2021 September 24

Daily news wrap-up

News - Sep/24/2021: It begins... $1B project to build North-South in Syunik; tunnels & bridges __ UN speech __ Aliyev's concerns over international tribunal __ Many villages to merge __ Opposition resumes street struggle; files lawsuit __ Vaccination efforts __ US House bill __ Armenian "IT" comedy
by ar_david_hh

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Your 13-minute Friday report in 3071 words.

Parliament discussed the merger of hundreds of villages into larger municipalities / quota for women / efficient administration & services

Read the context here and here. The mergers are meant to improve management and increase financial resources available to smaller settlements, who would otherwise be "on their own". Merged settlements also receive additional federal subsidies.

The process began in 2016 during the Serj administration. This is the second large effort to merge hundreds of settlements into a few dozen. In the end, Armenia will have 78 municipalities instead of approximately a thousand.

Parliament gathered today to hold a preliminary vote. Kocharyan and Serj alliances boycotted the session, calling the merger process "unconstitutional". HD MP Artsvik Minasyan (ARF) urged President Sarkissian to block the bill when it reaches his desk.

The concern by the opposition is about the possibility that provincial mayors, allied to them, would lose their seats after the mergers. Although the opposition remains deeply unpopular in provinces, many of their members were elected as mayors before the 2018 revolution. Their terms will soon end, elections will be held, and they could lose grip on power. They accused the government of designing the merger process in a way to oust their mayors. The ruling party dismissed the accusations, pointing out that today's critics supported the mergers in 2016.

Infrastructure Minister Sanosyan: I do not understand why HD and PU factions are boycotting the process. We held many discussions with them and they never raised the issue of this process being unconstitutional. Moreover, today's opposition, including our colleagues from ARF [at the time led the Infrastructure Ministry], were the main initiators of this process in 2016. Our administration simply tried to make certain amendments to improve it, by analyzing the prior experience.

It is obvious that the existing administrative division often creates serious obstacles to development. This is especially true for settlements with a population below 3,000. For example, they cannot independently handle services/utilities.

The process began in 2016 when 486 were merged into 54. We have examined the experience, the upsides and downsides, and made some changes. With this merger, 441 municipalities will become 37.

The mergers will not lead to local village halls being shut down. They will maintain at least two employees: a district manager and an operator. The total number of staff will be decided by the municipal administration.

Villagers will continue to receive administrative services in the same place. They don't have to travel long distances to "headquarters". The number of services available to villagers will drastically increase from 18 to 60. Villagers will be able to register LLC, marriage, cadastre documents, etc. Not only we are not "closing" villages, but we are expanding the services.

Question: would the merger cause problems in border settlements after the war?

Minister Sanosyan: the war showed us that Chambarak and Shoghakat (Gegharkunik), which were merged before the war, performed very well.

QP Zaruhi Batoyan: how will this change affect female participation in governance?

Minister Sanosyan: female representation will expand. Every third council member will be a woman. This is because the elections are held per the proportional hamamasnakan system. [parties present a list and people vote for the party instead of individuals]. //

Parliament voted 63-0 to approve the mergers.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063904.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063907.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063914.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063910.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063911.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063912.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063925.html https://factor.am/420782.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063972.html

Tags: #merger

the opposition resumes "street struggle"

HD (ARF) MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan: parliamentary activities are not enough to neutralize the threats that our country faces. We will rally on September 26. You will see many protests and activities between Sept. 27 to Nov 9. We will visit the provinces next month.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063927.html

it begins: government to allocate $1 billion (֏487B) for North-South highway, tunnel, bridge construction in Syunik

The executive office approved the launch of the construction process for North-South's Sisian-Kajaran section, which will include the Bagrushat tunnel.

Infrastructure Ministry: this will allow us to improve connection with Iran, increase the interest in transit through Armenia, and secure the southern regions.

The average speed on the 60km section is expected to be around 100km/h.

There will be several bridges with a total length of 4.7km, and several tunnels at 12.5km. The longest tunnel will be Bargushat with 8.6km.

Pashinyan: we are entering the construction phase of the Sisian-Kajaran section of North-South. We will launch an international auction to select construction firms. We expect the actual construction to begin in late-2022.

The next section is Talin-Gyumri. There are active construction works here. Part of it was supposed to finish last year but COVID did not allow the international firms to arrive and work. The construction resumed at full scale this year. This road has two lanes in each direction. This year we'll be able to open one lane in each direction.

