2022 January 19

Daily news wrap-up

Jan/19/2022: Armenian firms working on combat & surveillance drones __ Foreign Minister on borders, OSCE, Karabakh __ People are reading more books __ Patriot vs Traitor __ Hrant Dink's murder & 2021 mystery __ 2001: Pres. Kocharyan on Genocide recognition __ Army bosses in court __ Rostelecom sold
by ar_david_hh

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Your 10-minute Wednesday briefing in 2549 words.

publishers: Armenians started reading more books

February 19, the birthday of renowned Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanhyan, is celebrated as 'Book Giving Day' in Armenia. Several media agencies and publishers launched a Գրքապտույտ competition ahead of the event. The details to complete the tasks will be posted on their Facebook page every Friday. The computer will randomly select dozens of winners and send them free books.

Publishers have already noticed an uptick in interest ahead of February 19. One publisher says they see a 30% monthly growth in book purchases ahead of book events. The reading trend, in general, has been growing every year, they said.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073394.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073390.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073408.html

Armenian companies are testing combat and surveillance drones: High Tech Minister

Khachaturyan: It's nearing the final phase. There are several companies with products. We're talking about surveillance and combat drones.

Reporter: By "combat" do you mean kamikaze drones or the ones that release a bomb?

Khachaturyan: Both. There are various solutions. The manufacturers always modernize their products. [discusses the aid provided by the government]. The way it works is the manufacturer prepares a drone, tests it, then undergoes a state test before the MOD decides to buy it. A contract is then signed, allowing the manufacturer to produce in large quantities. There is no final contract yet because the manufacturers must correct a few things after the state tests. Some drones have passed the state tests. Others will be tested soon.

Reporter: When will the army have these drones?

Khachaturyan: When the drones are ready.

Reporter: Do we have tools to shut down drones? Can we produce such tools?

Khachaturyan: Anti-drone systems are important. We aren't talking about just penetration systems. There are also communication [jammers] that don't allow drones to fly freely. Relevant equipment was purchased. I can't say more.

https://factor.am/465309.html

Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink was assassinated 15 years ago today

Dink was critical of Turkey's denial of the Armenian Genocide. He was prosecuted for publicly recognizing it, and received numerous death threats from nationalists. He was killed near the Agos newspaper office.

Last year the Turkish court convicted 26 defendants and acquitted 37 others. 4 were sentenced to life.

Two months later, a notorious Turkish mafia boss Sedat Peker started spilling the beans on numerous topics. He accused the state officials of cooperating with the mafia. State officials hit back, claiming that Peker was an unreliable whistleblower. Turkish Interior Minister accused Peker of having links to Hrant Dink's murder (links with one of the perpetrators). Dink's family asked the Minister to share the information he claims to possess Peker.

Armenian-Turkish MP Garo Paylan today: There was a state cover-up. It's been 8 months [since the aforementioned events]. Why hasn't the Interior Minister cooperated with prosecutors? Political will is necessary. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073318.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073401.html https://ahvalnews.com/hrant-dink/courts-judgement-far-truth-hrant-dinks-family-says https://ahvalnews.com/sedat-peker/mob-boss-pekers-revelations-raise-unanswered-questions https://www.duvarenglish.com/dink-murder-defendants-assets-to-be-seized-unless-they-return-to-turkey-news-57942

what would Armenia demand from Turkey if it recognized the Genocide?

President Kocharyan in 2001: The recognition won't lead to any legal ramifications. It's more about restoring justice. I know that there is an opinion in Turkey that if the genocide is recognized, Armenians will start making territorial demands.

CNN Turk reporter: Won't Armenia demand any compensation or lands?

Kocharyan: No. There wouldn't be any legal consequences. Armenia wouldn't have a legal basis to make such demands, to begin with. I'm surprised the legal experts in Turkey don't advise the Turkish government on this. They could view the issue in a more relaxed way.

https://youtu.be/1nGlETkEm8g

VIDEO: crucial Turkey-Iran oil pipeline damaged by an explosion

Turkey reopened the pipeline running from Iraq after it was knocked out by an explosion. The incident was deep inside Turkey.

