2022 January 14

Daily news wrap-up

Jan/14/2022: Climate-resilient agriculture __ Drama around "Smart Village" __ Armenia & Turkey meet __ Railroad commission __ Peacekeepers return __ Statements by RU, US, EU __ National airlines FlyArna, displays logo __ Stats: Labor market, tourism, trade __ Crime busts __ Jesus Christ __ and more
by ar_david_hh

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This is your 11-minute Thursday briefing in 2705 words.

SHOUT OUT: Redditor /u/InsideBoysenberry518 is posting my news snippets on Telegram

UPDATE: I've removed the Telegram link to prevent filtering problems. Contact Redditor for info.

Aliyev's project to build a "smart village" to settle Azers in occupied Kovsakan is behind schedule amid complaints of Turkish firm defrauding construction workers

Report: No "big return" to Artsakh's southern region of Zangelan yet. The Smart Village was promised to be the first settlement.

In June 2021, the Azeri government said the construction would be ready by January. Over $6m was allocated for the construction. A contract was signed with "AS Group".

In December, the laborers protested about not receiving wages. They accused the Turkish subcontractor, hired by AS Group, of defrauding them. The wages were promptly distributed once the scandal hit the news.

The workers took their paychecks and refused to return to the construction site after the New Year's holidays.

Turan outlet: you cannot build a village for 1,400 at the cost of 6 private villas. Photos from November show fewer than 50 buildings, let alone 200. //

One fired construction worker said laborers are currently working at the site, and that he believes the village will be ready by the end of this year.

https://factor.am/463648.html

Armenia & Germany want to develop climate-resilient agriculture to help low-income farmers

The program will be implemented within the next 3 years in Tavush, Shirak, and Lori provinces, by Green Trail and Sign of Hope organizations, with the help of German and Armenian governments.

Shirak Governor met Green Tail representatives to discuss the program on Friday. The goal is to address rural poverty in northern regions by promoting agriculture that can "adapt" to climate change.

360 farms will receive aid, half of which will be run by women. Farmers will receive education to improve business and marketing skills.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072956.html

DM me your Arna pics (pls don't)

Armenia's new national airline FlyArna, a joint project by the government's ANIF fund and Air Arabia airline, will launch flights sometime late Spring. They presented the brand today.

Ar - Armenian

n - national

a - airlines

GET IT? But wait, there is more:

A r ~~me~~ n ~~i~~ a

AHHAHA! See how smart they are?

The logo looks like a stickman's legs running away before you can hang it. It has red and orange colors.

The airline is yet to receive some stupid and unnecessary permits from destination countries. The first flights will be conducted to Arabic countries, Russia, and Central Asia.

Europe will join as a destination at a later date once Armenia's Civil Aviation addresses the domestic airline industry's long-existing safety issues as requested by the EU. The EU plans to help Armenia to improve aviation safety.

Co-founder Air Arabia, as a separate brand, already has business contracts with 40 European airports and is waiting for Armenia's safety issue to be resolved.

The contract between ANIF and Air Arabia was signed in July 2021. Armenia owns 51%, Air Arabia 49%. FlyArna's base will be the Zvartnots Airport.

Both founders believe a competitive national airline will boost Armenia's economy, tourism, and create more jobs.

https://youtu.be/R_W25pEDNns https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072958.html

who sent tourists to Georgia in 2021?

1) Turkey 326,000 (-3%)

2) Russia 212,000 (+2%)

3) Armenia 165,000 (-37%)

Total 1.8 million (+8%)

$1.2b in revenues (+130%)

https://arka.am/en/news/tourism/tourist_flow_from_armenia_to_georgia_in_2021_drops_by_more_than_a_third/

Armenian and Turkish special envoys met in Moscow in a bid to thaw relations

The envoys arrived in Moscow on Friday. This is the 4th attempt in the past 30 years to normalize the relations.

The first was in the early 1990s. The second was in 1999-2000 under the US mediation to establish ties between Armenian and Turkish civil society groups. The "Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission" aka TARC was formed.

The third and so far the most serious attempt, also mediated by the US, was made in 2008-2010, in what is now known as "soccer diplomacy". Armenia and Turkey signed normalization protocols in Zurich. It wasn't ratified by either state because of Turkey's demands and the Karabakh conflict.

