2021 October 4

Daily news wrap-up

Oct/4/2021: $4 billion investments; copper smelter; new nuclear plant; Zangezur __ Subsidy helps rural families to find work __ Min. pensions to increase __ Armenia+Iran=BFF; Aliyev and Iran exchange jabs __ Armenia fixes plant that was polluting Iran __ New Meghri hydro? __ Judge terminated __ more
by ar_david_hh

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Your 16-minute Monday report in 4081 words.

large-scale mining investments, construction of a copper smelter and a new nuclear power plant on agenda after the partial nationalization of Zangezur copper plant in a deal with GeoProMining Russian miner

Read Friday report for context about how a Russian miner obtained majority shares of Zangezur copper plant and immediately donated 25% to Premier's office for nationalization. Find out more about the events that unfolded during the June 20 election campaign.

Shortly before this deal, another mining company partially belonging to GeoProMining's owner had regained the right to operate the Meghradzor gold mine. The government had suspended its license last year, among three other miners, citing long-term inactivity by the miners. GeoProMining decided to "activate" in late September, regained the right to operate the Meghradzor mine, obtained the Zangezur shares, then donated 25% to Armenia.

After the announcement about the partial nationalization, Pashinyan hosted the Russian miner GeoProMining (which also operates the Sotk gold mine) to discuss investment plans.

Pashinyan: welcome, and thank you for donating 25% to the Republic of Armenia, as a result of which 15% of the plant's capital was transferred to the Republic. We hope that all the agreements that were reached will be implemented, which is very important not only for your company but also for our economy. [sounds like a threat lol]

GeoProMining's Roman Trotsenko: thanks for paying attention to the mining industry, where many problems had accumulated in recent decades. We're glad to cooperate with the Armenian government to stabilize the field and implement long-term large-scale investment programs, that will reach $4 billion.

This will allow processing the products, building new workshops, a new nuclear power plant, a new copper smelter, so Armenia can produce copper and not just copper concentrate. //

Pashinyan: the new copper smelter will require more electricity. Successful implementation of these projects is very important for us. We hope this will be the impetus for the program to build a new nuclear plant.

We believe the partial nationalization of Zangezur will contribute to the expansion of private-public cooperation and will make Zangnezur management more effective. //

The two agreed to activate discussions so the projects can be implemented as soon as possible.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064638.html https://youtu.be/w26jji-DSpQ https://hetq.am/hy/article/136346 https://hetq.am/hy/article/120698

Pashinyan about capital/infrastructure investments in 2022, copper smelter, and thousands of new jobs:

We plan to make unprecedented ֏350b capital investments in 2022. They will bring many jobs.

The North-South construction will continue at a large scale. Hundreds of new schools and kindergartens will open within five years. Efforts will continue to boost tourism.

For the first time in two decades, the Republic of Armenia has a share in the Zangezur copper plant. We hope this share will increase over time. This was not a simple process to purchase shares. There is a large investment program that will be implemented by a private firm [GeoProMining] with the assistance of the government.

If you study the structure of Armenia's exports, you will see that a massive share belongs to basic concentrates [raw materials], which are mainly exported to the EU, where they turn it into copper. We want Armenia to have a copper smelter, too, so we can produce copper.

These programs will bring 5,000 new jobs, according to preliminary studies. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064681.html

VIDEO: thousands of poverty aid recipient families began receiving "encouragement salaries" to work on land and farm, without the threat of losing their poverty aid

Deputy Premier Papikyan: the first program encourages residents to do farming by issuing subsidies for purchasing animals. The second program temporarily pays them a salary for cultivating their own lands. Over 1,000 families have already received the aid. The number is growing. //

Hovsepyan family purchased a cow with the subsidies. It includes up to ֏350,000 for the animal, plus the first year's upkeep fees. Up to ֏1.2M per family.

The point of this aid program is that the revenue generated from the work doesn't count towards the family's "income". That means the family, who has long been "accustomed" to receiving poverty aid, and doesn't want to find work out of fear of losing the poverty aid, can begin to work without a fear.

https://factor.am/424127.html https://youtu.be/jvY4y46j_Mo

minimum pensions for several groups will increase beginning January 1

There are 15.6k citizens who receive the minimum ֏26.5K ($55) pension. It will increase to ֏28.6K ($59).

