2022 January 23

Daily news wrap-up

News - Jan/23/2022: How Armen Sarkissian became president & why he resigned; The process to elect a replacement explained; Who is the candidate? __ New Vedi Reservoir to reduce reliance on Lake Sevan irrigation water __ North-South railway __ Armenia's pension funds __ Guinness record __ Sports
by ar_david_hh

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Your 8-minute Sunday digest in 1957 words.

president Armen Sarkissian resigns | 2015-2022 events | Replacement process

The Constitution was amended in 2015 and went into effect in 2017-2018. Critics accused president Serj of attempting to maintain power by switching from semi-presidential to the parliamentary system so he could bypass his presidential term limit.

Surely enough, the ruling coalition (HHK + ARF) appointed Serj as Premier on 17 April 2018. They had also appointed Armen Sarkissian as the new president (to serve until 2025). The president's role was now largely ceremonial in nature. Sarkissian himself was a former Premier during Levon Ter-Petrosyan's administration.

Just seven days after Serj's appointment as Premier, a revolution forced him to resign. Pashinyan asked Sarkissian to remain president, however. The latter agreed and continued his tenure.

The 2015 Constitution had stripped the president of almost all powers. The only remaining tangible checks-and-balance was the president's ability not to sign Parliament's laws and Premier's decrees, if he believed they were unconstitutional. The president could challenge the laws in Constitutional Court.

Sarkissian would later go on to use these powers on several occasions. But he also angered the opposition (former regime) by not using it on other occasions, such as when Pashinyan decided to fire the army chief Onik Gasparyan amid the 2021 "coup attempt". Sarkissian "allowed Onik to be fired", the opposition complained at the time.

The opposition then launched a barrage of hate against Sarkissian and even doubted the legitimacy of his presidentship by claiming his 2018 appointment was against the law because it allegedly violated citizenship laws. The opposition declared Sarkissian a "traitor" who "sided with Pashinyan". Some HHK members expressed regret for having voted to approve Sarkissian as president in 2018.

... health issues

Besides the aforementioned political pressure and repeatedly finding himself at the center of political conflicts, Sarkissian has also suffered from health issues. He underwent surgery in London in January 2021. Short breaks were taken on numerous occasions for medical checkups.

The latest medical break was last week after his UAE trip. He took a medical leave and decided not to come back, releasing the resignation letter.

... Sarkissian's resignation letter:

1) I agreed to the offer to become President because it envisaged certain tools for the president's institute to have an influence on foreign policy, economic investments, and diaspora affairs.

2) I have been unable to influence certain political events due to the president's lack of power. The root of the problem is in the Constitution.

3) The law doesn't envisage enough checks and balances and causes problems for diasporans who attempt to work in governing positions.

4) My suggestion was not to just switch from parliamentary to semi-presidential but to have more checks and balances.

5) I'd like to thank the Government for forming a commission to work on constitutional reforms. [It's a bipartisan commission consisting of ruling and opposition members, legal experts, and NGOs.]

6) The presidential abilities should not be viewed as a threat by various political groups.

7) Various groups have targeted me with conspiracy theories, myths, and attempts to dig up my past. This "concern" about my persona crosses the moral boundaries, and negatively affects my health.

8) The decision to resign isn't an emotional one. It's because the president doesn't have the necessary powers to have meaningful influence.

9) Do not distract the public from important issues by circulating conspiracy theories. We have no right to make mistakes anymore. //

... the process to replace the president

Per 2015 Constitution, parliament president Alen Simonyan will be the acting president until the Parliament elects a new one. The election must be held 25-35 days after the president's seat goes vacant.

37 MPs are necessary to nominate a presidential candidate. The opposition HD and PU currently have 36 MPs, or 35 if we take into account the fact that MP Ishkhan Zakaryan recently resigned to became an Independent MP.

80 MPs are necessary to elect a President. Neither party currently has that many MPs.

Multiple candidates can be nominated. If no one is elected, the same candidates can be nominated again. This time, only 64 MPs are needed. The ruling party has more than that (71).

If no one is elected again, the top two candidates advance to the next round. A simple majority vote is needed this time.

... who is legally allowed to be a president?