The fourth and ongoing attempt began in early 2021. "Positive signals" were sent about willingness to meet and talk.

Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Armenian independence on 24 December 1991, but it refused to establish diplomatic relations due to the Karabakh war. The borders were closed in 1993. The air border was opened in 1995.

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EU supports the efforts to normalize the relations. "It is an important goal that the European Union fully supports," said Klaar. The EU has spent €4.5m since 2014 on various efforts to normalize AM-TR relations, said another official.

Russia wants Armenia and Turkey to normalize relations, said MFA Lavrov on Friday. "We're very happy that the first meeting is being held in Moscow today. Our role is to help establish a direct dialogue."

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Envoys Rubinian and Kilic held "constructive talks" for 1.5 hours, presented their thoughts, and agreed to continue the process "without preconditions". The date and time of the second meeting are TBD.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072950.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072961.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072967.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072968.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072984.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072993.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073032.html https://factor.am/463448.html

interview with Armenian and Turkish residents living near the state border

Residents explain why they prefer borders to reopen.

https://youtu.be/Q3BIraF4y6s https://www.azatutyun.am/a/31654715.html

Russian MFA Lavrov: we need to launch the AM-AZ border demarcation process ASAP

Lavrov: the demarcation issue is unrelated to the Karabakh conflict and other regional issues. This is a bilateral issue that we have been proposing to start for a year now.

We proposed the formation of a commission in which Rusia can act as an advisor since we have the original maps describing the state borders and their changes.

I spoke with my Armenian colleague yesterday about setting up the commission and the conditions. Some disagreements are yet to be addressed.

MFA Mirzoyan made new proposals yesterday about the commission. We will pass them to Baku. We should launch the commission as soon as possible. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072970.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072981.html

United States about the January 11 clashes near Verin Shorzha:

We are concerned about the events. The troops should be pulled back from the area, borders should be demarcated, and POWs should be repatriated.

https://factor.am/463315.html

Medal of Combat Service was issued to three soldiers posthumously

Rudik Gharibyan, Vahan Babayan, and Arthur Mkhitaryan died during the January 11 clashes.

Azerbaijan lost at least one soldier and one of its illegally-installed positions was destroyed by Armenian forces.

https://factor.am/463480.html

Russian MFA Lavrov: Georgia can join 3+3 and continue to hate us at the same time

Lavrov: ending hostility in the South Caucasus and unblocking all communication routes will open new opportunities that will benefit every country in the region.

Georgia can join 3+3 without changing its political positions. We can agree to only discuss specific topics that interest all members.

Since we don't have diplomatic relations with Georgia, it's difficult for us to explain all the benefits. That's why we've asked Armenia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan to convey our thoughts to their Georgian neighbor. It is in Georgia's interest to join 3+3 without preconditions. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072978.html

Pashinyan forms a taskforce to restore the Yeraskh and Meghri railways

The group will work on the Armenia-Nakhijevan-Iran-Azerbaijan international railway and report to the premier every three months.

The restoration of two sections is expected to cost ~$205m. Establishing a railway connection to Nakhijevan [then Iran] could take as little as 12 months.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073006.html https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/297672/

U.S. state of Massachusetts will require middle/high schools to teach about the Armenian Genocide

The governor signed the bill last month. It goes into effect in July. Massachusetts is not the first state to introduce such requirements.

The bill aims to promote comprehensive human rights education by paying special attention to genocides such as Holocaust, Armenian Genocide, Ukraine's Holodomor, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072977.html

VIDEO: Armenian peacekeepers have returned home

The withdrawal and deployment were done with the use of Il-76 military transport aircraft. The Armenian units briefly guarded Almaty's largest bread-pastry factory, and a water canal against possible poisoning.

The troops landed in Armenia on Friday.

https://youtu.be/ZoWUdmy6uzU https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072929.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072960.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073026.html

Artsakh resident accidentally crossed the border

Berdzor resident was detained by Azeri soldiers after losing his way and crossing the border. Peacekeepers verified his location and said he is safe. They are holding negotiations to release him.