The military disability and "losing a breadwinner" pensions will also increase by $6 for 5.3k recipients.

The minimum pension for disability or losing a breadwinner will also increase from ֏26.5K to ֏28.6K. It'll apply to 74.6k people.

Pension for children who grew up with disabilities will increase from ֏26.5K to ֏37K. It'll apply to 8.5k recipients.

https://factor.am/423949.html

Ilham Aliyev unhappy over the "quality" of landmine maps shared by Pashinyan, says he will give something back if Armenia shares "good" maps

The practice of swapping partial landmine maps for captives was a humanitarian effort by the United States and Russia. Pashinyan recently sent partial landmine maps in exchange for dozens of captives and POWs.

Aliyev complained that maps were incomplete, and cast doubt on their accuracy, while the Azeri government calculated that it would take decades before they are able to clear the entire Artsakh from landmines without the maps.

Aliyev said they will respond to Armenia with a kind gesture if Armenia shares the landmine maps. Over 150 Azeris have died on landmines since the November 9 ceasefire. "We are ready if they are ready," said Aliyev about resuming negotiations.

Pashinyan responded: Aliyev said he is ready to meet. We said in July that we are ready. I will bring all the appropriate types of landmine maps if Aliyev brings all the POWs. We're talking about landmine maps of areas that do not divide Armenia and Azerbaijan. In other words, these areas no longer have practical military-security significance for Armenia. Demining operations in these areas would only have humanitarian consequences because these areas are located in the rear of Azeri forces. [i.e. eastern parts like Aghdam]

Aliyev complains that the maps we shared earlier were of poor quality. We need to establish the following: we did not intentionally keep "good maps" and give them "bad maps". I am aware that there are issues with the quality of these maps. I don't rule out that whoever created the maps had lacked professionalism. We are being honest and transparent here. We have no intention to deceive because doing so could harm our relations with [Russia].

We gave the maps that we possessed; we have no "alternative" maps of these areas. This is a fact. Obviously, Azerbaijan does not trust us and we don't trust them. The goal is to make small steps so we can move forward. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064628.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064673.html

Tags: #LandmineMaps #maps

Ambassador Abbas: Iran has a great desire to implement programs for the development of Armenia's economy

Justice Minister Andreasyan met ambassador Abbas to discuss helping Iranian businesses to invest in Armenia.

Abbas also thanked Armenia for recently extraditing Iranian nationals who were serving prison time in Armenia.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064590.html

editor of Iran's "Javan" media outlet linked to Iranian military, about the Republic of Azerbaijan:

Azerbaijan is historically Iranian territory. Iran showed respect and recognized the rulers of Azerbaijan but they should not use "borrowed power" to threaten Iran.

People living on the two sides of the Aras River have had an Iranian identity for several thousand years. The territory was acquired by the Russian empire from the Qajar dynasty after the Russo-Persian War of 1826-28, dividing Azeri speakers between northwest Iran and the Russian empire.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/20211001032752

Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia launch an army drill in Georgia

The goal is for commanders to organize the defense of economically important structures.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064710.html

Iranian Parliament MPs released a statement about Iranian army drills on the border with Azerbaijan:

Any geopolitical change in the region, a change in the borders of neighboring countries, is a red line for Iran. [likely referring to Azerbaijan's repeated claims about "Syunik corridor"]. We will not tolerate any territory of a country [Azerbaijan] to be used for Zionist activities.

The army drills on the shores of river Araks is a message of strength and peace, and a warning to Zionists. We have great relations with Azerbaijan. Zionists' provocations will not break that unity.

The divisive statements of some in Azerbaijan are against the principles of good neighborliness; we expect Azerbaijan to fight against such statements and behavior as soon as possible. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064654.html

Iranian Foreign Minister about geopolitics, borders, and tensions with Azerbaijan:

Certain terrorist cells were transferred to the conflict zone during the Karabakh war of 2020. The Zionist regime also wanted to take advantage of the situation and established its presence in Azerbaijan, near our borders. At the time, we used various diplomatic channels to express our concerns.

