2022 September 23

Daily news wrap-up

Sep/23/2022: __ Pashinyan's speech at UN General Assembly __ Borders on Friday; travel advisory & misinformation __ Yerevan will take over "Cascade" to finally finish its construction; amphitheater & museum __ National carrier buys a jet __ Transit flights __ Russian sanctions __ And more...
by ar_david_hh

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13 minutes, 3305 words.

borders on Friday

Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire on the eastern border. A fire was returned to silence it. No injuries on the Armenian side.

The U.S. has updated its September 13 security advisory to use milder language regarding the security status in Armenia, according to a fact-checker, later confirmed by the U.S. embassy after a spread of misinformation on social media.

U.S. Embassy staff is still prohibited from making non-essential visits to borders. If in the previous advisory they urged not to visit all of Vayots Dzor Province, the new advisory only mentions the area near Jermuk.

France has also updated its September 20 travel advisory regarding the borders with Azerbaijan, but it's unclear what has changed.

Governors of Tavush and Shirak denied social media reports claiming that the populations of Yeraskh and Noyemberyan settlements were being evacuated. *"Այդ լուրերը սուտ են:"*

A ruling party MP accused the opposition of intentionally spreading misinformation: *"The [security advisory] by UK embassy was made on September 14 and has not been updated, it was just thrown into the field by specific circles intentionally,"* said MP Vahagn Alexanyan.

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093195.html) [source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093262.html) [source,](https://factor.am/558927.html) [source,](https://fip.am/20512) [source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093274.html) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/244743) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/244746) [source,](https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/09/23/Ինֆորմացիոն-դիվերսիան-կառավարվում-է-մեկ-հստակ-կենտրոնից-Վահագն-Ալեքսանյան/801554)

Pashinyan met U.S. Secretary Blinken and NATO leadership in New York

Pashinyan thanked Blinken for his personal efforts to support the negotiation process, and emphasized the importance of the international community's condemnation of Azerbaijani actions, the withdrawal of their troops, and the return of POWs.

Blinken said the U.S. will continue to help with the AM-AZ negotiation process, and with the efforts to achieve a long-term settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

[source,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1093183.html)

U.S. embassy in Armenia calls on Azerbaijan to return its troops to initial positions

Reporter: How do you assess Azerbaijan's actions towards the sovereign territory of Armenia?

U.S. Embassy: There can be no military solution to the conflict, and the use of force is not acceptable. We mourn the loss of life, including reports of multiple civilian deaths inside Armenia. We are glad that our continued engagement has helped the sides reach a ceasefire.

Reporter: What's your position regarding Azerbaijan forces being illegally located in the sovereign territory of Armenia?

U.S. Embassy: We call on Azerbaijan to return troops to their initial positions. We urge that the cessation of hostilities and disengagement of military forces be maintained, and work to resolve all outstanding issues through peaceful negotiations. The U.S. is prepared to do whatever it can to support these efforts.

Reporter: What is your position regarding Azerbaijan's capture of Armenian servicemen in the sovereign territory of Armenia?

U.S. Embassy: The immediate, unconditional return of those captured in last week’s attacks, as well as the return of all other detainees, is an important step to achieving a lasting peace.

[source,](https://www.1lurer.am/en/2022/09/23/We-call-on-Azerbaijan-to-return-the-troops-to-their-initial-positions-US-Embassy-to-Armenia/801431)

deputy Premiers of Armenia and Azerbaijan had a brief conversation

Mher Grigoryan and Yakub Yerubov are in Moscow for a CIS economic forum. They [discussed](https://factor.am/558707.html) the recent escalation for 4 minutes. It was not an official meeting.

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093249.html)

international monitoring mission should be deployed on Armenia-Azerbaijan border: Pashinyan during UN General Assembly speech

Pashinyan: Azerbaijan is using force to impose its plans unilaterally, to bring to the end the Armenian statehood and democracy. But I’m here to announce that we are determined to defend our democracy and territorial integrity by all means.

