2023 November 22

Daily news wrap-up

Germany to support Armenia for choosing democracy: investments, education, renewables // Comrade Zakharova prefers bigger guns // Anti-corruption: Armenia's richest man in trouble; Anti-laundering law // Peace negotiations // History of Armenia's currency dram // More
by ar_david_hh

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Armenia responds to Azerbaijan's proposal

AZERBAIJAN: We sent our peace proposal to Armenia but they haven't responded.

ARMENIA: You didn't bother to attend the negotiations in Europe to hear our response... twice. If you're honest about peace, let's meet on the AM-AZ border to discuss border demarcation, and also accept the territorial integrity of Armenia and sovereignty over transportation links.

[source,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/757658/հայաստանի-ագն-ն-արձագանքել-է-ադրբեջանի-առաջարկին/)

Azerbaijan bans U.S. humanitarian activities by USAID from Azerbaijan (and presumably Nagorno-Karabakh)

Read the [November 21 report](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/180s5wu/armenias_satellite_has_captured_15_million_images/) if you missed the fallout in relations between Azerbaijan and the West caused by Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The USAID has announced $4 million in additional humanitarian assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians.

AZERBAIJAN: The U.S. government has decided to stand by Armenia. The masks are off. There is no more room for USAID activities in Azerbaijan.

[source,](https://www.civilnet.am/news/757670/ադրբեջանը-հայտնում-է-usaid-ը-արգելելու-մասին-արցախցիներին-նոր-օգնության-հատկացումից-հետո/)

Azerbaijani handler of New York City mayor, accused of corruption, is suspended after attempting to have text messages erased in the midst of an investigation

The office of the NYC mayor is suspected of taking bribes from Turkey. The mayor's handler, Rana Abbasova, who holds a leadership role in the city's International Affairs department, had her house raided by the FBI. She then urged staffers to delete exchanges of text messages. That got her suspended from the department.

>Part of the investigation focuses on whether the mayor’s campaign teamed up with Brooklyn-based [Turkish company] KSK Construction Group and the Turkish government to use “straw donors” to illegally funnel foreign cash into his campaign coffers in exchange for favors

[source,](https://nypost.com/2023/11/21/metro/suspended-adams-aide-told-staffers-to-delete-texts-after-fbi-raid-source/)

European official refuses to meet the so-called "leader of the Azerbaijani community of Armenia"

PACE's rapporteur Lise Christoffersen recently made a visit to Azerbaijan but refused to promote the Aliyev regime's expansionist policy of settling Azeris in Armenian territories. Other meetings with "Azerbaijani refugees" were also rejected.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtqtc8tr5FQ?t=58)

Russia joins Azerbaijan in criticizing Armenia for purchasing "Bastion" armored vehicles from France

ZAKHAROVA (foreign ministry): These vehicles were proven to be useless in Ukraine during real battles. If Armenia just wants to showcase them at a public square, it probably made sense to buy them. //

Zakharova also criticized France for attempting to pressure Azerbaijan and "dictate" its [pro-Armenian] policies in the South Caucasus.

Context: Russia received hundreds of millions of dollars from Armenia in 2021 but never delivered the weapons, so Armenia decided to sign contracts with Western and Indian companies instead. Russia is jealous of Armenia's new defense partnerships.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExdX6ZTOjHw?t=110) [source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phhwH6TaLPQ)

Russia had made an agreement with Azerbaijan not to supply weapons to Armenia: ruling party MP Melkonyan

Azerbaijani president was publicly criticizing Russia in 2021 amid reports that Russia was planning to supply arms to Armenia. The weapons never arrived. Analysts believe that Moscow and Baku eventually reached an agreement to keep Armenia weak in order to make the extortion of a Russian-controlled "corridor" and other concessions easier.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3OkXUEyJME?t=7)

Armenian parliament leader will no longer attend meetings by the Russian-led CSTO military bloc

REPORTERS: Yesterday we learned that the prime minister, defense minister, and the foreign minister will not attend the CSTO summit in Belarus. Why?

ALEN SIMONYAN: I won't be attending the next meeting in December, either.

REPORTERS: Why?

ALEN: My participation is not appropriate due to the circumstances.

REPORTERS: What circumstances?