We have great relations with Azerbaijan but we will not tolerate the presence of the Zionist regime, geopolitical changes, or change of any borders.

I met the Azeri MFA in New York to discuss the arrest of two Iranian drivers [on Syunik border]. I told him that if they want to tax cargo shipments, they should inform us ahead of time that "X days from now, you must pay taxes according to the new law".

The arrest of Iranian drivers has no valid explanation. This behavior cannot be interpreted positively. We have good relations with Azerbaijan but the influence of Zionists and terrorists on Azerbaijan is obvious to us. We're concerned that these forces will soon cause problems for Azerbaijan.

The army drills are a message to terrorists and Zionists. The president of Azerbaijan used negative words towards Iran about the drills, and we responded via diplomatic channels. After all, Iran and Azerbaijan have historical relations and we won't allow foreign forces to damage our ties.

We are carefully following the events in the region and we will not allow border changes in any country. Foreign players are behind this. We will help Azerbaijan not to fall for their trap. We have sent messages and we are optimistic.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064655.html

Ilham Aliyev and Azeri MFA respond to criticism from Iranian MFA:

Azerbaijan does not accept the presence of a third country on the AZ-IR border, so the accusations from Iranian MFA are groundless. There is no Israeli presence on the AZ-IR border. There are no terrorist elements in Azerbaijan. Iran has not presented evidence.

Aliyev: unfortunately, Iranian officials began making unfounded accusations towards us. They should open their eyes. Where do they see Israel? There is nobody there. Iran should provide evidence. The unfounded accusations will not go unanswered.

https://factor.am/424333.html https://factor.am/424558.html

Pashinyan about relations with Iran and western sanctions:

Armenia has never and will never get involved in a conspiracy against Iran. Our relations are very important for us. We will never forget that Iran served as a lifeline for Armenia in the early 1990s. [the only route to import food, for a while]

President Raisi and I both took the office in August, yet we have already met twice, a fact that shows how much we value our relationship.

It's no secret that there are certain circles in Iran that occasionally circulate media content, claiming that Armenia is involved in conspiracies against Iran. But I'm confident that our Iranian partners realize that this has never and will never be the case.

It is another thing that our economic relations with Iran are hampered by international sanctions. We have large projects with Iran. We agreed to expedite the projects during the meeting with Raisi.

One of the projects is the construction of the second high-voltage power line, which is being built in cooperation with an Iranian firm. Please build it as soon as possible. We hope to extend the gas-for-electricity exchange contract soon.

During our meeting, I reminded him about the topic of possibly building a reservoir in Meghri and a new hydropower plant. This will be important not only for energy reasons but also for managing water resources. {oof this is what General Samvel Babayan was talking about on September 23..}

Pashinyan continues: recently we resolved some long-standing problems with Iran. For example, the issue of Agarak copper-molybdenum plant polluting river Araks. This was always an issue. I'm glad we resolved it. The plant has switched to a closed-cycle operation to prevent emissions. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064669.html https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/pu365r/news_sep232021_gen_samvel_babayan_on

Tags: #MeghriHydro #IranElectricGrid #AgarakCopper #pollution #PashinyanIran

Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Iran held a meeting

Iranian MFA: we will not allow foreign countries to influence relations with our neighbors, including Armenia. Today we agreed to develop cooperation in all sectors of the economy and development of trade routes. We have established a process that will be launched quickly, making the transit routes of the two countries more active. You'll see more activity in the coming weeks. //

Armenian MFA: we held good negotiations today. A good future awaits us in the atmosphere of friendship and mutual trust. We exchanged views on all developments in the region... Azerbaijan brought mercenaries from other countries during the war. They have not yet released all POWs despite being required to do so. //

https://factor.am/424504.html

Security Council chief Grigoryan met the Iranian ambassador Abbas

They discussed regional security issues, and the importance of Iran's Chabahar port for regional trade, which could use Armenia as a transit state.