Diplomatic solutions are a priority for us and the full engagement of the international community is crucial. The international observation mission on the border would be an important factor for stability.

In the interests of regional stability and in accordance with international law, Azerbaijani forces must withdraw from the sovereign territory of Armenia.

... show me the map you are ready to recognize: Pashinyan to Aliyev

Pashinyan: There is no tangible progress in the border demarcation, the opening of regional connections, and the future peace treaty because Azerbaijan is using all those topics for territorial claims against Armenia.

For example – an important subject of a peace treaty is bilateral recognition of territorial integrity between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We have already declared that we are ready to do so, but Azerbaijan hasn’t done it so far.

On the contrary, Azerbaijan has been publicly voicing that parts of Armenia are Azerbaijani land, while keeping under occupation tangible territories of Armenia.

In this regard I’m posing an official and public question to the Azerbaijani president: Could you show the map of Armenia you are ready to recognize? Why I’m asking this? Because it can come out that from the point of view of official Azerbaijan only half of Armenia and even less - is the Republic of Armenia. If Azerbaijan would recognize the territorial integrity of Armenia's 29.800 square kilometers, it would mean that we can sign a peace treaty by mutually recognizing each other’s territorial integrity. Otherwise, we would have a phantom peace treaty and after that Azerbaijan will use the border delimitation process for new territorial claims and occupation.

... about border delimitation, Azeri aggression, and "betrayal" by certain mediators

A bilateral border commission was formed in May and two meetings have taken place. Before this, last year Azerbaijan occupied more than 40 square kilometers of territories of Armenia. And then, one of the excuses of Azerbaijan about the reasons they have done this - was that Armenia, according to them, refuses to form a border delimitation commission. Of course we didn’t refuse to do that but only insisted that simultaneously a mechanism of border security should be established.

In the end, according to our international partners’ request, who argued that the border commission work itself will be a reliable factor for border security, we agreed to start the work. And now that the border delimitation and security commission has been formed and is working, Azerbaijan initiated a new phase of aggression. And some of those international partners are silent.

... about regional communication links

Azerbaijan is trying to represent Armenia as a destructive side in this discussion. The reality is that Armenia is ready to open its roads for Azerbaijan in the framework of our national legislation. Moreover, recently the draft decision of the government was published, that supposes to open three checkpoints on the border with Azerbaijan.

According to that draft, citizens and goods of Azerbaijan would be eligible to use the existing roads of Armenia to commute from Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan. The Armenian government had the political will to unilaterally accept that decision.

But Azerbaijani officials tell us that they don’t want to have those routes. What do they want? They want a new route to be constructed. It is also acceptable for Armenia, but according to the 9th article of the trilateral statement from November 9, 2020, a new route can be constructed with the consent of the sides. Armenia is ready to construct such a route that would operate according to the legislation and within the sovereign control of Armenia.

So what is the point of Azerbaijani claims? Azerbaijan is hinting that Armenia has to provide an extraterritorial corridor and according to them the 9th article of the trilateral statement from November 9, 2020 is supposed to do that. The trilateral statement is a public document and in the 9th article, there is nothing about corridor, extraterritoriality, etc. So Azerbaijan's goal is to create a new crisis as a pretext for new aggression against Armenia and for a new territorial claim.

We have shared packages of proposals with Azerbaijan on the topic of opening communications, and if Azerbaijan accepts that those routes must operate according to national legislations, we can decide on this very quickly.

By the way, the trilateral statements from November 9, 2020 and January 11, 2021, imply that Azerbaijan should provide roads to Armenia too. We haven’t received anything so far.

As for the corridor wording, it is very important to note that in the trilateral statement from November 9, only one corridor is mentioned, and it is the Lachin corridor for Nagorno-Karabakh.

.... about Nagorno Karabakh conflict

One of the crucial factors of regional stability is the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict where the rights and the security of the Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh will be addressed and guaranteed.

