2022 February 21

Daily news wrap-up

News - Feb/21/2022: Yerevan's Cascade might be finally finished soon __ What was in 1997 Karabakh deal that doomed LTP? __ War Commission; Generals __ IDPs get homes __ Education reforms __ Azeri opposition accuses Aliyev of plotting __ Geopolitics; Euronest __ CEPA's data standards __ Jesus statue
by ar_david_hh

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This is your 15-minute Monday digest in 3781 words.

ICYM weekend digest

https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/sxdq6t/news_digest_feb202022_interview_with_army_expert/

BIG MAD continues: Azerbaijan expands the list of wanted persons to include Serj and Kocharyan after Karabakh Movement anniversary

Azeri prosecutors recently launched a criminal case against Artsakh president Arayik Harutyunyan in Azerbaijan, followed by Artsakh launching a criminal case against Azeri soldiers accused of violence against civilians near the borders.

Angry over the Sunday celebration of the anniversary of Karabakh Movement, and Armenian [MFA's statement](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/sxdq6t/news_digest_feb202022_interview_with_army_expert) about the continuous efforts to recognize Artsakh republic, Azerbaijan decided to issue a warrant for Serj and Kocharyan, by claiming they "incited ethnic hatred between Armenians and Azeris" by holding rallies starting 1988.

Serj's office responds: That's funny and cynical. Aliyev, who has mastered genocidal policy and Armenophobia during the years, has no right to speak about others and press charges. [Serj's office goes on to explain how good of a negotiator and internationally respected figure Serj was in the old days.]

Armenian prosecutor's office: The criminal persecution by Azerbaijan is baseless and illegal, driven by political motives and ethnic hatred.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076066.html https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1076080.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076121.html https://factor.am/478072.html

Longtime LTP aide: Azerbaijan had accepted its defeat in 1994-1997 but they were aided by maximalist officials in Armenia

Levon Zurabyan: I've decided to respond to those who accuse Levon Ter-Petrosyan's team of not being harsh enough on Azerbaijan in the 90s.

In reality, Azerbaijan had capitulated under very heavy terms. We forced them to accept Karabakh as a negotiating party and to accept the phased resolution package in 1997.

The phased resolution:

1) Peace treaty is signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Karabakh as equal parties, under OSCE and UN. This would turn Karabakh into a legal subject under international law.

2) No "territorial integrity of Azerbaijan". Karabakh's final status would be decided after negotiations by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Karabakh, before being presented to OSCE. This would have allowed Armenia and Karabakh to veto unfavorable status terms, thus preventing its return under Azeri rule. This meant the tacit recognition of Karabakh's de facto independence by the world.

3) Azerbaijan wouldn't be allowed to use force in the event of a disagreement over Karabakh status, and wouldn't be allowed to cite the UN's Article 51 about states using self-defense.

4) Two completely demilitarized buffer zones would be formed, forcing Azerbaijan to retreat 10 kilometers from the 1994 border.

5) Lachin corridor would have a buffer that would not be populated by Azeris. It would be demilitarized.

6) Karabakh's army would receive international recognition and the right to control the Lachin region. No Azeri would return to Shushi and Lachin.

7) Azeri civilians would return only to regions outside Nagorno Karabakh and Lachin, but Azeris wouldn't have the right to place military equipment and army in those regions. They could have only 1 police officer per 1,000 people. In other words, in Kelbajar, Aghdam, Jabrayil, Fizuli, Zangelan, and Gubatli they would have up to 700 armed police.

8) International peacekeepers would monitor the buffer zones to ensure the implementation of the agreement. Military jets would be prohibited in the air.

9) Under the international peace treaty, Azerbaijan would lose military control over all territories it lost as a result of the 1994 ceasefire.

10) Armenia would guarantee the security of Karabakh by legally sending troops if Azeris violated the deal.

Robert Kocharyan saved Azerbaijan from this capitulation. As Karabakh leaders, they rejected this agreement, came into power [in Armenia], and were never able to achieve anything better. Over time, Azerbaijan realized that time was working for them.

The last chance was the plan proposed in June 2019. Although Kelbajar would remain under Armenian control until the clarification of Karabakh's status, Karabakh would no longer be an internationally recognized subject. That's why Aliyev agreed and Pashinyan rejected it, leading to the 2020 war.