Ambassador Abbas: Tehran will try to develop relations with brother and friend Armenia at the highest level. //

Grigoryan: trade corridors can open in Syunik for Azerbaijan, but only while remaining as the sovereign territory of Armenia. IN a similar fashion, we would like to regain access to AM-AZ-RU and AM-AZ-IR railways. The latter requires very little investment; we just need to build a short 1km railway from Armenia to Nakhijevan. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064758.html https://www.panarmenian.net/arm/news/295860/

Iran and Saudi Arabia want to be friends, at last

Saudi Arabia confirmed it had held its first round of direct talks with Iran last month, part of a process that begun earlier this year to reduce tension.

Their ties were worsened in 2015 and severed in 2016. Saudis and Iran have backed opposing sides in regional conflicts in Syria, Lebanon, Ira, and Yemen.

Iraq will continue to host the direct talks, said the Iraqi president. "The sides have no prerequisites. We are trying to launch a stable relationship within the framework of mutual agreement."

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064734.html https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-confirms-first-round-talks-with-new-iranian-government-2021-10-03/

Pandora Papers expose more corruption from the Aliyev regime

Leak reveals firms linked to the Aliyev family – repeatedly accused of corruption – have traded nearly £400m of UK property. The Queen launched an investigation after it was revealed that the crown estate bought £67m London property from the Aliyev family.

The crown estate said they vetted the seller before buying it, and that it did not raise any red flags at the time.

>The property purchases include one building acquired for £33.5m in 2009 by an offshore company beneficially owned by President Aliyev’s son, Heydar, who was then only 11 years old.

Full: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/queen-crown-estate-bought-property-family-azerbaijan-ruler https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064680.html https://factor.am/424361.html

jealous Aliyev wants €2.6B from Europe

He gave an interview to a Spanish outlet and complained about the EU's decision to give massive aid to Armenia, and only "pennies" to Azerbaijan. "We are the country that suffered from the occupation", complained Aliyev while "demanding" aid from the EU with the same conditions as it was offered to Armenia.

https://factor.am/424392.html

Parliament President Simonyan held a meeting with MFA Lavrov during a Moscow trip

The three-day visit kicked off on Monday. The Armenian delegation will also meet Russian Duma leadership, faculty at MFA's Diplomatic Academy, and the Armenian community.

Simonyan and Lavrov discussed the repatriation of POWs, economic projects between AM-RU, etc.

Pashinyan and Putin will meet soon.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064689.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064733.html

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo: France could officially recognize the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh

She shared a Le Point article by Bernard-Henri Lévy, who also expressed similar thoughts.

https://twitter.com/Anne_Hidalgo/status/1444312771148066816 https://www.lepoint.fr/editos-du-point/bernard-henri-levy/bhl-la-france-peut-reconnaitre-la-republique-du-haut-karabakh-16-11-2020-2401268_69.php https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064700.html

Pashinyan visited Lithuania on Sunday

He met the Premier and spoke about the LT-AM relations and the proposed €2.6b European aid for Armenia's economy and infrastructure, the Artsakh conflict and the need to respect people's right to self-determination, the lifting of Armenia's blockade, etc.

Pashinyan: Lithuania can play an important role in promoting Armenia's cooperation with the EU. There is an untapped potential between the two countries to expand cooperation in tourism, IT, green technologies, agriculture, etc.

Thanks for recently sending 50,000 doses of vaccine.

We need to lift the regional communication blockades instead of isolating each other. We've expressed willingness to launch the border demarcation-delimitation process.

We need to repatriate the POWs first. As I've stated earlier, if the president of Azerbaijan brings with him the POWs and other captives, I'm ready to take all the maps with me to the meeting, specifically the maps that are humanitarian in nature and do not have a security function for Armenia. The returned captives should include people whose captivity is denied by Azerbaijan but we know for a fact they are there, because of information we possess. //

Lithuanian Premier: we are ready to remain Armenia's friend in the future, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year. The June 20 elections showed that support for democracy is very strong in Armenia. Premier Pashinyan and his team received tremendous support. Reforms and democratic changes received tremendous support. We think it'll be useful for us to exchange experience, knowledge, and lessons from past mistakes.

