2022 February 3

Daily news wrap-up

Feb/3/2022: Deal reached for $60m ski resort # Track your bus # Share of low-wage workers drops; Employment & salaries up # Polls: Pashinyan rating; Relations w/Turkey; Free speech; Direction; Trusted media # EU firms in Armenia # Latest Covid stats # Picsart buys Code Republic # Aliyev's paranoia
by ar_david_hh

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Tour 10-minute Thursday digest in 2601 words.

the share of low-wage workers has decreased from 60% to 51% since 2018: Pashinyan

Pashinyan: Despite the pandemic and war, Armenia saw a significant increase in the average salary.

2021: ֏277k ($576)

2020: ֏247k ($513)

2019: ֏234k ($486)

2018: ֏223k ($463)

The share of workers earning under ֏150k ($311) has decreased from 60.4% to 51.45% since 2018.

The size of salary fund paid to Armenian workers each year:

2021: ֏139b

2020: ֏124b

2018: ֏101b

Pashinyan: Armenia ended 2021 with a new record in number of registered jobs

2021: 659k

2020: 621k

2019: 628k

2018: 588k

Armenia had the largest GDP growth and smallest inflation in EAEU: Economy Minister

Armenia 5.8% / 7.7% (GDP/inflation)

Russia 4.8% / 8.5%

Kyrgyzstan 3.6% / 11.2%

Kazakhstan 3.5% / 8.4%

Belarus 3.3% / 10%

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074617.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074622.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074635.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074621.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/230483

breaking down Armenia's $9.2 billion (֏4.4 trillion) debt

22% of the $6.6 billion foreign debt is owed to countries, while 77% to international organizations:

World Bank's IDA - 20% (֏900b)

IBRD bank - 18.2% (֏822b)

ADB bank - 17% (֏765b)

...

Russia - 8% (֏356b)

Germany - 6% (֏263b)

Japan - 4.3% (֏194b)

...

https://factor.am/471598.html https://hetq.am/hy/article/140592

Pashinyan: we are very close to recording the first results of unblocking regional communications

The government discussed the resumption of the Armenia-Nakhijevan-Iran-Azerbaijan railway route. Pashinyan spoke about the February 2 meeting between Russian deputy Premier Overchuk, his Armenian counterpart, and the Russian Railways director.

Pashinyan: We are very close to seeing the first results by the tripartite working group. We have already reached agreements on this topic. The railway route must work per Armenian law in Armenia, per Azeri law in Azerbaijan.

We're discussing technical parts, design, construction, and financing.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but if it continues like this, we can confidently say that the resumption of this route will become a reality soon. //

Deputy Premier: We're in touch with the Russian Railways, which has a great experience and could help us with advice. We will have detailed information that will allow us to evaluate the profitability of this North-South and East-West route, and to use the correct financial model.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074626.html

Armenian-Austrian business forum launched in Yerevan

See [Wednesday report](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/sizmg9/daily_digest_222022_education_reforms_career/) for context. Austrian MFA visited Armenia to discuss economic cooperation and regional issues.

19 Austrian and 100 Armenian company representatives attended a business forum today. They discussed improving business conditions in Armenia. Austria wants to cooperate in agriculture, high-tech, etc.

Austrian company signs a memorandum to build a skiing complex in Armenia

Doppelmayr signed a cooperation agreement with its Armenian colleague Myler Mountain Resort to build a new skiing complex in village Yeghipatrush (part of Aparan). [Details about the ski resort in July 29 post.](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/ou6729/news_recap_for_thursday_jul292021/)

Economy Minister Kerobyan said the goal is to have the resort operational next year. Myler Mountain Resort will invest $30 million, with another $30 million from other private investors. The Armenian firm will purchase an aerial ropeway from Doppelmayr for €24 million.

1,500 permanent and 250 temporary jobs are planned.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074639.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074641.html https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/298254/

location of public buses will be electronically monitored for quality, bus tracking app for passengers in the horizon

The Government drafted a bill about public transport reforms, yet to be approved by the Parliament. It will define the concepts of "route sheet" and "electronic routing service".

