence. He denied wrongdoing.

The prosecutors also have cases against Azeri officials. No details.

This investigation is separate from the planned comprehensive war investigation that will involve opposition parties, soldiers' families, and others.

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/295664/

army training continues

The artillery units conducted fire coordination and shooting exercises.

Special forces continue to train in the north-eastern border regions. The goal is to locate enemy objects, ambush, exfiltrate documents, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063838.html https://factor.am/420442.html

Armenia continues to receive congratulations on the Independence Day

... from Francophonie, Georgia (again), Uzbekistan, North Korea, and others.

German president: the war was difficult and the challenges are many, but the peaceful and transparent snap elections in June inspire optimism that Armenia will face these challenges constructively and with new vigor.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063786.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063793.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063796.html

Foreign Minister Mirzoyan met representatives of several states during UN session

He met an EU official to discuss issues relating to POWs and foreign official's access to Artsakh.

He met French MFA Le Drian who reaffirmed France's support for Armenia.

There were series of other meetings with MFAs of other states/

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063795.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063863.html https://factor.am/420249.html

UN gives a mini-award to Armenian parliamentarians for passing the anti-smoking bill

The bill that restricts tobacco ads and smoking in indoor areas was approved last year. Parliament president Alen Simonyan hosted the UN representative Shombi Sharp today to discuss various topics.

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30432727.html https://theunion.org/news/armenian-parliament-approves-new-tobacco-control-law

Erdogan about his relations with Joe Biden:

Not a good start. I want the U.S. and Turkey, as NATO members, to be friends and not opponents. But right now the situation isn't good. I had better relations with Bush, Obama, and Trump. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063865.html

to flag or not to flag

Artsakh's Amaras monastery, located near the Artsakh-Azerbaijan border, originally did not have the Artsakh flag. They installed one after the war. Russian peacekeepers recently removed it. The locals have just reinstalled it.

https://factor.am/420621.html

General Prosecutor Davtyan visited Kazakhstan for CIS republic conference

They'll share their experience with fighting corruption, banking data secrecy protection, fight against international terror, digitization of law enforcement systems.

During the meeting, Davtyan met his Azeri and Russian counterparts to discuss issues relating to Artsakh, including using the Russian military prosecutor in Artsakh as a mediator to repatriate each others' citizens.

They also spoke about the need to repatriate POWs.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063803.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063842.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063856.html

update: Syunik governor's son turns himself in after July shooting incident

On July 22 we learned that prosecutors launched a manhunt for Syunik governor Melikset Poghosyan's son after the latter's altercation with the former governor Liska's sons, during which he fired shots at them. Two people were hospitalized.

Today Karen Poghosyan turned himself in and was taken to Armavir penitentiary system.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063806.html

construction of a new nuclear plant and production of Sputnik Lite vaccine in Armenia were discussed

... between deputy Premier Papikyan and Russian ambassador Kopyrkin today. Russia's Rosatom is currently renovating the Metsamor nuclear plant.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063819.html

IRS boss hosted U.S. embassy envoy tasked with combatting narco-trafficking

Badasyan discussed the ongoing legal reforms with Alexis Haftvani. The U.S. is also helping IRS to organize an IRS agent retraining process.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063805.html

Parliament president hosted EU ambassador

Simonyan said that the development of partnership with the EU is one of the priorities of Armenia's foreign policy. He thanked for the planned €2.6B aid package.

Wiktorin attached great importance to the "fair and democratic" snap elections in June and reaffirmed the EU's continued support for the pro-democracy efforts in Armenia.

They agreed that OSCE Minsk Group should resume negotiations to resolve the Artsakh conflict.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063822.html

Swedish National Courts Administration plans to help the Armenian courts

Armenia's Justice Ministry hosted the Swedish judicial system representatives.

