2022 February 17

Daily news wrap-up

Feb/17/2022: Kocharyan about a Union State w/Russia __ Tender for North-South; 27 bridges; 5 tunnels __ Armenia to host intl. events __ Mortgage subsidy for IDPs __ Tax waivers for investment __ Greenhouse complex __ Peacekeepers tell Azeri convoy to leave __ EU wants EU to be active __ Soldier bill
by ar_david_hh

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This is your 10-minute Thursday digest in 2610 words.

Armenia announces pre-qualification tender for Sisian-Kajaran section of North-South road

Pashinyan: This strategically important road will be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Essentially, an investment project of this size has never been implemented in the history of independent Armenia.

We are turning this into North-South-East-West, aka "Armenian Crossroads". It'll connect Armenia to Iran, another branch to Azerbaijan, and later to Nakhijevan and Turkey. The design of East-West will begin when political agreements are reached.

The pre-qualification tender will last 70 days. The winners will be able to participate in the tender for the construction.

Simultaneously, work is being done on the construction of the Armenia-Nakhijevan-[Iran]-Meghri-Azerbaijan railroad. We hope a legal document will be signed soon to expedite the process. //

Infrastructure Minister Sanosyan: [The road](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/sq95q7/feb112022_northsouth_road_in_syunik_will_be_twice/) will meet international standards. The entire North-South highway is 560km. This new 60km is one of the key sections.

The current Sisian-Kajaran toad's average speed is 50km/h. The new one will be 100km/h. It'll reduce travel time by 2 hours. It'll be modern, safe, with international standards.

There will be 27 bridges with a combined 4.7km length, and 5 tunnels at 12km, with the single longest tunnel being 8.6km.

We're inviting international construction firms. The tender should have a construction winner by the end of this year. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075776.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075779.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075783.html

Tags: #NorthSouth

Yerevan's Babajanyan St. will be rebuilt

The government discussed road repairs to improve the connection with Georgia. There are other important roads beside the North-South.

Today they discussed the need to rebuild Babajanyan Street. This road links the Argavand-Shirak and Ashtarak-Babajanyan roads, west of Yerevan.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075817.html

Armenia is preparing to host several international sports & science events

Last year the Sports Ministry announced an agreement to host the European Boxing Championship in Yerevan in May. "It is up to Azerbaijan to participate. We have promised to ensure their unimpeded and safe participation."

Today the government allocated ֏78M to prepare Hamalir with equipment to host 280 players and 40 countries.

Pashinyan: Hamalir will also prepare to host the Junior Eurovision song contest this year. The Tourism Committee and the Economy Ministry should get to work.

Economy Minister: Other notable events are also planned for this year. UN World Tourism Organization's annual conference on June 1, and STARMUS international festival with 6 Noble Prize winner guests. Works are being done to also invite Noble Prize winner Ardem Patapoutian.

Education Minister: Armenia will also host the 2022 International Biology Olympiad in Yerevan in July. //

On Monday, Yerevan's Hamalir will host the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. Delegations from Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Ukraine (Eastern Partnership) are invited.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075784.html https://sport.mediamax.am/en/news/boxing/44968 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075812.html http://arka.am/en/news/politics/yerevan_to_host_euronest_parliamentary_assembly_s_meetings/

government approved the Industrial Greenhouse Complex investment program

It'll be implemented on 115 hectares of land in Gegharkunik province. The state has authorized a land transaction with the investor Green Solutions Ltd.

Infrastructure Minister: The total cost of the investment program is €48M. A 45-hectare greenhouse complex will be built with a 3-hectare nursery. The construction will last 60 months and will create ~450 permanent jobs, with 75% expected to be women.