This is how not-one-inchers brought us here. We were able to defeat Azerbaijan but unable to defeat our illusions. //

http://www.aniarc.am/2022/02/20/1994-1997-levon-zurabyan-2022-bebruary-19/

Putin called his child in South Caucasus

Putin: Do you remember the need to reopen the communication routes in South Caucasus and finalize the Nov 9, Jan 11, and Sochi agreements?

Aliyev: Yes.

Aliyev was invited to Moscow to discuss the progress. They will also sign an "allied cooperation" declaration tomorrow.

... Putin called his other child in South Caucasus

Pashinyan and Putin held a phone conversation about the situation in Ukraine and the implementation of the AM-RU-AZ agreements about unblocking regional trade routes, etc.

Pashinyan was invited to visit Moscow this Spring. Pashinyan, in turn, invited Putin to visit Armenia.

Azeri opposition leader believes Aliyev is planning a "fake coup" to further persecute the opposition

Ali Karimli: It's a "Kazakh scenario for Azerbaijan". The plan is to turn any legitimate protest movement into a violent process by using state agents to justify mass repressions.

The propaganda wing has already launched its operations. Fake opposition media outlets have been promoting the "color revolution" fears.

What the government hasn't figured out yet is whether [to blame West or Russia] as the revolution plotters. They are trying to tie the national council and the national front [led by Karimli] to Putin's Russia. I officially declare that it is a lie and defamation, and an attempt to discredit us.

Yes, we do support changing the government and we'll resume the peaceful rallies after the pandemic. Our people will sooner or later win and put an end to family dynasty and authoritarianism. //

... Ukraine

Things are escalating in eastern Ukraine. Donetsk and Luhansk leaders have again urged Putin to recognize their independence after receiving a rejection last week.

Today Dmitri Medvedev said their recognition is the "only solution if the situation continues to develop in this way". Putin will read a public announcement soon. He told his European colleagues that he plans to recognize the independence.

He made an announcement hours later, officially recognizing Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia will officially provide aid to the two regions.

Syria said it is ready to recognize the independence of breakaway regions.

Russian ruble is devaluing amid tensions with Ukraine

Pre-2014: 30 per $

2015-2018: 60

2019: 65

2020-2021: 73

2022: 80 almost

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076081.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076100.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076112.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076113.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076119.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076124.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076126.html https://factor.am/478190.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076129.html https://factor.am/478296.html

Armenia and South Korea marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations

Kind words were exchanged between diplomats. They'll try to deepen the cooperation in digitization, political, economic, and cultural fields.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076058.html

War Commission invited the representatives of non-parliamentary parties and soldiers' families

The Commission was formed recently. Parliamentary opposition parties refused to take part. The Commission will also invite non-parliamentary parties, groups that represent soldier families, army experts including Artsrun Hovhannisyan.

Commission chief QP Andranik Kocharyan: We have [the aforementioned groups], General Samvel Babayan, and others present here today. Every session, including the ones held behind closed doors, will be recorded on video.

The Commission will invite any person to testify upon a suggestion by any Commission member. There won't be a vote to decide whether to invite for testimony or not.

There will be classified information that cannot be disclosed publicly but the media will be invited and briefed about the process regularly. The 2016 war report also contains classified data and wasn't published, but it's available to officials. I think later it will be published for the public to read.

If there is a need for someone to come to the Commission, they should come. There are attempts to politicize this process by claiming the Commission is illegitimate. This is a constitutionally formed body. Moreover, for the first time, we're inviting the families of fallen soldiers.

Gen. Movses [Mosi] Hakobyan said he won't attend the Commission meetings. He has time to rethink. The moral significance of this investigation is enormous. I'm confident he will change his mind, otherwise, the questions that he was supposed to answer in the Commission will need to be asked publicly.

Gen. Samvel Babayan: The Generals you've mentioned are not "opposition", they are "war participants". They took part and made decisions during the war. The real opposition is us [non-parliamentary parties]. //

The doors closed. The Commission began its work.

... Gen. Samvel Babayan was asked whether he can provide unbiased expertise since he was present in the Command Center during the war:

We need a fully honest investigation. I was in the "bunker" command center during the war because the president [his superior, he was the Security Councilman at the time] sent me there. I wasn't managing the process by giving orders throughout the war. As a member of a non-parliamentary opposition party, I have the right to be in the Commission.