Yesterday another resident of Armenia crossed the border and was returned later that day. Azeri soldiers offered him Georgian vodka during the detention. Authorities are negotiating to get his sheep back.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072985.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/229244

update: gas price vs gas calorie

As you may recall, the gas price for Armenia will remain $165, but it will go up to $177 if the quality of the gas goes up.

Infrastructure Ministry: this isn't a brand new gas agreement. The Gazprom contract, signed in 2013, envisaged adjustments of the calorific value of gas, which will be applied starting April 1. The final pricing for consumers is yet to be decided during the public regulator's open session. //

Higher quality gas gives more energy, so the seller wants to be "compensated". Gazprom has asked the public utility regulator to set the adaptive pricing model starting in April.

For consumers, it translates to between $266 and $283, depending on the quality. Studies conducted in the past few months show that Armenia has been receiving the higher quality gas. That means if the pricing were to be approved by the regulator today, consumers would pay $283.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072980.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072994.html https://hetq.am/hy/article/140035

anti-corruption: authorities uncover ֏200 million in damages in vehicle inspection scheme

Investigative Committee report: the director of an LLC, with the help of unknown accomplices, submitted forged documents to Finance Ministry between January 2015 to June 2018, in order to embezzle public funds.

The LLC was given a license to inspect vehicles. They had inspection stations in Kapan and Goris but decided to submit fake reports without actually conducting tests. The LLC collected ֏203.5M worth of vouchers from the state fraudulently.

The director is charged with two counts. He is barred from leaving the country. The director's assets (land, three apartments, production facility) have been frozen. Efforts continue to identify the accomplices. //

https://youtu.be/WwVe_LBgyx0?t=5 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072935.html

anti-corruption update: prosecutors ask the court to confiscate ex-Minister's assets worth millions of dollars

As you may recall from yesterday's news, former [2007] Nature Minister Aram Harutyunyan is accused of using offshore firms to launder $14m in bribes.

Here is what the prosecutors say they have found belonging to Harutyunyan and his alleged accomplices, which they believe should be transferred to the state in form of compensation by using the asset forfeiture law:

- 2 apartments in Yerevan

- 1 house

- 1 hotel-restaurant complex

- 1 garage

- lands in Aragatsotn and Gegharkunik worth $5m

- stocks from 3 companies (one of which is worth $16m)

- $1.6m bank account

- $9.1m in illegal funds

- plus another $600k because it's impossible to be legal considering the defendant's income. //

https://factor.am/463532.html

Parliament president Alen Simonyan wins a slander lawsuit against an outlet

In June 2020 the Iravunk media outlet posted an article/rant about "salary premiums". The court has ruled that it contained defamation against Simonyan.

The judge decided that the outlet should pay $8 in moral damages and $400 in legal fees, significantly lower than what the plaintiff had requested.

https://iravaban.net/351911.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073001/

Justice Ministry received the "source codes" of the e-Justice program

The Ministry has so far been unable to independently develop the E-Justice platform because it didn't have the right/access to source code, said the report.

After months of negotiations, they finally signed an agreement with Մեյսիս Ինֆորմեյշն սիսթեմս to transfer the code.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073023.html Other: https://www.gov.am/en/news/item/9660/

virus stats

4.8k tested. 273 infected. 101 healed. 1 death.

another mobile vax-station is installed in Yerevan

There was one in Northern Avenue. This one is in Republic Square. Residents can receive free flu and SARS shots.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072938.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072991.html

Russia-China-USA annual trade stats

China-Russia

2019: $111b (prior record)

2020: $108b

2021: $147b (new record)

Russian exports to China +37%, to $79b.

Chinese exports to Russia +34%, to $68b.

China-USA

Total: $756b or +29%

USA to China: +3% to $180b

China to USA: +27% to $576b

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072943.html https://www.dandreapartners.com/trade-turnover-between-russia-and-china-for-the-first-3-quarters-of-2021-has-grown-by-29-8/

two Armenians are in trouble in Moscow over a gay stunt

Famous singer Philip Kirkorov (gay) and famous actor Davit Manukyan (not gay) found themselves in hot water (not jacuzzi) after hiring a bunch of semi-naked hunks (definitely gay) and posing as a gay couple during a music ceremony.

It was meant to be an edgy stunt but some people took it as "gay propaganda", which is illegal in Russia.