12,000 tons of veggies will be produced annually, mostly for exports. The condition is that the lands acquired with the government's support must serve only for this program. //

Pashinyan: We are interested in such major investments. Make sure there are no obstructions in future stages. The private sector will play an important role in reaching the ambitious economic growth figures. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075791.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075812.html

tax waiver was granted to Ararat Food Combinat to continue its $44M investment program

The company, established in 2001, will import materials worth $1M to produce fruit juice and canned food. 65 new jobs will be created.

company will produce and export motor oils and lubricants

The government added Hayk-21 company to the "Alliance" free economic zone to encourage a $2M investment for oil & lubricant production. 30 new jobs.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075812.html

governnment allocates $6.8M to help re/build several schools and kindergartens

Renovate 4 schools, build 21 modular schools, build 10 modular kindergartens, design 12 modular kindergartens. Rebuild dozens of school gyms.

https://factor.am/476659.html https://youtu.be/_eUxBL37sgI

Robert Kocharyan wants the president to be someone from the church

Kocharyan: Someone respectable from the church would be the best candidate at this time to ensure impartiality. High Tech Minister Khachaturyan doesn't have the qualities.

Robert Kocharyan doesn't want you to panic over the possibility of joining a "Union State" with Russia and Belarus

Kocharyan: Don't be afraid of any integration processes. We must sit down and calculate what we win and lose. There are models, such as the EU, that are admired around the world. Although the Union State between Belarus and Russia doesn't have that level of integration.

We haven't received such offers yet and I never received one during my tenure, but we should treat such processes pragmatically. We must be a lot more integrated with Russia. //

Kocharyan accused the Pashinyan administration of weakening Armenia's positions in the region. He said Armenia was in a much better negotiating position in the past.

Free Citizens NGO responds: Armenia lost its sovereignty significantly under Kocharyan. He was the number one corruptionaire in Armenia. Now that the justice has reached him, he is seeking a sponsor in Kremlin and is prepared to sacrifice anything in Armenia just to avoid jail again. I'm becoming more convinced that Kocharyan was wrapped around Armenia's neck not by Levon Ter-Petrosyan but by Kremlin.

There were much better conditions to resolve the Karabakh conflict under the Kocharyan administration, but he failed. For some reason, for him, Armenia's history begins in 2020. //

Kocharyan: Armenia has chosen the path to replace Russian influence with Turkish, supported by the U.S.

Kocharyan: We need to increase the Russian influence to prevent Turkish control over Armenia's politics and economy. Look at Georgia. In just 5-10 years they changed people's attitudes with anti-Russian ideas. //

Kocharyan said that one of the ways for Armenia to increase influence in the South Caucasus is by joining the Union State with Russia.

https://youtu.be/BS8OZbooM-E https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075785.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075795.html https://factor.am/476962.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231416 www.civilnet.am/news/650343/հայաստանը-գնում-է-ռուսական-ազդեցությունը-թուրքականով-փոխարինելու-ճանապարհով․-քոչարյան/ www.civilnet.am/news/650356/գործոն-դառնալու-լուծումներից-մեկը-կարող-է-լինել-միութենական-պետության-ձևավորումը-քոչարյան/

Turkish media refers to 10 regions of Russia as "Turkic autonomous republics"

Turkish outlet Karar wrote about the existence of 200-250 million Turkic people around the world, with "only the third living in Turkey".

It lists "Turkic states": Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Northern Cyprus.

It lists "Turkic autonomous regions": China's Xinjiang, Moldova's [Gaguazia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagauzia), Nakhijevan, and Uzbekistan's [Karakalpakstan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karakalpakstan).

It lists "Turkic autonomous republics": Russia's Tatarstan, Bashkiria, Chuvashia, Tuva, Yakutia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Dagestan, Khakassia, Karachay-Cherkessia.

Recently, a Turkish nationalist party leader gifted a map of the "Turkic world" to Erdogan. It includes parts of southern Russia. Putin's spokesman responded at the time, saying the center of the Turkic world is in Russia.

https://ria.ru/20220217/respublika-1773340603.html https://factor.am/476881.html

Erdogan's plan is for tourists to help rescue the Turkish economy

Hang tight for a few more months until the inflation eases and tourists arrive, urged the president. Ankara forecasts tourist arrivals to return to pre-pandemic numbers with close to $34 billion in revenues.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/erdogans-plan-steer-turkish-economy-out-winter-crisis-2022-02-17/

Turkish opposition ahead of Erdogan in Istanbul polls

Ruling AKP 35% (was 42% in 2018)

Oppo CHP 36% (was 27%)

Support for Erdogan stood at 34% in Istanbul and 38% in Turkey (down from 44%).