The Ministry presented the ongoing fight against corruption and the efforts to reform the courts in Armenia. They spoke about judicial vetting, increasing the professionalism of courts, etc. They agreed to meet again.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063859.html

efforts resume to isolate and extinguish the wildfire in Arevik Park near Syunik's Meghri

It began on September 15 and recently accelerated despite firefighters' efforts, because of dry bushes and oaks. It has so far affected a 423-hectare area.

The remote terrain makes it impossible to use heavy equipment. A group of soldiers and volunteers were dispatched to help.

No Iranian firefighters took part in the efforts, said the Emergency Ministry while addressing a confusion that began after someone shared an old video showing Iranians helping to extinguish a fire near the Meghri border checkpoint. "At this moment [we] don't need assistance but there is no doubt our Iranian friends will come to our aid if necessary."

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063827.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063853.html

eh?

An Iranian Telegram channel claimed that Azeris fired a shot at an Iranian helicopter but the pilot was able to avoid a hit.

Armenia's 5TV and other outlets circulated the rumor and claimed the news was later confirmed to be true, but it appears the "confirmation" came from the source of the rumor itself.

The source, in its turn, claims they got the information from an insider from Azerbaijan.

It was never officially confirmed.

https://fip.am/16962

road repairs

3km section of Artik-Anushavan-Panik road is being rebuilt.

Narekatsi St. is being rebuilt in Martuni (Gegharkunik).

Three roads were asphalted in Astghadzor (Gegharkunik).

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221534 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063829.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063830.html

a group of grape farmers want the government to intervene and convince factories to buy the harvest

The large-scale grape procurement began recently, amid complaints by farmers that some large buyers were paying too low and weren't buying enough, leaving tons of grapes to rot. The government negotiated with several factories to increase the per-kilogram payments to farmers.

Today another group of farmers gathered in front of govt building to speak with the Economy Ministry about the issues.

They complained that the Noy factory's refusal to buy the harvest is causing big problems for them. "I'm losing up to a ton of grape every day," said one man. Another man said he has a contract with a buyer but still wasn't able to sell it.

A deputy Minister informed the farmers about plans by factories to purchase more, but the farmers were unhappy because they were expecting to sell 30k tons instead of 8k that was proposed. "If Gagik Tsarukyan's factory does not buy, this problem will not go away," said one farmer.

Economy Minister Kerobyan met the farmers: this issue arose after one of the largest buyers, the Noy factory, decided not to buy. We learned about their decision at the last minute. It's another question why they won't buy it; we can't force them to.

The factory usually buys 20-25k per year. We've already found storage for 10k tons, with another 12k requiring a solution. We've already sent an expert to several provinces to find a solution. We'll try to come up with a plan in two days. //

Some of the factories had earlier announced that the reason for not buying more grapes is because they still had plenty in their storage.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063835.html

update: new safety requirements to reduce vehicles' gas canister explosions

On September 1 we learned that the government drafted a new bill to require gas-powered vehicles to pass routine cylinder safety checks to prevent explosions.

Infrastructure Ministry about reforms: the process of installing gas cylinders in vehicles will be more strictly regulated. The companies that install them will be brought to the licensing field, with strict requirements on staff training and equipment.

There will be an electronic database where the servicing companies will add information on repairs, installation, checks, "expiration" dates, etc. This database will be accessible to other servicing companies and the police.

The gas station will not be allowed to fill the canister if there is no information about the canister in the database.

The goal is to get all the bad gas canisters out of circulation and to reduce explosion risks. The inspectors will monitor the stations and issue penalties if they are caught falsifying documents.

The change will also make it pointless for residents to install canisters in an unsafe manner with the help of a "friend", because in that case they wouldn't be allowed to fill it up at a gas station.

The bill is in the Government office. It will be sent to Parliament by the end of this year. //

Full: https://youtu.be/uA08uTKYefE https://youtu.be/6krsWRHkrFM https://youtu.be/fQQNpHXuOI4 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063833.html

Tags: #GasSafety #cylinder

COVID stats

4138 tested. 939 infected. 592 healed. 19 deaths. 11396 active.

