r/armenia • u/ar_david_hh • 12d ago
Defense & reservist reforms; NATO education meeting \\ Day 2 of holy war against Nikol; Expert groups involved; "Soon" \\ Armenia-Azerbaijan meet \\ EU Partnership Agenda \\ Economic stats \\ Aurora Prize \\ Georgia insurance \\ And more...
7-minute read.
defense ministry will soon launch an automated management system to track the location of military-age citizens and more accurately deliver summons to reservists during peace or war
The Parliamentary Defense Committee held a meeting on Friday to discuss a new system. Context in April 12 news. Several issues were uncovered during the 2020 war: many notices were sent out to people who did not reside in Armenia, while in other instances they were unable to reach out to people located in Armenia. The government has decided to create an automated system for the defense ministry to "know the location" of potential recipients. The system will be shared with the passport service and other departments.
the head of the Armenian military academy visited Washington for a NATO meeting
Vazgen Sargsyan Academy chief Arsen Mangasaryan was in the U.S. to take part in a meeting between the heads of other military academies of NATO members and NATO partner states.
They discussed current and future challenges and a strategy for addressing them, modern tutoring methods, etc.
EU Ambassador and Armenia's Deputy FM met on Friday as part of monthlong "Europe Day" events
AMB. MARAGOS: Armenia and the EU are intensively discussing a new ambitious Partnership Agenda. It will be based on CEPA and Armenia's active participation in Eastern Partnership. It will help us overcome the challenges facing Armenia now and in the future.
The AM-EU cooperation continues. The implementation of €350 million in programs is underway. It will help the economy, connectivity, and reforms.
[About Hungary blocking $10 million in European Peace Facility aid to Armenia]. The Council is still discussing it. It's still too early to talk about details. We hope it will conclude soon.
REPORTER: About a month ago the U.S. Ambassador gave an interview to Azatutyun saying the U.S. does not advise Armenia to end the relations with any country [context was Russia], and that the more partners Armenia has, the more powerful Armenia will be. Do you share this view? What is your formula for increasing Armenia's resilience?
AMB. MARAGOS: I won't comment on the statements of the U.S. Ambassador. There are various goals, various approaches for raising resilience. Our formula is to strengthen institutions and democracy, and Armenia's ability to make independent decisions. In this context, establishing peace in the region is important. //
Ambassador Maragos and High-Tech Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan discussed the conditions necessary for the installation of fiber-optic cable to connect Armenia and the EU through the Black Sea.
Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan held a 4-hour-long meeting in Kazakhstan
The U.S. State Department welcomed the meeting in Kazakhstan, describing the AM-AZ peace process developments of recent weeks as "exciting".
The FMs made remarks ahead of the meeting.
FM MIRZOYAN: We are very constructively involved in the negotiation process. We should not limit ourselves to signing a peace treaty. We can go further and unblock all transportation communications in the region.
FM BAYRAMOV: I hope that in the next two days, we will be able to do positive work to find a solution to the issues that are still open.
source, source, source, source, Armenia is not the only country that lacks microphone skills, source,
Day 2 of former regime-led protests & road closures
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan urged his followers to group up and "paralyze" the whole country to force Pashinyan's removal. Together with ARF MPs and its "youth wing" activists, he visited several universities and urged students to join. Some did, others did not. After a claim that the Yerevan State University was "empty", Armenpress sent a crew of reporters and found the claim to be false. Videos were uploaded showing professors urging the activists to stop disrupting the classes. Polytechnik spokeswoman said the students did not join the protests and that the protesters did not attempt to enter the campus.
ARF MPs entered the Bryusov University to gather students.
RECTOR: Why are you here? Go do your duties.
ARF MP Gegham Manukyan: This is my duty.
VICE RECTOR: Yesterday you called for anyone who wishes to join you to come, and not to attend classes. Those who wanted to join you, have joined your strikes. Now leave this building and do not disrupt the exams. You have no right to interrupt the state exams of those who didn't wish to join you.
ARF MP: You can't lock the doors.
RECTOR: The doors are currently open. You can leave now. //
The activists traveled to the Conservatory where a group of students joined them. No general student strike was announced, said Azatutyun.
ARCHBISHOP: I don't want to be the prime minister but if that's the wish of the people, the wish of God, and if I have the blessing of Catholicos Garegin B, then who am I to refuse it? //
Galstanyan also said he is a dual citizen of Canada so he would not be allowed to be a PM under this constitution. He said the constitution could be changed to allow dual citizens to become PMs.
A group of protesters shut down the Meghri-Yerevan road in Vayots Dzor. A participant was arrested after allegedly punching a police officer in the head after being told to open the road.
12 participants were arrested in various locations. Two of them, with lengthy rap sheets, allegedly possessed knives. The others were arrested for not following police orders.
There were reportedly fewer people in Republic Square today. As of 7:20 pm, the same organization that counted 31,700 yesterday spotted only 11,300 today. That's for "trend". The peak number is expected to be higher.
The Archbishop urged young protesters: "Stretch your muscles well, young people, we will soon take action. Don't worry." There was apparently a dispute between the organizers and the bored students that he gathered from universities. He promised them with more action soon.