These roads will bring a new quality to our economy and improve our connection with Iran. It can play a big role in the cargo route between the Persian Gulf of the Black Sea.

The Sisian-Kajaran construction alone is the largest construction project in the history of the 3rd Armenian Republic. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063947.html https://youtu.be/aliHOqPUfmM

Tags: #NorthSouth #Sisian n#Kajaran

backyards in 18 apartment complex buildings will be beautified with new tiles

... in Martuni (Gegharkunik), as part of a federal-local co-subsidy program.

Mayor Avetisyan: we will have completely improved and renovated areas. This is a much-anticipated program for the residents of apartment buildings. The appearance of the city becomes beautiful and attractive.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063963.html

irrigation water network is being built in Astghadzor (Gegharkunik)

It'll reduce water loss and prevent damage to nearby roads.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063893.html

11 roads are being asphalted in Ararat settlement

https://factor.am/420683.html

Armenia-Turkey relations

Reporter: are there opportunities to normalize relations with Turkey?

Security Council chief Grigoryan: as we've said before, it is necessary to open an era of peace in the region. Within this logic, our relations with Turkey should gradually normalize. One of the ways is to have a dialogue at the highest level.

Reporter: is it possible to normalize relations with Turkey when Azerbaijan insists that Armenia should give up on pursuing a legal status for Artsakh?

Grigoryan: it is necessary for us to separate the normalization of relations with Turkey from the relations with Azerbaijan.

Reporter: Turkey wants a "corridor" for Azerbaijan as a precondition.

Grigoryan: as we have stated on numerous occasions, the relations with Turkey should normalize without preconditions. Any conditions make it difficult to move forward.

Reporter: tell us about Artsakh negotiations.

Grigoryan: the most important and the only platform is OSCE Minsk Group. All three co-chairs have released statements about the need to resume negotiations. It should discuss the important topic: Artsakh's status. The conflict has not been resolved yet. //

ARF Ishkhan Saghatelyan criticized the efforts to normalize the AM-TR relations, describing it as a "love game" by the leaders. "It is obvious there are secret connections between Armenia and Turkey today," Saghatelyan said.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063919.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063920.html https://factor.am/420859.html

U.S. House gives a green light to a pro-Armenian amendment

ANCA: The U.S. House staked out a powerful stand today against Azerbaijan and Turkey’s 2020 attack on Artsakh and Armenia, overwhelmingly passing five amendments demanding Baku’s release of Armenian POWs, calling for investigations into Azerbaijani war crimes, supporting U.S. aid to Artsakh, and urging Turkey’s Grey Wolves be designated a foreign terrorist organization. //

It appears that sh!t just got real because this is part of the NDAA bill. Senate will discuss its own version of the NDAA bill next month.

https://anca.org/press-release/breaking-u-s-house-demands-azerbaijani-war-crimes-investigation-azerbaijans-release-of-armenian-pows/ https://factor.am/420773.html

UN General Assembly speech by Pashinyan and Aliyev

Aliyev urged the international community to pressure Armenia not to seek revanche, and to end the campaign of seeking legal status for Artsakh. He repeated that the "conflict is over" and that "there is no alternative to peace". He supports the launch of a border demarcation process "on the basis of mutual recognition of each others' territorial integrity".

Pashinyan mentioned the military aggression by Azerbaijan, illegal holding and torture of POWs, efforts by Azerbaijan to derail the peace process, the display of racism, and "Saddam Park" in Baku.

Pashinyan said the situation created through the use of force cannot gain legitimacy from the point of view of international law, and that the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination cannot be suspended through the use of force. "The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is awaiting its just settlement. This is evidenced by the statements of the [Minsk Group] Co-chairs."

Pashinyan emphasized the need to restore regional communication routes. He said there are two options: one that isolates states and promotes hostility [corridor talk] and one that resumes trade and gradually reduces the atmosphere of hostility. "We support the latter."

Pashinyayn said he supports border demarcation but it's difficult to picture how it can be done when Azerbaijan routinely violates ceasefire and continue to illegally occupy some areas since May 12.

Pashinyan said Armenians in Artsakh do not and cannot live under Azeri control, citing the 2020 ethnic cleansings carried out by Azerbaijan against dozens of thousands of Armenians. He listed the war crimes by Azerbaijan.