Soon, Yerevan and Vilnius will have direct flights that will allow our people to get to know each other more closely.

We'd like to thank Armenia for helping Lithuania to combat illegal migration. We needed translators, and Armenia provided us with experts to translate [Kurdish] Kurmanji. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064688.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064690.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064693.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064695.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064696.html https://youtu.be/sCrYky51QfA https://youtu.be/4F_5k22qwzs

VIDEO: Lithuania will share its waste recycling experience with Armenia

Pashinyan visited the USAD waste processing plant in the capital Vilnius to learn about modern tech. Lithuanian officials agreed to help to launch similar projects in Armenia.

https://youtu.be/WbxOxZ6oqGs https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064747.html

Armenia and Lithuania sign a medical cooperation memorandum

https://factor.am/424591.html

anti-corruption: ex-mayor of Stepanavan (Lori) is charged with laundering and land theft

Investigators report: ex-mayor S.G. abused his powers in 2004-2012 by illegally selling lands from protected forests and parks, to his family members and his foundation, before laundering the illegally obtained cash. He is charged with felonies. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064750.html

anti-corruption: Appeals Court upheld the pre-trial arrest for ex-General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan

He was arrested on September 6 and charged with laundering billions of drams and taking hundreds of millions in bribes.

A witness testified that when he had multiple felony charges against him, Aghvan Hovsepyan agreed to get him off the hook in exchange for 50% shares of Yerevan TV as a bribe. Hovsepyan denies wrongdoing.

https://factor.am/424305.html https://factor.am/424309.html

anti-corruption: the Supreme Court terminates judge Gagik Khandaryan's duties after a complaint from the Corruption Prevention Committee

The CPC had filed a complaint against the judge over his business affiliation (purchased "Mush" company shares in 2020), which raised the topic of incompatibility with his judicial activities. The Supreme council voted unanimously to terminate the judge for violating the ethics rules.

https://youtu.be/xgJ33mcBvGU https://factor.am/424429.html https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222270

U.S. State Department about the reforms in Armenia:

The U.S. supports Armenia's efforts to build democratic institutions, fight corruption, and promote sustainable economic growth. We welcome OSCE's positive assessment of the June 20 elections and hope that the upcoming municipal elections will be similarly democratic.

We give great importance to the reforms carried out in the past year, towards the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Committee and the new police patrol service.

There is still a lot to do. We appreciate the opportunity to help you with creating a trustworthy judicial system, increasing respect for free speech, and strengthening Parliamentary oversight powers.

Effective democratic governance includes finding peaceful ways to resolve differences with the opposition. The U.S. is ready to help Armenia in this area. //

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222187

Meghri (Syunik) will hold municipal elections on October 17

The mayor had earlier resigned to join the Kocharyan-ARF alliance as an MP. The ruling QP party has nominated a candidate, with a hope to pick up the southern city after Pashinyan's strong Syunik performance in June 20 elections.

Meanwhile, QP Ararat Tumanyan was appointed as the acting Meghri mayor. He is also QP's candidate in the elections.

Candidate Ararat Tumanyan: the community has many problems. We are preparing large-scale agricultural investments. We have a problem with a slaughterhouse. We don't have a car service station; residents are forced to travel to Kapan or Goris. We've already taken some steps here.

Irrigation needs urgent attention. We plan to hold discussions with the government and Water Committee.

We also have problems with the roads. Asphalting of the main road has begun. //

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/222122

PHOTO: Artik № 4 school was relaunched after renovations, instead of converting into a textile factory

... with the help of the Pirumyan family organization. New sports center, toilets, event hall, classrooms. The last renovation was in 1984.

https://factor.am/424471.html

COVID stats

7533 tested. 627 infected. 832 healed. 25 deaths. 13860 active.

http://arka.am/am/news/society/_covid_19_7533_627_832_25_/

over 517,000 vaccinations so far 🎈🎆🥂

353k first and 164k second dose.