The latest aggression is happening while the humanitarian consequences of the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh have not been addressed yet. The Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh are in need of the support of the international community. The UN humanitarian agencies should have access to Nagorno-Karabakh to ensure the protection of human rights and cultural heritage. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan has been blocking UN missions by making artificial preconditions.

It is also reprehensible that Azerbaijan stalls the repatriation of Armenian POWs, inter alia subjecting them to artificial trials in gross violation of international humanitarian law, and contrary to the calls of the international community.

[full watch,](https://youtu.be/kHSYCJ2pei0) [full read,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1093192.html) [source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093180.html) [source,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1093184.html)

ranking U.S. Senator criticizes White House for continuing to provide military assistance to Azerbaijan

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to Anthony Blinken: I am writing to express my deep concern over the renewal of Azerbaijani attacks on Armenian territory, including on civilian infrastructure. These unprovoked and illegal attacks, which have killed hundreds, serve to underscore the brutality of the Aliyev regime.

In light of the renewed aggression, I urge you to halt all security assistance to Azerbaijan and review all assistance programs to the country.

This heinous assault on Armenian territory is only the latest example in a pattern of Azerbaijani brutality. Azerbaijan’s aggression during the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh War resulted in the deaths of 6,500 people, and displaced close to 100,000 ethnic Armenians.

The State Department highlighted in its 2021 report the illegal detention of Armenian soldiers and civilians in Baku, and credible reports of unlawful killings and torture by Azerbaijan forces.

Aliyev’s military has reportedly used illegal cluster munitions and phosphorous bombs, and posted videos of beheadings online. Azerbaijan’s unambiguous aggression cannot be tolerated.

The United States must play no part in supporting authoritarian brutality. That is why I will continue to pursue efforts [to close a loophole that allows the President to provide assistance to Azerbaijan]. However, even under current law, there is more that the State Department is required to do in order to assess the impact of U.S. assistance on the military balance between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

I commissioned a Government Accountability Office review of U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan which found that the Department of State failed to meet statutory reporting requirements to Congress on the impact of U.S. assistance during the period considered. While the Department of State has concurred with the GAO on its recommendations to ensure the necessary requirements are met to invoke the waiver, it has not yet provided action plans to the GAO on how it will address this concern.

As we bear witness to Azerbaijan’s most recent attack, the Administration must not minimize the Azerbaijani assault in an effort to appear impartial. President Biden said in his 2022 State of the Union Address, *“…when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos.”* The United States has an important opportunity to stand with the Armenian people as they attempt to repel an authoritarian assault. //

[source,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1093224.html) [source,](https://anca.org/assets/pdf/092222_Menendez_StopAzerbaijanAid.pdf)

Armenien wirft Aserbaidschan "unsägliche Gräueltaten" vor: Austria's "Der Standard"

Der armenische Regierungschef war Aserbaidschan bei der Uno-Generaldebatte Folterungen durch Soldaten vor

[source,](https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000139341485/armenien-wirft-aserbaidschan-unsaegliche-graeueltaten-vor) [source,](https://factor.am/558504.html)

Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) will amend its Constitution

An expert commission has been working on a reform package. They've submitted it for public discussion. The current Constitution has long been criticized by figures who oppose the former regime. General Samvel Babayan went as far as to suggest that the 2017 amendment's purpose was to grant total power to one person so he could later have the ability to make serious concessions to Azerbaijan.

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093205.html)

... switch to a semi-presidential governing system

Commission: After studying the Constitution we concluded that the President bears personal responsibility for the executive power throughout the entire term in office. Executive power is exercised by one center: the President.

Being the guarantor of the sovereignty and security of the Republic, the entire executive power is concentrated in the hands of the President.

The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the army, the Chairman of the Security Council, dictates the internal and external policy, and carries out the general management of the state administration bodies.

It is dangerous and risky to accumulate so much power in one place, especially under today's conditions. Moreover, in the event the President's seat becomes vacant, there can be a critical power vacuum in the Republic. [lists the examples, problems relating to dissolution of the parliament and elections, deadlines, etc.]