I wrote a letter to Artsakh Defense Army and received a letter with the response: "You have no right to deal with us. You can't even ask questions about the army". So what "managing the army" are you talking about if they gave me that response? I was in the command center as the president's adviser.

Reporter: Do you believe the Commission will conduct an unbiased investigation?

Babayan: It must. Any government should be eager to ensure an honest investigation if it's not guilty. This government received a "gift"; now we must figure out their share of guilt.

For example, who advised Nikol Pashinyan to appoint Artsakh's army commander and chief of the general staff? It turns out it was the Artsakh President Bako Sahakyan and his adviser PU MP Tigran Abrahamyan [also Commission member], who is in "opposition" today. They should be viewed as participants and not merely opposition figures.

Reporter: You said that the opposition party's generals were "participants". What do you mean?

Babayan: They were on the battlefield. They were trying to help in the direction where they were assigned. They aren't just "opposition figures" today.

Reporter: Aren't you also an opposition general who took part in the war?

Babayan: I haven't been part of it for 21 years. The opposition generals we're talking about left the army just several months ago.

Reporter: Does that include Seyran Ohanyan?

Babayan: Of course. He was the MOD until 2016. He took part in laying the army's foundations and carried out duties during the 2020 war, so we should invite him to get his opinion on what orders he received, what errors he saw, what he believes was done right. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076044.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076060.html https://factor.am/477791.html https://youtu.be/EE8ggIBkRVc https://factor.am/477895.html https://youtu.be/xKE4nqvbMVo

opposition figure accuses another opposition figure of lying about Pashinyan's Security Council meeting

Sofia Hovsepyan was a member of the ruling coalition before leaving and adopting an opposition stance in January 2021.

LHK leader Edmon Marukyan: Sofia Hovsepyan and telegram channels are spreading a lie about a Security Council meeting that took place in December 2020.

She gave an interview to [Kocharyan's] TV 5 and claimed that Pashinyan told the attendees -- which included BHK Arman Abovyan and me -- that he wanted to give away Artsakh's Khtsaberd and Hin Tagher villages. [These are the villages that were forcefully captured by Azerbaijan.]

There was no such discussion. It is an obvious lie and it's unclear why Sofia Hovsepyan spreads this lie, and what the agenda of the Telegram channels are.

Hovsepyan left the ruling party only because we lost the war. She is just as responsible for the defeat as any other ruling party member. //

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231581 https://www.facebook.com/marukyan.edmon/posts/503342031146887

Yerevan hosted the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Bureau

Security Council Armen Grigoryan met Euronest leadership to discuss regional issues and the return of POWs. During the meeting with the Lithuanian ambassador, the latter said Lithuania will promote the deepening of Armenia-EU relations, and praised the democratic reforms in Armenia.

Two Azeri delegates arrived in Yerevan to take part in Euronest. They don't plan to give press conferences, said an Armenian official who stressed the need to ensure the physical safety of all guests.

MFA Mirzoyan met the Euronest leaders to discuss the return of POWs, the need to respect the World Court ruling, the normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations, etc.

Pashinyan met the leadership and discussed the need to send the UNESCO mission to occupied territories. They also spoke about unblocking regional communication routes and AM-EU cooperation.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076063.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076047.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076062.html https://en.armradio.am/2022/02/21/sitting-of-euronest-pa-bureau-held-in-yerevan/ https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076075.html

for those interested in the Armenia-EU CEPA agreement implementation progress

Here is a 30-minute video featuring an information center expert. They discuss the personal data protection and data access laws in Armenia, and how well the current standards comply with the European standards.

Guest: The law adopted in 2003 needs an amendment. Armenia needs an alternative dispute resolution center outside regular courts, to allow citizens and journalists to file disputes if they don't receive the information they are entitled to.

Human Rights Ombudsman's office could handle the disputes but it doesn't have the necessary experts, and currently, its decisions are non-binding.

We could implement the British model which uses a universal institute to investigate rejected info requests and personal data protection. Armenia doesn't even have comprehensive statistics about info requests. Some agencies respond promptly, others don't. //

Continue: https://youtu.be/TSuCsZPkqdA?t=471

dozens of people were charged with cybercrimes last year

Prosecutors: It was mostly on Facebook. They convinced the victims to transfer funds and stole their banking data.