Survey by TEAM.

https://factor.am/477013.html

Putin called for the deportation of illegal migrant workers

Putin: Any kind of extremism, violation of the law, illegal work, should lead to an expedited decision on expulsion from Russia and an entry ban in the future. There will be severe consequences for criminal groups that build their business on illegal migration. //

Last year Putin enacted temporary measures to allow foreigners to sort their legal status out. The "grace period" ended this January 1st. Illegal migrants can receive a $65 fine and get deported. Companies that hire illegal workers can receive a $10,000 fine per migrant.

>Because of the free movement of labor in EAEU countries (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia) citizens of Armenia are exempted from work permit requirements and can take advantage of preferential treatment in areas of labor law, social protection, medical treatment, taxation, immigration etc.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231409 https://armenian-lawyer.com/citizenship/

Azeri military convoy is forced to turn back after Artsakh residents shut down a road

The road was closed near Martakert's Mazavuz as a sign of protest to recent ceasefire violations by Azeri soldiers. An Artsakh MP said that sometimes the Russian peacekeepers urge farmers not to collect their grapes next to the border out of an abundance of caution.

After getting stuck on the closed road for a while, Russian peacekeepers urged the Azeri convoy to return because they "couldn't guarantee that nothing would happen to the convoy".

Video: https://youtu.be/nxJx2JSShHU https://factor.am/476952.html https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/298529/

European Parliament urged the EU to be more active in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process

European Parliament reaffirmed its "unwavering support to the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, and in particular as regards their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within their internationally recognized borders as well as the respect for the will of the people to decide their own future and foreign policy, free from outside interference."

EP called for the full implementation of the CEPA agreement with Armenia and to increase the EU's engagement in the South Caucasus and Karabakh conflict, and to press Azerbaijan and Armenia to demarcate their borders and release all remaining POWs [the resolution refers to them as prisoners of war].

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0039_EN.pdf https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075797.html

update: NSS has busted more former and active soldiers accused of spying for Azerbaijan during the 2020 war

A report about busting 19 people was shared earlier. More people have since been charged.

The NSS shared footage allegedly recorded by the spies in military bases, and a wiretapped conversation. One of the suspects, who was a war participant (not a conscript), has confessed to giving the coordinates and info of Armenian troops and equipment stationed in Ishkhanadzor-Lachin. He also took the photos of dead Azeri soldiers' documents and sent them to Azeri intel. He was promised $200 but never received it, he claimed.

https://youtu.be/yz0hn-jJIEQ?t=129 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075814.html

the DNA identification of deceased soldiers is complete: Healthcare Ministry

Avanesyan: There were samples that were difficult to analyze. We send over 100 to the Netherlands and received the results. We still have grieving parents who refuse to accept the results and claim the remains for burial. Relevant agencies are working to complete this sensitive process ASAP.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075794.html

Armenia and Brazil marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations

$55M trade turnover last year. Armenia exports chloroprene rubber, chemicals, metal pipes, and imports meat, coffee, tobacco, sweets.

The Armenian community settled in Brazil in the second half of the 19th century. There were 100 people as of 1895, and 20,000 by 1948. Today it's 25k-70k depending on the source.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075769.html

government supports the ratification of air communication agreement with Syria

It'll ensure bilateral regular flights, boost economic cooperation, and help the Armenian diaspora in Syria.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075799.html

COVID stats

5.7k tested. 1.7k infected. 1.7k healed. 24 deaths.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075774.html

bill: brothers of the soldiers who died in war will be exempt from military service

QP MP Hayk Sargsyan presented a bill during the government session to amend the military service law. If approved by parliament, it will no longer be required for the person to be the sole male child in the family. Losing a family member will exempt the other siblings.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075812.html

thousands of Artsakh IDPs will receive mortgage subsidies in Armenia and Artsakh

The government approved a program to help IDPs who want to purchase or build a house. It can be located in Yerevan, provinces, or Artsakh. The size of the principal and interest subsidy depends on the location:

>Երևանում ամսական վճարների մարման համար հանրագումարային մինչև 8 մլն դրամ մայր գումարի և դրա նկատմամբ հաշվեգրվող մինչև 8% տոկոսագումարի գծով վճարում [֏10M/10% in provinces and ֏12M/12% in Artsakh.]