>The explosion happened after a power pylon fell on a pipeline during bad weather, causing a fire

https://youtu.be/dq12qqz4rCY https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-18/explosion-halts-iraq-turkey-pipeline-botas-says

CSTO secretary Zas about Kazakhstan mission: we made it, bois, no losses!

The withdrawal is complete. No human or equipment losses. Armenia was one of the first to get out after guarding a bread factory and a water canal. Russia, with its larger contingent, finished later.

Associated Press: Kazakhstan activists recall path from protest to bloodshed.

The mass protests in Kazakhstan began peacefully over the New Year's weekend, with marchers denouncing a sharp rise in fuel prices. But something changed over the course of a week.

Groups of armed men appeared in Almaty, with some seen riding in cars without license plates or with their faces covered. Marchers at the peaceful protests say these men began urging them to storm government buildings, promising to give them guns.

Clashes with police soon broke out, and by the night of Jan. 5, Almaty was in chaos. Protesters say their rallies were undermined, leading to the crackdown by security forces. //

https://news.yahoo.com/kazakhstan-activists-recall-path-protest-074055452.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073414.html

Artsakh's MFA Davit Babayan about diplomacy & conflict:

2021 was a recovery year. I guess you could say that we went from the emergency room to ICU. We need to get out of the difficult psychological state, without which it will be difficult to expect success.

... strengthening international presence

Last year we presented our stance in international organizations. We circulated 20 documents in OSCE, 15 in UN, and 4 in the European Council. Contacts were established with 14 international media outlets to share interviews and articles. We must show the world that Artsakh is here and we manage our fate.

... OSCE and Azerbaijan

The main obstacle for the OSCE co-chairs to visit the region is Azerbaijan. The last time OSCE visited Artsakh was in late 2019. The pandemic happened, followed by the war.

But these are purely technical barriers. The more important barrier is Azerbaijan's attempts to complicate their visit. We're in touch with OSCE. There was a meeting with the Russian co-chair. A normal and honest conversation was held. I don't think Azerbaijan will achieve its goal of blackmailing OSCE.

... Artsakh's international recognition remains the main goal

We also need to establish relations with other countries and improve diaspora ties.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073358.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073359.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073370.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073373.html

MFA Mirzoyan: OSCE co-chairs will visit the region

I can't give a specific date and location, but they are expected to visit the region. The issue has been discussed for a long time, but it was regularly postponed.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073398.html

MFA Mirzoyan: Azeri government's rhetoric is one thing, the reality is another

MFA Mirzoyan: despite Azerbaijan's yearlong campaign to claim that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict no longer exists, the world disagrees with that. This isn't the first time the Azeri leadership has attacked OSCE. The attacks hinder the process.

Nevertheless, public statements often don't reflect what's being discussed behind closed doors and what the world says. OSCE is the only format with an internationally-recognized mandate to find a peaceful settlement of the NK conflict. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073397.html https://youtu.be/7AkA0gfK0TM

MFA Mirzoyan about the proposal to withdraw Azeri and Armenian troops from problematic borders in a "mirrored" fashion

QP MP: On January 14, MFA Lavrov revealed that you sent him new proposals about the issue and that Lavrov passed it to Azerbaijan. What was your new proposal about?

MFA Mirzoyan: It's under the same context of Pashinyan's earlier "mirrored withdrawal" proposal and the introduction of additional security mechanisms on the border. The Security Council is also familiar with the proposed package.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073396.html

MFA Mirzoyan: border demarcation cannot take place as long as there are border tensions

We have not yet formed the border demarcation commission.

The commission will have difficulty operating unless we introduce specific mechanisms to increase the border stability to address unintentional or intentional incidents.