ALEN: The CSTO has refused to follow its obligations after the 2021 invasion. For what purpose should I attend their meetings? What am I supposed to discuss there after their refusal to respond to the invasion of Armenian territories? They didn't even provide political support, let alone military.

REPORTERS: The CSTO worked in Kazakhstan during mass riots. Why didn't they help Armenia?

ALEN: The government is still trying to make it work. Time will tell if it works. Armenia has not left CSTO. //

RUSSIA: We regret the Armenian government's decision not to participate in the CSTO meeting. At the same time, we understand that Armenian colleagues are not going to block the work of CSTO's statutory bodies. The doors remain open for Armenia to join the work.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWeSfp9Vm60) [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/politics/armenia_s_decision_not_to_participate_in_csto_summit_in_minsk_is_regrettable_russian_foreign_ministr/)

Armenian parliament leader supports Armenia's path to Euro-integration

REPORTERS: Do you find Armenia's Eurointegration realistic?

ALEN: I have a positive opinion on that direction. European values and freedoms have proven to be mechanisms that can protect Armenia. It is those values that serve as Armenia's defense mechanism today, while our "partners" [Russia] are busy making absurd statements. When Azerbaijan launched the invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh, Russia urged *"ARMENIA and Azerbaijan"* to end the fire. They made it seem as if Armenia was a party. Compare that to the targeted statements made from the West.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrFMGpee68w)

Germany will provide an additional €85 million in grants and loans because Armenia has chosen democracy

KEROBYAN (Economy Minister): Today we signed an AM-DE intergovernmental cooperation agreement. This is the first official negotiation since 2014. Numerous topics were discussed in the field of economy. The German government will provide an additional €85 million in assistance in the forms of grants and loans to boost the education and skills of Armenian students, boost the renewable industry, and management skills for local municipalities.

AM-DE trade has tripled in the last three years. Agreements were ratified with the German KfW and JIZ organizations to establish their offices in Armenia. Numerous business meetings have led to larger investments and stronger business ties.

GERMAN MINISTER: I thank my friend Kerobyan for what have been extremely good negotiations. This is the first bilateral government negotiation since 2014. It sends a clear message that Germany is going to be a reliable support for Armenia on its economic path and it's meant as a clear message to support the decision of the Armenian people to choose democracy in a very challenging environment. We will be enhancing our cooperation in the economic field, especially when it comes to professional vocational training. We want to strengthen the ability of municipalities to deliver services to the Armenian people. We'll also be able to make a contribution to support the Armenian government when it comes to the challenge of the refugees that have been welcomed here from Nagorno-Karabakh. But I also want to mention the crucial sector of energy. We will enhance our cooperation towards renewable energy sources in Armenia, which will enable our Armenian friends to reduce energy costs in the long term and to become more energy-independent.

... is Armenia attractive for German private investors?

GERMANY: German companies recognize that many reforms have been implemented in Armenia which are beneficial for the investment climate. The overall dynamic between AM and DE governments is positive. There are many discussions on the levels of gov't and business associations.

We've seen progress in the fight against corruption. We hope to contribute to help maintain this progress. We believe that investing more in vocational training and in a better-equipped workforce will make Armenia even more attractive to foreign investors.

Any progress in regional peace will make the region more attractive for foreign investments. We are very satisfied with the Crossroads of Peace project by PM Pashinyan. It will offer many opportunities. We will encourage German businesses to invest in Armenia.

... the main topics of these AM-DE negotiations

Germany wants to help Armenia optimize its energy consumption by reducing waste and to increase the output of renewables in order to make Armenia less reliant on energy imports.

Germany wants to help close the gap between labor demand and education. Armenia needs tens of thousands of skilled workers right now. New programs will be implemented in educational institutions to train specialists.

SMEs and entrepreneurs will have easier access to credit lines.

... Germany and Armenia are discussing the development of green hydrogen in Armenia

More news will be available on this subject in early 2024. The parties are researching the field and are yet to approve some technical agreements.

... Pashinyan hosted the German envoy led by Niels Annen

PASHINYAN: Thank you for incuding Armenia in the BMZ-2030 reforms program *[tackles poverty, climate crisis, environmental degradation, inequality]*. This is the first governmental meeting of this kind since 2014.