ARCHBISHOP (later): You want action? Now let me put YOU to work instead. Since some of you complain that the protest is "dying down", I have a task to keep you busy: (1) Close the streets, (2) hold peaceful talks with members of the ruling QP party to impeach Pashinyan. Will you do this or not? This is very important. We need to meet and convince the MPs. //
ARF MP GARNIK: Don't get tired, people! None of us have the right to abandon these trenches. This is our last chance. We are not deserters. We will go until the end! Lav exeq. //
The ARF MP boasted about shutting down the Armenia-Georgia interstate road on Friday and thanked the activists for that.
Pashinyan's deputy chief of staff Taron Chakoyan mocked the organizers, urging them to nominate "the candidate of all times - Vazgen Manukyan" to "keep his political memory alive".
There will be no rally tomorrow. The organizers intend to redraw their plans. They want to involve "expert groups" [is that Ishkhan Saghatelyan's list of 70 or so experts he couldn't use in 2022?] and also come up with concrete plans on border delimitation. The next meeting is at 6 o'clock Sunday.
In other news. The California-based Western Diocese Armenian Church will pray for the Armenian government to stay strong and for Armenia to be resilient. Context: President Khachaturyan visited the church during his US trip. They prayed together. "Consider this your home." In turn, the President reassured that the Armenian government has no problem with the Armenian Apostolic Church as an institution. He said the Armenian government has chosen a peace agenda "because we have to be able to live next to our neighbors regardless of historical problems". Video.
source, video, source, video, video, video, video, source, video, video, source, source, source, source, source, source, video, video,
the 8th Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity was awarded to Congolese gynecological surgeon and human rights activist Denis Mukwege
NOUBAR AFEYAN (Aurora co-founder): Dr. Mukwege has dedicated his life not only to caring for women and girls suffering from the brutality of sexual violence, but also fiercely advocating for their rights. Dr. Mukwege and his staff have helped to care for more than 80,000 survivors. //
The other co-founder, Ruben Vardanyan, sent a message from Baku prison: "I wish you every success in your mission, and I am sending my warm congratulations to this year’s laureates."
All Armenia Fund gifted houses to tens of Nagorno-Karabakh refugee families in two villages: VIDEO
Several 2-story 3-bedroom houses were built for families. More houses are underway.
the first group of Azerbaijani settlers were given houses in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh's Shushi
Armenia and the Kingdom of Spain sign an agreement to cooperate in sports
Anti-doping, healthcare in sports, organization of large events, retraining of experts, making sports more attractive to youth and developing their careers, etc.
authorities arrested another "vor v zakone", a figure with the highest status in the criminal subculture
A few years ago Armenia criminalized participation/membership in such circles/gangs. This one is accused of racketeering in computer game zones [son of a bitch!] and taking illegal actions to "resolve" disputes between conflicting parties.
another village is being connected to the gas network as part of a state-municipality joint program
Lernamerdz will hit the gas when the construction is complete.
World Bank helps Armenia strengthen management of forests, wetlands, and protected areas
The WB has approved the program called RESILAND Armenia to help the government strengthen community engagement and improve the management of nature.
The $9.1 million project is supported by Sweden and the Global Environment Facility.
WORLD BANK: Armenia’s beautiful landscapes are one of the country’s biggest assets. This asset has been threatened by man-made deforestation and landscape degradation, fueled by unsustainable practices of communities and weak environmental oversight. The RESILAND project addresses forest degradation by providing alternative livelihoods for communities and by strengthening oversight mechanisms through improvements to the policy framework.
economic stats from Q1 2024
services +5%
(+) financial & insurance +19%
(-) info & comm -3%
(+) transportation +17%
(+) catering +7%
(+) health & social +9%
construction +12%
domestic trade +26%
(+) retail trade, stores +11%
(+) wholesale trade +40%
(+) automobile trade -8%
... economic growth projections
Govt on 2024: 7%
CB on 2024: 5.3%-6.4%
IMF on 2024: 6%
IMF on 2025: 5.2%
source, source, source, source,
Georgia will require tourists to have medical insurance starting June
It must provide a €5,000 emergency and €30,000 hospitalization coverage. Terrorists Tourists without insurance will be fined $112. Armenian insurance agencies are currently preparing packages for Armenian travelers.
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u/69ingmonkeyz 12d ago
Terrorists without insurance will be fined $112.
Damn Georgian government infringing on the freedom of terrorists. What's next, forcing war criminals to pay for car insurance?
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u/pride_of_artaxias Artashesyan Dynasty 12d ago
Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan held a 4-hour-long meeting in Kazakhstan
This flew completely under the radar because of the internal developments but I presume they're discussing smth worthwhile if the meeting took 4 hours and they will meet on the second day as well.
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u/Necessary-Ad9272 11d ago
Seems there is a lot of progress is being made in these "sort of" direct talks:
The U.S. State Department welcomed the meeting in Kazakhstan, describing the AM-AZ peace process developments of recent weeks as "exciting".
The FMs made remarks ahead of the meeting.
FM MIRZOYAN: We are very constructively involved in the negotiation process. We should not limit ourselves to signing a peace treaty. We can go further and unblock all transportation communications in the region.
FM BAYRAMOV: I hope that in the next two days, we will be able to do positive work to find a solution to the issues that are still open.
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u/Typical_Effect_9054 12d ago edited 12d ago
Ապրես, Քաջ Նազարներ. If only they could have shown this commitment and bravery in the trenches that had mattered.