We don't know when the border commission will form, but it's expected to happen soon. The conditions are still being discussed. A few things need to be clarified. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073413.html

MFA Mirzoyan about border demarcation and "Azerbaijan's territorial integrity"

HD MP: Will the border demarcation negotiations include the recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity?

MFA Mirzoyan: Artsakh conflict is an issue of people's rights, and not a territorial one. If I'm not mistaken, the CIS republics had recognized each other's territorial integrity with [presumably 1991] Almaty protocols. The protocols led to an agreement, which was ratified by the Armenian parliament.

https://cis-legislation.com/document.fwx?rgn=4744 https://factor.am/465439.html

update: trial begins for the army chief and former Defense Miniter, accused of embezzlement and purchasing expired missiles

Ex-MOD Davit Tonoyan and current CoGS Artak Davtyan are in court. They are among the ~9 suspects. Tonoyan wanted the trial to be open-door but it appears the judge turned down the plea.

Tonoyan continues to insist that the missiles he purchased were functional and no crime was committed. The case is over 4,200 "expired missiles" that the suspects allegedly purchased despite being told not to do so, while embezzling $4.6M.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073387.html https://factor.am/465514.html

anti-corruption: authorities arrest two officials under bribery suspicion

ACC report: Two ranking Urban Development agency inspectors were arrested. They conspired to help a fuel company owner by ignoring the gas station's violations in Kotayk, in exchange for a $1,000 bribe. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073419.html

seniors are forming a mafia to make an offer the government can't refuse

Pensioner Vram Sargsyan founded a new NGO and wants his fellow նարդի players to join it so they can demand better conditions for seniors. Among the problems are the unemployment rate among the elderly, expensive medication, and transport. "Many seniors have to live with the help of their neighbors."

They will form a council represented by lawyers, historians, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073381.html

Covid stats

5.3k tested. 563 infected. 38 healed. 3 deaths.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073352.html

government will inject ֏175 million to help hotels in Syunik

Economy Minister Kerobyan said the hotel industry was affected by the pandemic and the border conflict in 2021. More tourism aid will be provided if necessary, he added.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073400.html

patriots^® and traitors^® clash in Parliament 🍿

Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan-Istanbul flights by FlyOne and Pegasus airlines are scheduled to begin on February 2.

Is it patriotic enough to allow Armenians to fly to Istanbul with no intermediate stops? Should we allow Turkish jets, which are basically bigger cousins of Bayraktar drones, to land in Yerevan? Is the Armenian business protected against the Turkish air invasion? These and other important topics were discussed in Parliament in a clownish atmosphere.

QP MP in response to criticism from HD MPs: You guys are the best. Yerevan-Istanbul direct flights began under the Kocharyan administration in 2003, when our ARF colleagues were part of the government. The flights were organized by a Turkish company and "Bagrat Tour" Armenian company. They operated regularly until 2015, followed by the intro of AtlasJet firm in 2016. This lasted until 2019 when the Armenian airline stopped the flights, leaving only the Turkish one. //

QP MP accused the HD critic of hypocrisy by pointing out that the HD MP's travel agency used to sell Yerevan-Istanbul tickets. The HD MP said she isn't necessarily against holding direct flights, and that her concern is with Turkish airlines being allowed to invest in Armenia, and "unfair" business conditions for Armenians.

www.civilnet.am/news/646988/ստամբուլյանի-ընկերությունը-ստամբուլ-ուղևորափոխադրումներ-արե՛լ-է․-պատգամավորը-մոլորեցնում-է/ https://www.armenpress.am/eng/news/1072878/ https://youtu.be/HIOCyNeITBs https://youtu.be/ps5_wxyMql8 https://youtu.be/KSDL6InGHuU https://factor.am/465127.html

drama around Economy Minister gets spicy 🍿

Opposition figures and their media outlets have been pressuring Economy Minister Kerobyan to resign for several months now, citing his failed prediction about double-digit economic growth. He made that optimistic prediction in early 2021 amid healthy growth in construction and agriculture, followed by 2H2021 setbacks due to drought and other problems including global ones.