'Joghovurd outlet:' Must be over the age of 40. Must hold only Armenian citizenship 6 years prior to the appointment. The same person cannot be president twice. Cannot hold other positions. Cannot run business. Cannot remain a member of any political party during the tenure.

... who could be the next president?

One media outlet owned by Serj Sargsyan's party believes it could be LHK leader Edmon Marukyan, a former Pashinyan ally who became opposition and called for new elections in early 2021. Marukyan is also a diplomat representing Armenia in European institutes.

The rumors began amid social media posts by Marukyan's LHK members and allies. According to a media outlet's undisclosed sources within the government, Marukyan has already agreed to be the candidate.

'LHK MP about party leader Marukyan:' Marukyan has what it takes. He speaks several languages, has experience with communicating with diplomats, and has been a solid representative for Armenia abroad. It would be a mistake not to use his resources. //

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073758.html https://www.aravot-en.am/2021/03/10/278374/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Serzh_Sargsyan_government https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-president-sarkisian-covid-complications-talks-pashinian-opposition/31147931.html https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073759.html https://factor.am/466835.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly_(Armenia) www.civilnet.am/news/647435/ինչ-է-սպասվում-արմեն-սարգսյանի-հրաժարականից-հետո/ https://armlur.am/1162051/ https://armlur.am/1162053/ https://armlur.am/1162057/

VIDEO: Vedi Reservoir is the first such project since the independence

The reservoir will be ready later this year but it'll take 2-3 more years to slowly accumulate the water before it's released to farmers. It'll have big (85 meters) and small reservoirs. The irrigation tunnel [see video] is fully complete.

The 500-meter tunnel will carry the irrigation water to a 37-km pipeline, which will use [ինքնահոս, gravity] to deliver it to 3,200 hectares of lands.

France and Armenia are financing the €90m project with a 75/15 share.

The reservoir will accumulate the water that would have otherwise left Armenia. The 25 million m^3 water will be released in summer to substitute Lake Sevan water, the delivery of which is costly and comes with losses.

- 19 million kWh in annual electricity savings.

- 20-25% reduction of water delivery losses

- reduce nearby farms' reliance on Lake Sevan by 18 million m^3

Globally, Armenia is 34th when it comes to the high risk of water stress. The country needs more reservoirs on top of the 84. The government plans to build another 15 smaller reservoirs by 2026.

https://youtu.be/vV1XWliHeBw?t=70 www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/01/23/3220-հա-ի-ջուր-հասցնելու-համար-կառուցվող-Վեդիի-ջրամբարն-այս-տարի-կհանձնվի-շահագործման/648391

only several months are needed to restore the Armenia-Nakhijevan[-Iran] railway: expert

Two weeks ago Pashinyan formed a special commission to study the details of the planned unblocking of regional railway routes.

'Adviser Artashes Tumanyan:' Only around 1km of repair is needed for the Yeraskh-Nakhijevan railway to resume. The Meghri route, on the other hand, is 45km and its restoration would require major modifications to the infrastructure because in some areas new roads and private properties have since been built.

Yeraskh-Nakhijevan can be done in several months. The Meghri route would require 3 years.

[The Armenia-Nakhijevan-Azerbaijan railway will be 340km. Over 10% will travel through Armenia]. It's not the length that matters, though. What's important for us is to connect to the railway network of other countries. It will change the transit potential/status of Armenia.

[Next year Azerbaijan and Iran will finish a large railway project: Astara–Rasht–Qazvin. It will be part of the North-South corridor to connect Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran-India.]

If we do not develop our railway and lift the blockade, we will once again fall behind. We're trying to integrate with regional railway routes. Iran supports the idea. Armenia could participate in the Gulf-to-Sea link. The same about Russia. //

The railway commission will report the progress to Pashinyan every three months.

www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/01/23/Կարևորը-երկարությունը-չէ-այլ-մեծ-ցանցերի-հետ-համակցումը-Ա-Թումանյանը՝-կառուցվող-երկաթուղու-մասին/648382

Armenia's pension funds

There are 6 pension funds in Armenia. They are governed by Amundi ACBA and C-Q Ampega.