He spoke about the ongoing reforms and efforts to improve democracy in Armenia.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4408381359250360 https://factor.am/420760.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063983.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063984.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063986.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063985.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063985.html https://factor.am/421130.html

update: Armenia and Azerbaijan are suing each other in the UN court

Context in September 17 post. Armenia had filed a lawsuit against Azerbaijan in the International Court of Justice over state-sponsored Armenophobia, torture, and murder of POWs for their ethnicity.

Azerbaijan has filed a similar lawsuit against Armenia as a response.

In other news, Artsakh authorities announced today about launching a felony case against yet to be named Azeri soldiers, who had fired shots towards Artsakh farmers on September 1. The farmers' Armenian ethnicity was the driving force behind the attack, said the prosecutors. (building that case, one step at a time)

https://factor.am/420797.html https://factor.am/420778.html https://factor.am/420823.html

Ilham Aliyev has concerns about the international military tribunal

Aliyev about possibly launching a trial: it's a politicized institute with selective approaches. The events of the past years have proven this. Considering Armenia's international lobbying potential, and special relations with some western countries, it is difficult to expect success. Even if we succeed, there is no guarantee there will be a fair trial, and that it won't turn into yet another tool against Azerbaijan. //

https://factor.am/420866.html

Armenian Foreign Minister held meetings during the UN session

MFA Mirzoyan met Iranian counterpart to discuss cooperation in the energy sector and the alternative road that's being built in Syunik.

MFA Mirzoyan met the UN refugee agency chief to discuss the safe repatriation of Artsakh IDPs, and the need for international organizations to be more active in Artsakh amid Azeri efforts to hinder their work.

MFA Mirzoyan met his Cypriot colleague, praised the relations, and expressed the need to expand the trade, defense, education, and tourism cooperation.

Several other meetings were held with Jordan, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063926.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063888.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063894.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063935.html

France and Russia discussed the Artsakh conflict during the UN meeting

Foreign Ministers expressed readiness to continue the negotiations with the OSCE format.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063887.html

Parliament discussed the expansion of the newly created Anti-Corruption Committee

The ruling party presented a bill to expand the number of agents from 20 to 30. The Parliament voted to approve the bill.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063937.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063974.html

Emergency Ministry held exercises on how to respond in the event of a major leak from Akhtala mining combine

How to handle emergency calls, communicate with other departments, organize a civil defense, etc.

https://factor.am/420715.html

Alashkert soccer club wins Supercup

They defeated Ararat with 1:0. This is their third Supercup.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063982.html

COVID stats

6221 tested. 906 infected. 627 healed. 16 deaths. 11612 active.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063900.html

panel of experts discussed COVID and vaccines / Do I need the vaccine if I've been infected? / What will make my balls bigger: Nicky Minaj's naked a$$ or a vaccine?

American University official: scientists have found that vaccines do not have any negative impact on reproductive health. The assumptions were shown to be false. On the other hand, we already know that COVID itself can cause reproductive issues.

Many people wonder why they need vaccination if they've been infected and have the antibodies. Recent studies show that those who get vaccinated after healing from the infection are a lot more protected than those who were infected but not vaccinated.

Do not engage with fake vaccination certificates. It can have very dangerous consequences. An unvaccinated person can get infected, die, while others can discredit vaccines by saying "a vaccinated person has died".

Armenian Medical Association chief: those who criticize the vaccination campaign are irresponsible. The vast majority of them are doing it simply for the sake of discrediting the process, with complete disregard for consequences.

Just because someone talks about the pandemic doesn't mean they are telling the truth. I urge our citizens to check whether the person is qualified to give you the information before you hear or read them. Vaccines may not be perfect but they are the only tool we have. //

Full: https://youtu.be/TaQJzpTezUQ https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063939.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063944.html

the opposition will ask Constitutional Court to strike down the PCR requirement for unvaccinated workers

The government will begin requiring private and public workers to provide negative PCR tests before going to work if they refuse vaccination. It's meant to encourage vaccinations rates. Armenia has the 4th lowest rate in Asia.

The opposition believes the PCR mandate is unconstitutional. At a minimum, they want the state to pay for the PCR tests. An opposition MP said they support vaccination but not the PCR mandate.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063930.html

are Armenians slowly getting comfortable with vaccines?

Healthcare Minister Avanesyan: Yes. There were 8,400 shots administered yesterday, and 9,900 the day before. After observing 385,000 vaccinations, our citizens see that we have no problems.

Of the currently 11.5k infected, only 286 were vaccinated. Even if you get infected after being vaccinated, your symptoms will be significantly milder.