Of the currently hospitalized, 25 are children and 30 are pregnant women. 169 are critical, 68 on lung vent.

Overall: 1,670,000 tested. 256,000 infected. 238,000 healed. 5,200 deaths (plus 1197 from other causes)

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063791.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063861.html

groups opposing the upcoming mandatory PCR test requirement clashed with the Healthcare Minister during a Parliamentary session

Beginning next month, workers will be required to submit a PCR test every 2 weeks if they refuse to get vaccinated. The former HIV Center director, who was recently fired by the Ministry, went to a Parliamentary session to argue against the upcoming requirements.

He spoke against vaccinating pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, and said that the residents who have already been infected should not be required to get a vaccine or submit the PCR test.

The session turned into a shouting match. The Minister left without being able to answer all the questions.

https://factor.am/420267.html https://armeniasputnik.am/20200907/ziah-kanxargelum-kentron-tnoren-dati-yal-aroxjapahutyan-naxarariutyany-24375399.html

Healthcare Minister Avanesyan about vaccination efforts:

To date, 377k vaccinations have been administered, from which 133k were the second dose.

If in March only 10% of the population said they were likely to take it, today it's 40%. This is reflected in the number of daily visits to clinics; it's been growing. Yesterday alone we had 9.9k.

The reasons for vaccine hesitance are misinformation and campaigns that discourage vaccination. We put efforts in the past 4-5 months to counter that propaganda. I think we have a more positive picture today.

There is no evidence that vaccines have a negative impact on the reproductive system. In many countries, in US and EU, pregnant women are also taking vaccines. Unfortunately, we already have deaths among pregnant women in Armenia. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063799.html https://youtu.be/WMsZPpD9H7s

PHOTO: genome editing and 3rd gen. sequencing center opens in Armenia

... with the help of a World Bank loan, located in the Armenian-Russian University. It will train highly qualified researchers with the new Master's Degree program.

They've already sequenced the COVID-19 in its entirety with nanopore technology.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221528 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063831.html

PHOTO: scientists use a 4,300-year-old skull discovered in Armenia to digitally reproduce the person's face

Three skulls were discovered in 2007 in Armenia's Areni-1 archaeological site. The skulls were in polished condition, indicating the owners (aged 6, 9, 18) had a special status in the society.

After years of DNA and structural analysis, scientists believe they know what they looked like with a 90% accuracy.

Armenian scientists have worked with international experts to recreate the 18yo person's face. The guy had brown hair and blue eyes. The other two are still in process.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063857.html

Tags: #skull

update: the passport paper shortage has been resolved

A few weeks ago we learned that the company that delivers passport paper to Armenia had covid-related delivery issues. As a result, the passport department had to stop issuing new units.

Today they announced that the delivery issues have been resolved and residents can reapply again.

https://factor.am/420264.html

update: Armenian Catholic church elects the new leader in "round two"

Context in yesterday's post. The new leader is Raphaël François Minassian. He will assume the name Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063825.html

Armenia will participate in Moscow International Book Fair

Education Ministry: it's a tradition. This time it'll be dedicated to Armenia's 30th independence anniversary. The program will promote Armenian literature to an international audience. //

Scheduled for September 24-27.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063810.html

contemporary Iranian Movie Days are held in Yerevan

While Hollywood argues whether they should make a sequel for Whitney Houston's "Bodyguard", today the Iranian embassy presented the Iranian movie "Bodyguard" (2016), a total 4D chess move that is expected to further complicate the already fragile US-Iran relations.

Two other Iranian movies will be featured in Yerevan's Moskva Theater until Saturday.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063818.html

Tenacious D is back with a new album

WARNING: You will be banned from visiting your local city town hall after watching this.

https://youtu.be/D2Wj7V2hgPE

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/pu365r/news_sep232021_gen_samvel_babayan_on/