Infrastructure Ministry: It is proposed to define the concept of "route sheet", which will be issued by the companies providing the services. It will ensure the proper quality of services.

The electronic routing service will enable the regulation and control of transport vehicles through a unified electronic information system. //

QP MP Hovik Aghazaryan: Yerevan has many transport routes that do not operate with consistency and in a timely manner. This should be addressed by the bill. Այն երթուղիները, որոնք 10 րոպեից ավելի միջակայք ունեն, չվացուցակով աշխատեն.

Infrastructure Ministry: Yes. And the electronic system will indicate when the vehicle entered the route, its location in real-time, etc. Eventually, the Yerevan municipality will open that data to passengers so they can monitor the bus location. In other countries, you can use your smartphone to see when the bus is going to arrive, so you won't waste time at the bus stop. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074624.html

Yerevan man fined $1,000 under "grave insult" law | Gender slurs over public transport service

Last year the parliament adopted an amendment to the personal insult law to set new penalties. Certain types of insults against public figures, civil society members, and journalists became a felony. The authors want to promote civility. Critics said it's too harsh.

The first verdict was read recently under the amended law. The man, agitated by public transport service in Yerevan, had dialed the "102" police hotline and used gender slurs against Pashinyan, High-Tech Minister, and their family members.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074638.html

four employees of a Yerevan kindergarten charged with hate crime

Report: The child attended one of the kindergartens in Yerevan from 2019-to 2021. The employees tortured and abused the child because the father is a Pakistani. Criminal charges are pressed. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074676.html

authorities recover $1.7 million in damages done by an organization run by Yerevan

The suspect was freed because of the statute of limitations, but the ֏809 million was returned to the budget. No other details.

https://factor.am/471463.html

opposition wants to repeal the point-based traffic penalty system

Two years ago the ruling pastry adopted a law to establish a point-based system. Each driver can "waste" up to 9 points per year before the license is suspended. The goal is to discourage bad behavior. Another reason was to prevent the "rich" from "getting away by paying small fines".

HD MP Vardevanyan: We should remove the point system because it's unconstitutional. The driver is punished twice for the same offense when you deduct a point and issue a monetary fine. We could, for example, have only a point system without the monetary penalty.

QP MP Hayk Sargsyan: Wrong. The driver is not being punished twice. No monetary fines are envisaged for the last traffic violation that deducts the final 9th point. The removal of [first 8] points in itself is [not a double punishment]. //

After a debate, the Parliamentary committee decided to keep the point system.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074629.html

special envoys from Armenia and Turkey will hold the second meeting in Vienna on February 24

The first one-on-one meeting was held in Moscow on January 14, followed by the establishment of direct Istanbul-Yerevan flights by Armenian and Turkish airlines yesterday.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074691.html

red is a sus 🤔

A reporter asked for comments about Turkish nationals owning and purchasing properties in Armenia.

Economy Minister: They have always purchased and owned properties in Armenia. Check the Cadastre Committee database, State Registry, and Կենտրոնական դեպոզիտարիա. We aren't talking about strategically important objects.

Armenia's economy has always been open to Turkish goods, with the exception of the 2021 embargo. If you speak with traders in the Petak flea market in Yerevan, you'll realize that they've had business ties with their Turkish colleagues for decades. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074630.html

government approves signing an economic cooperation agreement with Slovakia

It aims to develop long-term economic relations in the areas of industry, tourism, energy, agriculture, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074659.html

tax incentives for Jermuk Group (mineral water) and Royal Glas Group (agriculture) to invest in Armenia

The government approved import tax waivers for the two firms today. The latter plans to establish 20 hectares of gardens by 2024. Apple and other fruits will be exported.

The large quantities of fruits will lower the prices in Armenia and make Armenian products competitive abroad, said the government.

Jermuk Group wants to import raw materials to expand production and export to the US, UAE, EU, Georgia, ...

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074661.html

POLLS: Approval/disapproval %

Pashinyan 49/48

Armen Sarkissian 35/53

Army leadership 40/54

Army 58/37

Parliament 31/67

Courts 37/47

Police 68/29

NSS 50/41

HRO 68/25

Is the country headed in the right direction?