Only 38 out of 2006 hospitalized patients are vaccinated. Their symptoms are much milder. The reason they were hospitalized, as a precaution, is because they have other chronic illnesses.

Pashinyan: the vaccines give 97-98% protection against infection and being hospitalized. Beginning on October 1, workers will have to submit a PCR test twice a month if they aren't vaccinated.

It baffles me why the question is framed as "why are you forcing people to pay for PCR tests out of pocket". The government made sure that people have access to free vaccines. The citizen chooses whether to pay or not. Not a single significant side effect after over 300,000 vaccinations.

Some are trying to find a conspiracy in the vaccination process. This is why the government members decided to take the vaccines first. Everyone in this room has been vaccinated. My family is also vaccinated. If we learn that antibodies are declining and there is a need for a booster shot, we will undoubtedly get it. At the moment, we have the capacity to vaccinate 10,000 citizens every day. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063905.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063908.html

Cassations Court makes a landmark decision in a domestic abuse case

There was a domestic abuse trial in 2016. The husband was accused of causing mental and physical suffering. The Lower Court threw some of the charges, while the Appeals Court "upheld" it.

The General prosecutor recently decided to challenge the verdict by escalating it to Cassations Court. The latter sided with prosecutors and made a ruling that sets precedence.

The court took into account ECHR rulings and acknowledged that there is a severity scale. The husband's actions had aggravating factors and were accompanied by forcing the wife to go hungry, routinely scaring her to the point of unconsciousness, etc.

The Court also ruled that the victim can be considered financially dependent on the perpetrator despite having own income if a significant portion of the family's finances is managed by the perpetrator.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063921.html

VIDEO: Armenia's first snowfall lands on Mt. Aragats

https://www.facebook.com/100001597763810/videos/1221047195051013/

PHOTO: Nane Avetisyan becomes the Miss Universe Armenia 2021

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221595

PHOTO: exhibition in Yerevan featured handmade arts prepared by wounded soldiers

The items were made of metals taken from bomb shells, bullets, and shrapnel.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/221544

Armenia begins producing titanium prosthetics for wounded soldiers

The diasporan experts helped create a new center that has already manufactured titanium prosthetics for 11 soldiers. They all received surgeries and returned to their daily lives.

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/295655/

comedy series is being filmed in Armenia about high-tech and the future

Musk Factor: Where Will You be in 2028?, is a 10-episode TV show meant to promote Armenia as a tech hub. The protagonists are four guys who realize their seemingly impossible dream: cloning humans in the virtual world.

Things take a turn when one of their fathers flies to Mars to become one of its first inhabitants.

They'll try to make the show available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and HOBO Max. They are trying to pave the way for more Armenian content to make it to streaming services in the future.

The producer Rafael Tadevosyan, who is working with international experts, was inspired by Rick and Morty, The Big Bang Theory, Silicone Valley, Back to the Future, Matrix, Terminator 2, Fahrenheit 451, etc.

Slated for release in the summer of 2022.

https://en.armradio.am/2021/09/24/musk-factor-armenian-comedy-series-about-the-future-slated-for-release-in-summer-2022/ https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063903.html

top-10 bestseller children's books in August

10) The brilliant world of Tom Gates, by Liz Pichon.

4) Փիսիկի գանգատը, by Hovhannes Tumanyan

3) Three little pigs

2) Kolobok

1) Wild symphony, by Dan Brown

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063855.html

today in history

1852: the first airship flight is conducted, half a century before the first aircraft flight by Wright Bros.

1916: Armenian painter Hovhannes Ayvazovsky's grandson Konstantin Artseulov, a professional pilot, is one of the first to intentionally conduct a "spin" and take his plane out of it.

>Konstantin Artseulov, having independently discovered a recovery technique, somewhat different from Parke's and Hawker's, on the frontlines, demonstrated it in a dramatic display over the Kacha flight school's airfield on September 24, 1916, intentionally driving his Nieuport 21 into a spin and recovering from it twice.

1948: Honda is founded

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1063875.html https://allinnet.info/people/konstantin-artseulov/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin_(aerodynamics)

IN OTHER NEWS

R Kelly lawyer compares the singer to Martin Luther King in the closing argument of his sex-trafficking trial.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58672967

The United States had an emperor named Joshua Abraham Norton, aka Norton I.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Norton

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/pur5cf/news_sep242021_it_begins_1b_project_to_build/