Kerobyan responded today, saying the attack against him "doesn't include the context", and that the full interview video, in which he made the prediction, would make it clear that his comment about "resigning" was meant to be humor. He is heard giggling in that interview but the opposition insists he was being serious about resigning.

Minister Kerobyan to oppo MPs: Are you also going to ask [several international institues] to resign because their predictions were also off? Is there a logic or you're just having fun now? //

Pashinyan revealed that he ordered Kerobyan not to resign amid the opposition's pressure.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073349.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073409.html https://factor.am/465048.html

IRS exceeded its tax collection estimates in 2021 and hopes to beat the record again

Looks like everyone is bad at predicting digits.

IRS chief Badasyan: Last year's tax revenues amounted to ֏1.586 trillion ($3.3 billion). This is quite high - ֏146 billion above the estimates.

We have record-high numbers in revenues, paid employment (654,000), and the average salary (֏230,000). The numbers grew even compared to 2019. We believe it's due to taxpayers becoming more disciplined.

Next year's target is ֏1.843 trillion. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073389.html

4 companies have applied to rebuild a road in North-South's Tranche-2

8 km of highway needs to be rebuilt near Agarak, on the Yerevan-Gyumri-Bavra section. Asian Development Bank and other auction observers took part in today's session to discuss the auction results.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/229599

Nature Ministry wants to discourage chemicals that damage the ozone layer

They drafted a bill to set a 2% "nature tax" on the import and sale of certain harmful substances (hydrofluorocarbons). Some chemicals are already completely prohibited in Armenia.

The bill will also clarify the law to close EAEU-related gaps and will ensure Armenia's compliance with international obligations.

175 tons of ozone-destroying chemicals were imported in 2019-2020.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073344.html

Russian Rostelecom ISP's Armenian branch is sold to Armenian businessman

Armenian-Russian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan owns Tashir Group, which owns the Electric Networks of Armenia. The latter has purchased Rostelecom from 'GNC Alfaa'. The utility regulator authorized the acquisition.

Rostelecom has agreed to invest $1 million per year for 5 years to develop the telecom network, plus $3 million per year on the modernization of GNC Alfa's infrastructure.

Tashir Group decided to use an offshore firm to purchase Rostelecom. Armenia's utility regulator asked law enforcement to verify that no laws would be violated through the offshore contract. They authorized the acquisition after receiving an "ok".

Russian media believes the preliminary value of the acquisition was $25 million.

https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/297953/

Armenia and Germany discussed cooperation in education & science

Deputy Education Minister met German DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the world's largest funding organization for the international exchange of students and researchers. Deputy Minister Trchunyan himself is a DAAD "graduate".

Armenia wants more grants for young scientists and lecturers, and to increase the number of summer scholarships.

Issues related to the possibility of mutual recognition of university credits and the issuance of double diplomas were discussed.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073346.html

tomorrow Henrikh Mkhitaryan will play his 100th game as part of Roma

27 goals and 24 goal pass.

https://factor.am/465178.html

Kim Kardashian hires a new security team to keep Kanye West away

News piece requested by readers to track Kanye the "ticking-bomb". The previous report is [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/s6gc0i/jan172022_national_money_transfer_system_icu_and/)

Kardashian decided to completely replace the security team after the uninvited Kanye, with the help of a friend, managed to sneak into their daughter's b-day party by bypassing the security. She made sure that there is no one in the new detail with prior connections with Kanye so there won't be security lapses.

==... Kim's lover Pete also hires additional security to keep Kanye away

>He is still Pete, but now Pete comes with a 6’1, 220 lbs security guard.

>Pete isn’t worried about Kanye, but he is concerned about the massive fanbase that Kanye has.

Sure thing, Peter.

https://stylecaster.com/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-birthday-drama/ https://www.rap-up.com/2022/01/18/pete-davidson-hires-extra-security-kanye-west-threat/

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/s809v3/jan192022_armenian_firms_working_on_combat/