34% yes, 46% no, 20% didn't answer.

Men, non-Yerevan residents, and the elderly groups were more likely to answer "yes". Close results by education.

Is the country governed in the interest of the majority or some groups?

31% majority, 61% some groups, 8% no answer

Do you believe you can influence the decision made in the country?

66% yes, 33% no.

Are you satisfied with the way democracy is developing?

51% yes, 47% no.

Do you believe people are afraid of openly expressing their opinions?

31% yes, 66% no.

What are the major problems in Armenia?

43% border and national security, by far the largest problems. (The survey was taken during/after November 2021 clashes)

Evalute the state of relationship with the following countries: good/bad %

France 92/7

USA 77/20

EU 69/26

Russia 64/34

Should Armenia normalize relations with Turkey while promoting Armenia's Genocide/Karabakh interests?

73% yes, 25% no.

How will the opening of transport routes with Turkey impact the Armenian economy?

35% help, 8% neither negative nor positive, 53% harm.

Most trustworthy media source?

28% Public TV

16% Shant

16% Armenia

12% Azatutyun

5% ArmNews

5% TV5

3% news.am

2% Yerkir Media

1% Kentron

Most popular sources of political news (used at least once a week)

Facebook 70%, YouTube 47%, Telegram 16%, Instragram 15%, Twitter 4%.

Survey by IRI. The data is from November-December.

https://factor.am/471448.html https://www.iri.org/resources/public-opinion-surveyresidents-of-armenia/

High Tech Minister officially terminates ANC party membership ahead of the presidential election

Vahagn Khachaturyan is no longer a member of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's ANC party, announced the ANC today.

Khachaturyan has secured 65 MP votes from the ruling QP party. That is enough to elect him as president during the second round of elections, which will be held in Parliament next month.

Khachaturyan: Thank you for trusting me. I'll work harder as president.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074616.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074672.html https://factor.am/471219.html

Armenian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai attracted many visitors: Economy Minister

Kerobyan: Ties were established with representatives of Portugal, Russia, Kazakhstan, Slovenia, etc. The Enterprise Armenia signed a memorandum with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The historical-cultural exhibits and archaeological materials displayed in our pavilion attracted many visitors. They had a chance to see via the VR the evolution of each of the exhibits presenting the Armenian culture and history.

We'll be even better represented during Expo 2025 Japan. Armenia will have a separate building designed by us. We need to think of something new for the Asian market. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074620.html

European companies want to move their businesses from China to Armenia: Economy Minister

Kerobyan: Italian luxury brand [LaBottega] opened a textile facility in Charentsavan where they produce towels and bathrobes. It's because the EU has a transborder carbon tax on Chinese products, and combined with logistics with China getting more expensive, China is not as appealing anymore. We've held meetings with European firms that expressed a desire to move to Armenia. //

https://factor.am/471319.html

the army conducted "hands-on" air defense exercises

The aim was to locate the enemy's surveillance and striker technologies.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074677.html

COVID stats

9.6k tested. 4.4k infected. 2.3k healed. 5 deaths.

80% of COVID patients in hospitals have Omicron

The symptoms resemble flu but it can kill you, reminded the Minister.

4% of daily infections need hospitalization

Healthcare Ministry is expanding the bed count amid the new wave.

37% of adults are fully vaccinated, 46% have taken at least one shot

Pashinyan: Those are rookie numbers. We gotta pump those numbers up. The vax rate is especially low among the unemployed residents. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074609.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074631.html#:~:text=տոկոսը%20շատ%20ցածր%20է%20համարում՝%20նշելով%2C%20որ%20պետք%20է%20միջոցներ%20գործադրվեն%2C%20որ%20պատվաստման%20թիվն%20աճի https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074680.html https://youtu.be/9z19RnAMR_M

Armenian tech giant Picsart acquires Armenian learning platform Code Republic

20 employees will join Picsart. The platform allows you to learn programming, AI, and web design.