ANNEN: Germany has decided to resume these negotiations, taking into account Armenia's steps and reforms aimed at developing democracy. We want to encourage German companies to operate in Armenia.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppUvLVE_0EM) [source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/274182) [source,](https://factor.am/714034.html) [source,](https://arka.am/en/news/economy/germany_to_provide_84_6_million_euros_in_assistance_to_armenia/)

anti-corruption: Armenia will require notary services for real estate registration and "red flag" reports to combat tax evasion and laundering

Until now, the law allowed the registration of property transactions without a notary certification if they were concluded according to ready-made samples. People have been abusing the system to claim a sale was a "gift" in order to evade taxes or commit laundering.

The parliament has adopted amendments to the law. All transactions will have to be certified by notaries. The notary will be required to report to the Central Bank any transaction that arouses suspicions.

[source,](https://arka.am/en/news/society/armenia_bans_real_estate_registration_without_notary_because_of_money_laundering_risk/)

anti-corruption: authorities have an asset forfeiture case against Armenia's richest man Gagik Tsarukyan, a former parliament MP and party owner

AUTHORITIES: Tsarukyan has not explained how he was able to obtain $213 million with his reported income. We believe it was obtained illegally. We also demand the forfeiture of 42 vehicles, 79 real estate properties, etc. //

Authorities reportedly want to confiscate his Shangri La casino and Pharavon restaurant.

[source,](https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/274193)

for comrade Putin, we are ready to die! ☭

Russian police are overwhelmed by the number of people snitching on neighbors and colleagues who criticize the war in Ukraine. One man told the BBC he is being held in jail on terrorism charges after being falsely accused by a colleague after an argument.

>"Whenever something real comes up, there's nobody to investigate. Everyone's gone to check on some grandma who saw a curtain that looked like the Ukrainian flag."

One serial informer has filed 1,397 denunciations since the invasion. Russians can be fined up to $560 or imprisoned for up to five years if found guilty.

[source,](https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-police-overwhelmed-number-of-people-snitching-neighbors-colleagues-report-2023-11)

Abkhazians are revolting against Russia's attempt to "steal" their lands: Golos Ameriki

Russia wants to appropriate part of a nature reserve in Abkhazia for the residence of Vladimir Putin, writes the outlet. Thousands of locals gathered to protect the territory. This area is known for having dachas belonging to Soviet leaders, including one built for Stalin in 1947.

Abkhazian authorities claim the rumors about the transfer are false. Opposition figures have claimed victory, saying "once again" they were able to pressure the government not to sell the state properties to Russia.

[source,](https://factor.am/714143.html) [source,](a/georgia-dacha/7365457.html)

history: Armenian currency dram turns 30

Armenia made the switch from the ruble on 22 November 1993.

EX-FINANCE MINISTER: It wasn't an easy transition. Very large quantities of paper notes were brought to Armenia. Storage conditions and security were subpar at the time, but we were pleased to learn that there was not a single attempt of theft. People viewed the currency as a symbol of Armenia's newly gained independence. //

EX-CENTRAL BANK CHIEF: Armenians were very conservative when it came to currency. They were refusing to give up on the ruble, despite the fact that it was a lot more volatile and problematic. Dram lost its value by 6x during the first month. //

CENTRAL BANK OFFICIAL: Dram was devalued within weeks of entering circulation, leading to inflation. It began to gradually stabilize in 1995. //

The name "dram" was borrowed from the Greek "drachma". It dates back to the Armenian king Tigran the Great. Cilician Armenia began using silver coins named "dram".

Armenia's dram banknotes were printed in Germany.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8wVxPZ9vQ8)

STARMUS VI: the movie

World-renowned scientists Brian May and Garik Israelyan co-founded the Starmus Festival. Every year it invites famous astronomers, artists, and scientists to discuss the past and future. Last year it was held in Armenia. Garik Israelyan teamed up with foreign producers to prepare a movie. It presents the organizational work, hundreds of volunteers who made the show possible, and the participants of the festival. The movie premiered about a week ago.

[source,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjnqvf8MZOc) [read more about Armenia's satellite,](https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/180s5wu/armenias_satellite_has_captured_15_million_images/)

farewell to the Japanese ambassador who learned Armenian to sing the "Yerazi Im Yerkir Hayreni"

PM Pashinyan hosted Ambassador Fukushima Masanori and thanked him for his contribution to the strengthening of AM-JP relations.

[the song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPSg4dhSEPA)

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/181kgsi/germany_to_support_armenia_for_choosing_democracy/