Amundi ACBA currently manages ֏248B (half of all funds). 20% of their balance was formed through operational profits, while the rest came from payments.

These funds hold the payments made by workers and the state. Starting this year, the pension payments by workers/state is 4.5%/5.5% respectively. Next year each party will pay 5%.

[Details about pension size, coefficient, in the link.]

The mandatory pension payment system was implemented in 2014. The mandatory part went into effect in 2018. It applies to workers born after 1974. The pensions can be paid when the person turns 63.

In the event of death, the funds can be transferred to the heir. Two options are available to the heir: take the money or transfer it to their own pension balance.

70% of funds are held in Armenian dram.

More: www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/01/23/Հայաստանի-կենսաթոշակային-ֆոնդերում-կուտակվել-է-485-մլրդ-դրամ/648421 https://youtu.be/FJSTwKL4pao

VIDEO: Arthur Sakunts wants to set another Guinness World Record

19-year-old soldier Arthur Sakunts has six Guinness Records: pulled a 12-ton bus with teeth, pulled a 122-ton train with one hand, pulled a 61-ton train with two fingers, pulled a 2-ton vehicle while standing on his hands, etc. Now he wants to pull two vehicles while standing on his hands.

Sakunts is a professional sambo player. He won bronze in the world championship.

His next stunt is to pull a 100-ton jet with teeth.

https://youtu.be/xJiJnsiQF1U https://factor.am/466742.html

Karen Chukhadzhian claims the IBF Intercontinental welterweight title

He won with a technical knockout in the 8th round.

Chukhadzhian: 20-1, 10 KO's.

British opponent: 14-2-1

https://twitter.com/TimBoxeo/status/1484991327326642180 https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/19866384.ryan-martin-ready-ibf-intercontinental-welterweight-title-fight/ https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073757.html

Manuel Petrosyan is men's chess champion

The Armenian championship was held last week. Petrosyan won with 8 out of 11 points, suffering no defeats. Hayk Martirosyan finished second with 7.5.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073756.html

VIDEO: Defense Minister Suren Papikyan got married on Saturday

Church: https://youtu.be/urb5R_ybFCg?t=40

Dance: https://youtu.be/GlGKD-aXVsU?t=7

QS World University Rankings 2022 | Best universities ranked

1) MIT

2) Oxford

3) Stanford

3) Cambridge

5) Harvard

571-580) Tbilisi State University

801-1000) Yerevan State University

1001-1200) Baku State University

Shanghai Academic Ranking 2021-2022

1) Harvard

2) Stanford

3) Cambridge

4) MIT

5) Berkley

755) Yerevan Physics Institute

852) Tbilisi State University

1276) Azerbaijani Physics Institute

https://factor.am/466358.html https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2022

deputy Education Minister criticized the international practice of keeping schools closed:

The longest pause was in Uganda: 83 weeks. They resumed school only in mid-January. We're talking about 15 million children,

Many of the school buildings were sold off to become restaurants and parking spaces.

Pandemic-related insufficient education has become an indicator of a new type of inequality in the world. //

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/229802

COVID stats

5.1k tested. 814 ifected. 109 healed. 2 deaths.

https://factor.am/466733.html

singer Sirusho tested positive for Covid

First time in two years, she wrote on Instagram.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/229790

Armenia has received $472 million in Covid aid since 2020

76% loans, 24% grants. The largest donors were the EU and US.

https://fip.am/17940

negative PCR test or vax card is required to enter food & culture venues

PCR test is valid for 3 days. A Rapid one should be taken on the eve of the visit. Vaccinated visitors can show a QR code.

The requirement went into effect on Saturday. Ministry believes it will encourage more residents to get vaccinated.

The requirement applies to adults only. Exceptions are people who have been infected within the last 3 months, etc.

https://armenpress.am/arm/news/1073714.html

now it's French tourists' turn to get lost in the Armenian mountains

Have people not read Hansel and Gretel? Three French tourists lost their way while traveling on Trchkan-Shirakamut road, located west of Spitak city.

Rescuers found them not far from Trchkan Waterfall. Medical aid was provided.

https://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/229809

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/sbaaui/news_jan232022_how_armen_sarkissian_became/