Picsart has 800 employees in New York, Bangalore, Berlin, Moscow, Tokyo, Yerevan, etc. It has 150 million users in 180 countries.

https://picsart.com/blog/post/code-republic-acquisition https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/298235/

Aliyev is concerned about a "coup" organized by Western human rights organizations

Citing western organizations' criticism about human rights abuses in Azerbaijan, Aliyev referred to Azerbaijan as an attractive state for international NGOs to "organize a revolution". He said the youth is being "recruited", and that revolutions have been attempted unsuccessfully.

He accused the NGOs of supporting Armenians in the Karabakh issue. He listed the NGOs: Freedom House, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, George Soros' organizations, Reporters Without Borders.

Why the BIG MAD?

Investigative journalists at Soros-financed OCCRP have busted Aliyev clan members with offshore corruption on multiple occasions.

Soros's Open Society office in Armenia recently prepared a 300-page report about Azerbaijan's war crimes in Karabakh.

https://factor.am/471441.html

Azeri soccer federation has asked UEFA to protect their players from Armenians ahead of a match in Marseille (France)

Olympique Marseille is set to play against GƏRƏBƏĞ FC on February 17. The latter has asked UEFA to ensure the local Armenian community doesn't "incite provocations".

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/230530

Not so brotherly: Baku demands an apology from a Turkish parliament MP

Turkish opposition CHP MP had complained about the energy cooperation between the brotherly nations. Aliyev didn't appreciate it. His spokeswoman demanded an apology.

Aliyev office: The friendly and fraternal relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan, formed as a result of joint efforts of the two countries' leadership, have allowed Azerbaijan to invest over $19 billion in Turkey. We will continue to do so to ensure Turkey's energy independence. No third-party manipulation can affect our relations. //

https://factor.am/471651.html

Azeri official to Europe: Don't expect us to replace Russia as your gas supplier

EU and US are negotiating with Qatar and Asian countries, including Azerbaijan, for additional gas supplies to balance Russia.

Azerbaijan started sending gas to Europe at the end of 2020. Its deliveries to Europe, Turkey, and Georgia are 10th of Gazprom's, and that supply was pre-sold a decade ago to help finance the pipelines.

Azeri ambassador to UK: Azerbaijan is not a competitor to Russia because of the volumes. We could help with some deliveries but the volumes are not equal, that's obvious. //

>The White House has approached gas producers including Qatar, Nigeria, Egypt, Libya and companies operating in Algeria about increasing output should hostilities break out.

For now, Europe relies on the LNG that’s been arriving at its shores, helping to ease high prices.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/europe-faces-harsh-reality-finding-095253820.html https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-02/u-s-talks-to-china-japan-india-about-sending-gas-to-europe

oil prices reach 7-year high amid failure by Russia and Nigeria to pump the rookie numbers up

COVID's initial wave had collapsed the demand, so OPEC+ cartel decided to take lots of oil out of the market. They have since been gradually increasing output again.

The cartel, however, has repeatedly failed to meet its monthly target. Most of the shortfall came from Russia and Nigeria.

>Production from OPEC+ countries increased by only 250,000 barrels per day in December, or 63% of the group's stated target

Could other OPEC+ states step in and pump more? Saudis and UAE have the highest capacity. However, the former doesn't want to dramatically increase output due to an agreement with other cartel members.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/02/investing/opec-saudi-arabia-oil-prices/index.html

VIDEO: light is not nearly as fast as you think it is

Visualization of how fast the light travels

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/using-planets-to-visualize-the-speed-of-light/

Harry Potter Book Night 2022 event was held in Yerevan

It's celebrated around the world.

>Harry Potter Book Night takes place each year and is a chance for everyone to join together to celebrate J.K. Rowling’s wonderful series.

The fans gathered at Zangak publishing house in Yerevan to get nerdy. The first book was published 25 years ago. Feel old yet, grumpy pal?

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074668.html

today in history

1966: Luna-3 lands on the Moon to prove Alex Jones that Moon is real

1998: President Levon Ter-Petrosyan resigns

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1074595.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/sjujj4/feb32022_deal_reached_for_60m_ski_resort_track/