Author: Emma Jilavian

Armenian MP tests positive for coronavirus

Emma Jilavian

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 14:14,

YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. Lawmaker from the ruling My Step faction of the Armenian Parliament Viktor Yengibaryan has been infected with the novel coronavirus.

“Dear friends, yesterday I passed a test for coronavirus, the result was positive. I do not have any health problems, I have been self-quarantined at home. Maybe I have not properly followed the rules. Please wear a face mask and keep all the rules as it can save human lives, including the lives of your relatives. Be healthy”, the MP said on Facebook.

On June 23 Vice Speaker of Parliament Vahe Enfiajyan announced that he has also tested positive for COVID-19.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghiyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

It’s impossible to maintain the system with this tariff – Gazprom Armenia Director

Emma Jilavian

It’s impossible to maintain the system with this tariff – Gazprom Armenia Director

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 18:51, 4 June, 2020

YEREVAN, JUNE 4, ARMENPRESS. Director-General of ”Gazprom Armenia” company Hrant Tadevosyan commented on the application of raising the tariff of the gas supplied to consumers by that it’s impossible to maintain the system with the existing tariff, ARMENPRESS reports Tadevosyan said during a working discussion at the PSRC.

He reminded that currently the tariff introduced in 2016 is in force despite the fact that starting from January 1, 2019 gas tariff supplied to Armenia on the border rose to 165 from 150 USD. The company continues selling gas at 255 USD. ”The difference is 90 USD. 43USD goes to the state budget as tax. Just 47USD remain for the company. Up till now we have had nearly 12USD losses, which are the natural technological losses. This means 35USD remains for the company. We pay 19 USD of the 35 as salaries. Just 16 USD remains for the company. We never had any profits. And with this numbers it has never been, is not and will not be possible to maintain such a system”, Tadevosyan said.

According to the Director of Gazprom Armenia, experts have calculated that if the company continues to operate under the same conditions, they will be unable to import 2.2 billion cubic meter gas.

Hrant Tadevosyan noted that it’s in the interest of everyone to balance the interests of consumers and the supplier.

Gazprom Armenia submitted an application to the PSRC on revising the tariff of gas supplied to consumers on April 1, suggesting to raise gas tariff from 255 to 283 USD. The PSRC suggested the option of 266.71 USD.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan, Editing and translating by Tigran Sirekanyan

Armenia’s Lori ready to facilitate trade with Iran’s Mazandaran

Emma Jilavian
Tehran Times, Iran
June 7 2020

June 7, 2020 – 10:58

TEHRAN- The governor of Armenia’s Lori City announced that the city is prepared to facilitate trade for the businessmen from Iranian northern province of Mazandaran, IRNA reported.

Speaking in a video conference with the Mazandaran governor, Andrey Ghukasyan said Lori is ready to fulfill Iranian and Armenian businessmen’s demands in line with reinforcing economic ties.

The Armenian official further vowed for facilitating and accelerating clearance of goods from the customs for the Iranian businessmen.

Investment in Mazandaran is an opportunity for Armenian businessmen, he noted.

He also underlined Mazandaran’s good infrastructures in the trade and tourism fields.

“We will spare no efforts for satisfying Mazandaran businessmen”, Ghukasyan reiterated.

He went on to say that Mazandaran enjoys the good garden, food, and dairy products which can fulfill a considerable part of Armenian provinces’ needs.

He referred to signing an MOU between Mazandaran and Lori, saying we are committed to implementing these MOUs.

The MOU was signed last year aiming to develop economic interactions between Lori and Mazandaran.

Iran has resumed exports to its neighbor Armenia since early April.

“The exports are conducted via Iran’s northwestern Norduz border in a limited quantity”, Rouhollah Latifi, the spokesperson of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), announced at the time, adding, “With 250 trucks passing through the border on Aras River, trade with the neighboring country is normalizing after weeks.”

“Armenia imported over $430 million worth of Iranian goods in the past Iranian calendar year [ended on March 19] to become the country’s second export destination among the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)’s member states after Russia,” he said.

Iran’s preferential trade agreement with the EAEU has had a significant impact on the country’s trade relations with Armenia, according to the head of Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“The two sides are applying tariff discounts offered based on the agreement and there has been no problem in this regard”, Hervik Yarijanian said in January.

According to the official, the volume of trade between the two countries has witnessed an outstanding rise since the agreement became effective last October.