138 criminal cases, 33 suspects, ֏136M stolen, ֏10M recovered. //

https://factor.am/478075.html

PHOTO: 260 more IDP families will soon receive new apartments in Artsakh, equipped with household appliances

The apartments in Stepanakert are ready, announced Himnadram. The refrigerators, washing machines, television sets, etc. will be installed soon.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076105.html

BMW driver gets drunk, 5 people die

The Sunday incident in Abovyan involved a head-on collision between BMW and VAZ, with BMW rolling and striking another car.

5 people died in VAZ and one teenager is fighting for her life.

BMW driver was arrested and has since confessed. He was drunk during the crash.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076083.html https://factor.am/477844.html

Gagik Tsarukyan is still deciding what Jesus will look like

No winner was declared today because whopping 200 proposals were submitted to design the Jesus statue. One proposal suggested writing the Hayr Mer prayer in 301 languages below the statue so every tourist can find and read theirs.

They are still holding discussions with designers and earthquake experts to make it safe.

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/298604/

Cascade........... lol

Yerevan administration is negotiating with the Cafesjian Foundation to complete the construction of the iconic Cascade. Mayor Hrachya offered them a joint investment program to develop the area.

Architect: If the board of trustees of the Foundation is not ready to continue fulfilling their obligations, then undoubtedly a queue of investors will appear. The problems of contractors are always taken into account, but they must not obstruct the city’s development. If they’re not continuing the project for some reason, then they must either attract new investors or transfer it to the city. //

Architect Aslan Mkhitaryan (OG) suggested building auditoriums and a hotel in the area. "The Cascade Complex has the potential to become a regional cultural center."

Cascade was designed in the 1970s by architects Jim Torosyan, Sargis Gurzadyan, and the aforementioned Aslan Mkhitaryan. The goal was to connect Arabkir and Zeytun districts and become a cultural center.

Architect Aslan Mkhitaryan: Construction stopped after the 1988 quake and remained suspended in the 1990s. An agreement was reached by benefactor Gerard Cafesjian in 2002.

Yerevan official: After the Cafesjian Museum Foundation was founded in 2002, the city gave them the unfinished properties in Cascade and the nearby lands, including 8 hectares on the right side and 50 meters of unused space to the left.

They can also use the park in front of the Cascade.

In 2009 they finished building an arts center but the Cascade, in general, is still unfinished. They hired an American architect to finish it, the groundwork was done for the base, but the architect passed away. This is why there is a giant abandoned hole with an unfinished building today. Some people are using it as a landfill.

In 2013 and 2019 the Foundation submitted two ideas but they were turned down by the experts. The city is now negotiating with the Foundation to finish the project. //

VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=529999838322810

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076053.html

Tags: #cascade

Yerevan will create a Public Transport Management Center to monitor unruly bus drivers

Official: Tender was launched but the negotiations didn't lead to suitable offers.

Mayor Hrachya: I'd be surprised if everything went normal. When is the next auction?

Official: Soon.

Mayor Hrachya: Get it done soon. Last time a similar process was dragged for a year. You know that many bus drivers speed, smoke, don't stop at bus stops, etc. We need a modern oversight institute to ensure proper service.

Now we get reports that bus drivers are urging passengers to hand over the cash instead of dropping coins in the new coin boxes. DON'T give it to them. We've created the necessary conditions [for coin use]. We spent $20 million on buses. Another €25 million soon, with the help of the government to buy 100 12-meter buses and later trolleybuses.

The money collected from the fare goes towards these purchases. Don't give money to drivers. It's not difficult to have a 100-dram coin in your pocket. Help us reform this system that was neglected for 15-20 years.

Passengers sometimes feel sorry and give the cash to the driver [to help embezzle, presumably], but you should know that the driver is earning $560, twice more than the soldier on the border. Don't complain. When you drop that 100-dram coin, we use it to give the bus driver a salary later. We are headed towards an electronic payment system.

... there are 249 Soviet-era apartment complex buildings in Yerevan that still have the unsanitary built-in garbage holes

The city has been closing the garbage holes because the trash that lands on the ground floor is unsanitary, feeds the rats, and stinks. Instead, the residents are urged to take the trash out and dump them in dedicated bins outside the building, so the trucks can collect them more easily.

Official: Some residents in the Malatia-Sebastia district broke the seals and began dumping the trash in the hole again.