96% are Armenian citizens.

54% women, 46% men.

https://factor.am/424417.html

scientists at Yale discover that natural immunity after being infected with COVID is short-lived, vaccines are still needed

>Therefore, those who have been naturally infected should get vaccinated. Previous infection alone can offer very little long-term protection against subsequent infections

https://news.yale.edu/2021/10/01/unvaccinated-reinfection-sars-cov-2-likely-study-finds

Ardem Patapoutian receives Nobel Prize in Physiology

... for groundbreaking research that solved a long-standing mystery of how the body senses touch and other mechanical stimuli.

>Patapoutian, a professor of neuroscience at Scripps Research and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, shares the prize with David Julius, PhD, at the University of California San Francisco for “their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch.”

President Sarkissian congratulated the scientist.

https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2021/20211004-ardem-patapoutian-wins-nobel-prize-in-medicine.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064752.html

US's USAID has created the detailed atlas of Ararat Valley

It contains 48 maps about water resources, geographic characteristics, and statistics.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064610.html Part 1: http://env.am/storage/files/ararat-valley-atlas-final-arm-1.pdf Part 2: http://env.am/storage/files/ararat-valley-atlas-final-arm-2.pdf Part 3: http://env.am/storage/files/ararat-valley-atlas-final-arm-3.pdf

Armenia had the highest economic growth and lowest inflation in the EAEU trade block in 1H21

Armenia 5.7%

Russia 4.8%

Belarus 3.3%

Kazakhstan 2.3%

Kyrgyzstan 1.7%

Armenia also had the highest agricultural growth, at 6.4%.

The highest growth in fixed capital investments, construction, cargo transfers, passenger transfers, was also recorded in Armenia.

Armenia had the lowest inflation rate, at 3.3% (July vs December).

https://factor.am/424481.html

Armenia opens its booth in Expo 2020 Dubai

It's a massive event held in a massive area split into three sections. Context in Friday post..

Economy Minister Kerobyan flew to UAE to attend the newly opened Armenian booth, accompanied by UAE's Minister of Foreign Trade. They learned about the "EthnoTech" concept presented by the booth. There will be AR/VR to boost tourism. Armenian companies will present their products for four days.

The expo is held once every five years. Established in 1851 in London.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064643.html

Armenian weightlifters continue to sweep medals in U23 European championship

109kg Arsen Martirosyan is the champion.

Varazdat Lalayan is a champion. The chad set a new European record with a combined 447kg.

Earlier, 89kg Karen Avagyan and Liana Gyurjyan became champions.

... in wrestling, too...

61kg Arsen Harutyunyan won the bronze medal in the adult's freestyle world wrestling championship.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064659.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064662.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064666.html

women's chess

Women's world championship is over. Russia won. Armenia fell slightly short of winning a medal after a tight match against Ukraine.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064670.html

men's chess

Levon Aronian defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen during the Champions Chess Tour Finals.

He then defeated Azerbaijan's ~~Radjabov~~ Mamedyarov.

Aronian finished 3rd. The champion is Magnus Carlsen.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064679.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064770.html

PHOTO: archaeologists discover ancient columns during the excavations of old capital Artashat

There was once a chamber located in the Pokr Vedi community. Four columns have been unearthed. The rest are believed to be under the soil layer. They are believed to be from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD.

Capital Artashat was built by Artashes A on 12 big and 1 small hills, one of which houses the famous Khor Virap. The excavations began during USSR and have since unearthed ancient baths, mosaics, coins, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064701.html https://factor.am/424394.html

the opening ceremony of the Charles Aznavour Concert Hall took place at the Conservatory of Clamart, France

The mayor, Armenian ambassador, and Charles's son Misha attended the ceremony.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1064663.html

end of report

The accused are innocent unless proven guilty in the court of law, even if they "appear" guilty.

News archive: http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Daily_Anti-Corruption_Reports

Donations: soldiers' families, humanitarian aid, US tax-deductible donation.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/q1bm3w/oct42021_4_billion_investments_copper_smelter_new/