Therefore we believe it's necessary to switch to a semi-presidential system. The Parliament will participate in the formation of the Government and will have the ability to ask the Government to terminate a cabinet member.

The Security Council's duties and powers will be clarified

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093208.html)

... the Constitution will allow residents to hold dual citizenship

Commission: The 2006 and 2017 amendments do not explicitly envisage dual citizenship rights, but do not prohibit it either. Citizens have long been allowed to hold dual citizenship. This will be enshrined in the new Constitution.

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093214.html)

... restrictions on property rights will be reviewed

Commission: The current Constitution has articles recognizing and protecting personal property rights. There are also European conventions that strengthen these rights.

However, these property rights are not absolute and are subject to certain restrictions. For example, foreign citizens do not have certain land ownership rights. The amendment will rewrite it as "Անշարժ գույքի նկատմամբ, այդ թվում՝ հողի սեփականության իրավունքից չեն օգտվում օտարերկրյա քաղաքացիները և քաղաքացիություն չունեցող անձինք՝ բացառությամբ օրենքով սահմանված դեպքերի". //

• It presumably adds "real estate" restrictions on top of "land".*

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093215.html) [Constitution](http://www.nkr.am/hy/chapter-I-foundations-of-constitutional-order)

Soldier's House rehabilitation center will perform surgeries from now on

The "Zinvori Tun" is a physical therapy center for recovering veterans. It will provide an "entire treatment cycle" with the addition of 3 modern surgery rooms, said the administration after the conclusion of renovations. Two more facilities will be built next year.

The center promises quality services and post-surgery treatment, a new ventilation system to prevent infections, etc.

• Donors: Armenian Relief Fund, U.S. Family Rescue Fund, Bashkijyan-Atikyan fund, Belgian government, One Armenia organization, Veterans of Armenia charity, Face of Angel organization.*

[video,](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=460229429203135) [article,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093243.html)

Spain opens a permanent representation in Armenia

Speaker Alen Simonyan hosted Marcos Martíne and congratulated him on the occasion of being appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary. Martíne visited the Genocide Memorial.

The two agreed it's necessary to activate the bilateral interaction in mutually beneficial areas. The Ambassador underlined that the living and dynamic democracy of Armenia is a good example, which will be laid down at the core of further projects.

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093213.html) [source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093228.html)

the Symphony Orchestra of Turkmenistan will perform Arno Babajanyan in capital Ashgabad to mark the 30th anniversary of state relations

... and the 100th anniversary of the legendary musician. You are invited to the Mukams Palace on October 8, if you can get into the country. The event will end with ["Im Yerevan"](https://youtu.be/-bFt4menUiI?t=15).

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093239.html)

Ijevan city will receive a grant from EU to implement its Cultural Development Strategy

EU4Culture's €300,000 grant will promote the decentralized cultural development of the communicity, the development of creative and proactive thinking, and will boost the cultural economy.

[source,](https://en.armradio.am/2022/09/23/city-of-ijevan-armenia-will-receive-eu-funding-to-implement-its-cultural-development-strategy/)

Yerevan administration reveals plans for the unfinished construction of Cascade complex

Earlier this year the city began negotiating with Cafesjian Foundation to address the areas surrounding Cascade that have been abandoned for decades, in downtown Yerevan.

Mayor Hrachya: The area was donated to Cafesjian Foundation in 2002. We have reached an agreement with them to return the area back to the city. We will find private investors to finish the construction.

There are plans to build a modern art museum there, to transfer the existing museum that's inconveniently located on Mashtots Avenue. A new amphitheater will develop the cultural life of the capital. Today there are many exhibition items that cannot be displayed due to lack of space.

We thank Cafesjian Foundation for donating the property to the city. The work with architects will begin soon. //

[source,](https://factor.am/558562.html) [source,](https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1076053.html)

Armenia is studying the Dutch experience with BIM *(Building Information Modelling)* for digital construction

The Urban Development Committee hosted Nico Schermers, the ambassador of Netherlands. The Committee emphasized the importance of the digitization reforms in Armenia.