Mayor Hrachya: Identify them, collect the trash, and dump it in front of their apartment doors, if that's normal for them. How else do we explain to them that it's unsanitary? You need to travel some distance to dump the trash.

When the new public bus network is implemented, the passenger will need to walk 400 meters on average to reach a bus stop. Not everything can be installed right in front of you. The same about garbage.

The rat poison is not working. Is it a bad drug? Let's test it on snakes [jokes]. //

https://youtu.be/o-Kz5kKTE4o?t=145 https://factor.am/477787.html https://youtu.be/85U0V85tLpw https://factor.am/477823.html

Ararat's Vedi will hold new municipal elections after parties fail to form a coalition

No one crossed 50%. The ruling QP and Aram Sargsyan's Republic parties withdrew from the process, leaving only one force that didn't have 50%, thus triggering new elections on March 27.

Aram Sargsyan's party hasn't registered to participate again. It will be QP vs a local political force.

https://factor.am/477997.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/231577

Education Ministry about the planned education reforms in Armenia

[January 25 news](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/scob30/jan252022_major_education_reforms_to_address_the/) has context about education problems and the planned reforms. The Ministry held a meeting today to discuss more.

Education Ministry: Beginning this September, as part of the 2030 Plan, the state will provide financial assistance for low-income children, those with special needs [which is no longer just "disabled"], and multi-child families.

By 2030, every settlement in Armenia must have a preschool that is accessible to every family. The attendance in the 3-5 age group must be 85% by 2026, and 95% by 2030. The two main areas of focus:

1) Every person has a talent that they are yet to find. We should give students the opportunity to express themselves.

2) Every stage of the education must be high-quality, competitive, based on national values.

... teachers will get a raise

We plan to amend the salary premiums in the 2023 budget. It'll allow the slary+premium to reach $835 (֏400K). Every school should have teachers that have gone through a certification process, which allows them to get a raise.

... the archaic education system has been wasting children's time

According to World Bank calculations, what the Armenian students learn in 12 years equals just 8.3 years' worth of knowledge. The reforms will aim to increase it from 8.3 to 11.5.

By 2026, we'll build or renovate 300 schools with modern conditions, STEM and IT labs.

... 90% of university graduates should be able to work in their field by 2030

This is why new licensing-based standards will be developed for universities. How the education for various professions is financed by the state, will change. Working groups will be formed to develop financial mechanisms.

With the new standards, we aim to double the number of foreign students and have at least 4 Armenian universities on the global top-500 list in the upcoming years.

... Armenia will retrain diasporan teachers

We'll establish more Armenology centers around the world, improve the standards, and retrain diasporan teachers. One of the goals is to "export" the TUMO.

... "French-style" agricultural colleges will be rebuilt

This year the state budget is rebuilding two agricultural colleges in Goris and Nor Gegh. Two other colleges will be rebuilt later.

Technical info about other reforms and curriculum: https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076102.html

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076087.html

https://youtu.be/Ub8RVFrjBuc https://youtu.be/3R-OArhr7WU https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076042.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076046.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076048.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076050.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076052.html https://youtu.be/cDlsZs0hpOc https://factor.am/477838.html

Tags: #EducationReforms

update: tuition "write-off" bill has aided hundreds of employed students so far

[A bill](https://jam-news.net/armenian-govt-to-help-working-students-pay-tuition) was approved in 2020:

>The Armenian government will start compensating university tuition fees for working students – by returning income tax from their salaries.

>Students studying in one of 80 different disciplines that the government considers important at the moment for the development of the country will be able to receive the tax benefits.

The bill has since gone into effect and refunded ֏264M in tuition fees to 748 students. The IRS has identified document-related problems and is working with the Education Ministry to expand the process.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076057.html https://jam-news.net/armenian-govt-to-help-working-students-pay-tuition/

COVID stats

3192 tested. 293 infected. 1474 healed. 16 deaths.

Armenia makes Pfizer vaccine available for anyone aged 12 and older

The parent must submit a signature, as always. For adults, Pfizer can be used as booster 3 months after receiving the last shot.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076035.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076054.html

Armenia's Sargis Adamyan scores the first goal for "Brugge Club"

Adamyan joined the Belgian soccer club on loan earlier this month. He joined the game in the second half and scored a goal against Eupen in the 90th minute. His team won 3:1.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1076029.html

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/sy5n7l/news_feb212022_yerevans_cascade_might_be_finally/