Muz-TV outlet is now being sued by a resident for $314,000 for broadcasting it.

The outlet was earlier sued by the state regulator and forced to pay $13,000. The outlet's program director was also fined. He retired.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/229285

two Armenians die in Moscow in an elevator accident

The elevator fell during repair work. Two Armenian workers died. The incident happened at a hotel near Gorky Park.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072945.html

heavy snow from north to south makes driving a risky business

The Road Department published a map with the road conditions and accessibility as of Friday. Snow and heavy winds were observed in mountain passes.

The temps across Armenia will gradually drop by 12c starting today.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072934.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072975.html

update: investigators released details of yesterday's vehicle incident that led to gas pipe damage and fire

Report: a 76yo resident, with a suspended license, was driving Opel when it struck another vehicle. Opel changed its trajectory and struck a gas pipe next to a residential building.

The 76yo driver survived but the back passenger was burned down to ashes. //

https://youtu.be/dsOj37dehpk?t=16 https://factor.am/463445.html

some of Yerevan's disability ramps are basically attempted murder

https://youtu.be/0Zv8aUDzH7M?t=7

Human Rights Watch 2022 report

It's an overview of 2020-2021 events.

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/armenia

🍿 Kanye West named as a suspect in criminal battery investigation 🍿

News piece requested by readers.

An alleged misdemeanor battery (up to 6 months) took place in Los Angeles last night. Kanye West is accused of getting out of his vehicle and punching a fan who "asked" for an autograph.

West was filmed shouting “Did y’all say that or not? Did y’all say that or not?” “Cuz that’s what happened right f--king now.”

West left the scene before officers arrived. The alleged victim declined medical care.

Earlier that evening West left a nightclub while his new girlfriend Julia Fox stayed to party.

https://www.foxla.com/video/1022967 https://variety.com/2022/music/news/kanye-west-suspect-criminal-battery-investigation-1235153591/ https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-13/ye-aka-kanye-west-under-investigation-for-battery-after-being-accused-of-punching-fan https://news.yahoo.com/kanye-west-reportedly-under-investigation-183600869.html

retro vibes, my dudes

There is a "Soviet Club" (37 Sebastia St) that takes you back to USSR. Remember Zap vehicles, Nu Pogodi, and arcade games?

All you need to do is to join Vladimir's new club to bring back the good ol' times.

https://youtu.be/xen08gcD1mU?t=124

Armenia's labor market in 2021

The labor market activity doubled last year. The greatest demand was in programming and service fields. YoY there were 7,600 more job announcements per staff.am report.

The most active employers were Softconstruct, Kindda, Digitain, Picsart, and meat factory Atenk.

94% of new job offers were in Yerevan, followed by Gyumri in a distant second.

1% were remote jobs, mostly from the US and Ukraine. Remote programming wages were $2,300, quality assurance specialist $1,500.

www.civilnet.am/news/646452/աշխատանքի-շուկայի-ակտիվությունը-2021-ին-կրկնապատկվել-է/

Gagik Tsarukyan wants to bring Jesus to your home

Praise Lord.

The BHK leader wants to raise the statue of Jesus in Armenia, a-la Rio de Janeiro, but bigger.

There will be a competition to select the architect. Tsarukyan believes that Armenia, as the first Christian nation, should have such a statue.

The statue must be at least 33-meters tall, a symbolic number that signifies Jesus's age when he was murdered by the Italian army (no grazie there).

The statue could be twice as tall if they place it on a big stand. Jesus himself could also be taller than 33 meters if the design meets the requirements.

https://www.facebook.com/GagikTsarukyan/posts/483739613115124 https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072990.html www.aysor.am/am/news/2022/01/14/Հիսուս-Քրիստոսի-արձան/1915802

VIDEO: Armenian churchman doing one of those stupid TikTok things

https://youtu.be/8RIPrFQBD98

==top-10 bestseller translated books in December

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5) A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini

4) Gone with the Wind (Volume 2), by Margaret Mitchell

3) Gone with the Wind (Volume 1), by Margaret Mitchell

2) Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert

1) Բարի գործերի քաղաքը, by Mark Aren

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1072368.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/s436uv/jan142022_climateresilient_agriculture_drama/