In this context, they discussed the implementation of the BIM system and the possibility of addressing difficulties associated with its implementation in Armenia. The meeting was attended by representatives of the architecture and IT industries, who shared their experience with BIM.

The parties agreed to establish contact with Dutch experts to discuss the implementation of BIM in Armenia.

>Building Information Modelling (BIM) is nowadays widely accepted as a key enabler for innovation in construction. In the Netherlands, people have been working on BIM for more than twenty years, although most activities have been research efforts. But since the leading CAD vendors have embraced BIM as a key development in CAD innovation, the implementation and use of BIM technologies in practice have increased significantly.

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093250.html) [source,](https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB18802.pdf)

former Deputy Premier Avinyan is appointed as Deputy Mayor of Yerevan

Mayor Hrachya Sargsyan congratulated Avinyan and expressed hope that his experience in the Government cabinet will be useful for the city. Avinyan will represent the ruling party during next year's mayoral elections. In the meantime, he will administer the city departments that are tasked with cooperating with the Government, urban development, landscaping, etc.

After his departure from the Government last year, Avinyan was appointed as the chairman of Armenia's state investment fund ANIF. The fund recently signed an agreement with Air Arabia to establish Armenia's new national carrier, and oversaw the partial "nationalization" of Armenia's largest taxpayer Zangezur Copper Plant.

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093206.html) [source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093220.html)

Armenia's national carrier FlyArna has acquired another Airbus jet

This is their second Airbus 320. The carrier launched flights in June to several Egyptian resort towns popular among Armenian tourists, and later expanded to cover Moscow and Sochi.

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093199.html)

Turkish airlines resume flights over Armenian air after a weeklong suspension

The regular flights between Armenia and Turkey resumed around a year ago after diplomatic negotiations. It was suspended after the September 13 aggression. The Turkish flights have resumed between Istanbul-Armenia-Nakhijevan-Armenia-Azerbaijan.

[source,](https://hetq.am/hy/article/148624)

update: Turkey will bypass the Western sanctions against Russian "Mir" cards by forming an alternative payment system with Russia

It was reported earlier that two Turkish banks suspended Mir payments under pressure from the U.S.

Some cardholders are having difficulties in Armenia, too. One man said he was unable to withdraw cash from an ATM, but a POS terminal at a convenience shop was able to process it. Armenia's Central Bank said it is up to each private bank to decide what its policies are.

[source,](https://factor.am/558575.html) [source,](https://www.azatutyun.am/a/32048275.html)

amaranth craze has reached Armenia | VIDEO

>This under-appreciated grain is a perfect way to get in your whole grains, plus it’s gluten-free.

>Also called pigweed or Chinese spinach, amaranth was a staple crop of the Aztecs who used to make idols from amaranth, honey and human blood. This outraged Cortes who burned the amaranth fields and decreed that anyone growing the crop would be killed.

Two female entrepreneurs have launched a large-scale project to grow amaranth in Armenia. They plan to turn it into a gluten-free flour for bread consumers with allergies. Its seed oil can be used in cosmetics and medicine.

[video,](https://youtu.be/b6-24RvlsVg) [source,](http://www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/09/23/Հայաստանում-առաջին-անգամ-խոշոր-ծավալով-ամարանտ-է-աճեցվել/801082)

top-10 bestseller children's books in August

...

5) Փիսիկի գանգատը (Hovhannes Tumanyan)

4) Շաղգամը (Atabek Khnkoyan)

3) колобок (Slavic fairy tale)

2) Առակներ. գունավորիր ջրով (Khnko Aper)

1) 20 հեքիաթ արքայադուստրերի մասին

[source,](https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1093191.html)

in case you missed

Yesterday's news in English, русский (by Impossible-Ad-). Archive by Armeniapedia. Donate to Armenia & Artsakh here

The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in a 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/xm869y/sep232022_pashinyans_speech_at_un_general/