If the house is worth less than the subsidy offered by the state, the mortgage company won't require additional ability-to-repay checks (pay stubs, etc.).

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075812.html

new parking station for gas-powered buses will be built in Yerevan

Government: It'll be at the intersection of Shirak St. and Arshakunyats St. The terminal will also have a gas station, carwash, administrative and service buildings. This is necessary as part of our agreement with EBRD to purchase 100 compressed gas buses and service the existing 211.

The stations we use today are seismically vulnerable and outdated. The new station will take up 12 hectares and serve 400 buses. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075812.html

DRAMA: ex-Yerevan mayor Marutyan is accused of nepotism after the arrest of Garbage Department chief

Last year Yerevan mayor Marutyan was ousted amid complaints from the municipal Council's ruling and opposition colleagues. In his last speech, Marutyan said he had resisted attempts to appoint certain people's "friends" in city positions. He would later tell investigators that he had no specific examples to report. His colleagues, at the time, [accused him](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/rmemnm/dec222021_yerevan_council_fires_mayor_marutyan/) of being the one who ignored embezzlement in the sanitation department.

Several months later, [on February 9](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/son3tc/news_digest_feb92022_pashinyan_on_restoring/), the authorities charged Yerevan's sanitation department chief Armen Grigoryan with ֏17M embezzlement. He is accused of registering fake employees to steal from the salary fund.

QP MP Vahagn Aleksanyan today: The sanitation department chief was Marutyan's close friend and was appointed under his order for being his friend. He got arrested for embezzling ֏17M, confessed, and issued compensation for damages. The guy was receiving ֏1.5M/month on average. Now go watch Marutyan's resignation speech again. //

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231418 https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/rmemnm/dec222021_yerevan_council_fires_mayor_marutyan/

obtaining passport abroad will be free in the event of an emergency

The government approved amendments to how diasporans (Armenian or foreign nationals) obtain Armenian passports while abroad. The fee will be waived in the event of an emergency that poses a threat to their health or life. The "pilot program" was implemented in Syria last year.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075812.html

authorities shut down Heisenberg's meth lab in Yerevan

Yerevan police chased a vehicle [obviously an Opel] on Sunday after receiving a tip that a man possessed narcotics. He threw suspicious bags out of the window when the vehicle stopped. It was a taxi, and he was the passenger.

The cops found the meth bags. The 38-year-old Heisenberg was arrested. They searched his home and found a cooking lab with over a kilo of powder lying around.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231384

VIDEO: mini-documentary about "Robin" the Armenian robot

https://youtu.be/ks_xc75XYK4

Armenian-Russian tennisist Karen Khachanov (#30) is in Doha semifinals

He beat the Croat opponent today and will play against the Spaniard tomorrow.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075766.html

today in history

1600: Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned at the stake for suggesting a bunch of unorthodox ideas, including the universe being infinite, other solar systems existing, etc. He was also a provocateur. The inquisitors stripped Bruno naked, bound his tongue, and burned him alive.

1924: legendary Soviet-Armenian officer [Gevork Vartanian](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075761.html) is born. According to Soviet sources, he helped thwart a Nazi plot to kill Allied leaders in 1943.

1979: a 3-week war between China and Vietnam begins. Both sides claim victory. Chinese withdraw from Vietnam. Vietnam continues the occupation of Cambodia for another decade.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1075760.html https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/burned-at-the-stake-for-believing-in-science https://historyhub.info/the-forces-behind-the-killing-of-giordano-bruno/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Vietnamese_War

more

The news in русский (by Impossible-Ad-).

News archive: http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Daily_Anti-Corruption_Reports Donations: soldiers' families, humanitarian aid, US tax-deductible donation.

The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in the court of law, even if they "appear" guilty.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/suylt5/feb172022_kocharyan_about_a_union_state_wrussia/