Iran mainly imports red meat from Armenia, while Armenia imports polymer raw materials, machinery, industrial gases, manufactured artifacts, leather, and leather goods from Iran, he said.

He further noted that Iran has a much greater export capability compared to Armenia, adding that traders have not yet gotten used to the idea of the preferential trade agreement and hopefully with the expansion of this deal, more Iranian traders will be attracted to the Armenian market.

Iran and Armenia have been emphasizing the need for preserving and expanding trade relations between the two countries since the preferential trade deal between Iran and EAEU was implemented.

While the U.S. renewed sanctions on Iran are aimed at isolating the Islamic Republic both politically and economically, Iran’s relations, especially in the economic sectors, with its neighbors are seemed not to be affected by the sanctions.

The northwestern neighbor Armenia is one of the countries preserving and expanding its economic relations with Iran regardless of the sanction condition.

Tigran Hakobyan: Government officials do not try to interfere in the media

Emma Jilavian
Arminfo, Armenia
June 3 2020

ArmInfo.The Armenian leadership is not trying in any way to influence the freedom of the media, the head of the Armenian Television and Radio Commission Tigran Hakobyan stated today from the rostrum of the parliament, presenting the  commission’s report for 2019.

He noted that this report has become more voluminous and is not  formal. , – Hakobyan emphasized.

Meanwhile, the head of the commission noted that television channels  complained that some officials refused to give interviews. , Hakobyan emphasized.

He also noted that in 2019 5 media outlets filed a commission with  the court. Hakobyan emphasized.

Hakobyan stated that the issue of media freedom is constantly in the  center of attention of the members of the Commission. “In turn, I  want to declare with all responsibility that no pressure is exerted  on the members of the Commission and that the authorities are in no  way trying to interfere in our work,” the chairman of the commission  on television and radio concluded.

CIVILNET.Armenia Confirms 10,000 Total Cases of Covid-19

Emma Jilavian
CIVILNET.AM

2 June, 2020 21:09

Armenia’s total number of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 10,000. Armenia’s border with Georgia is to remain closed, as visa-free travel is reinstated for Iranians. 209 intellectuals and politicians expressed support for the Hrant Dink Foundation after the organization received death threats.

75% of Armenians dissatisfied with government’s coronavirus response, survey shows

Emma Jilavian
Panorama, Armenia
June 1 2020

Some 75% of Armenians are dissatisfied with the government’s coronavirus containment measures, a new online survey shows.

The survey has been conducted among 1,700 citizens aged over 18 by the Voice of People expert group.

According to the survey, 25% of the responders said that they approved of the government’s handling of the outbreak, 56% believed that the measures were not enough to curb the spread of the infection, while 19% said the steps were unjustified.

Asked about the social and economic impact of the pandemic, in particular on the responders’ families, 15% said they had suffered a job/business loss, 4% said their business were on the verge of survival, 8% said the employer had sent the working member of their family on unpaid leave, 48% said their income had reduced dramatically, while 25% said the pandemic had not affected their social and economic status.

To the question of whose support the respondents expect in case of income reduction, 27% said they expected support from their relatives and acquaintances, 29% – from the authorities, 3% –  from humanitarian organizations, while 41% could not answer the question.

The Voice of People reminds that the government has allocated more than $300 million to support the population and businesses.

Asked whether it has helped people deal with the coronavirus crisis, 6% of the responders said they had not received support from the government although it was provided by law, 57% were not been beneficiaries of support programs, 28% received support, but it was not enough, only 9% said they managed to solve their problems thanks to the support.

Finally, responding to the question about how the government should expand support to people and businesses, 9% proposed the authorities to grant tax breaks to businesses, 19% called for greater financial support to the population, 15% were in favor of more significant repayment of utility bills, 40% supported all the measures, while 17% could not answer the question. 

Asbarez: Lessons from #ForestSummit19

Emma Jilavian

Deputy Minister of Environment Irina Ghaplanyan (center) was the first speaker on the panel on “Financing Mechanisms for Forest Conservation, Restoration, and Afforestation” at the inaugural “Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia”

Experts Discuss Strategies for Accessing Large-Scale Funding for Forest Conservation, Restoration, and Afforestation

BY JASON SOHIGIAN

Armenia has made an ambitious commitment to double its forest cover by 2050, as part of its pledge to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Aside from the policy and technical challenges, one major hurdle is how to fund such a major undertaking. Given the scope of this issue, AUA Acopian Center for the Environment and Armenia Tree Project convened a panel on financing mechanisms on day two of the inaugural “Forest Summit: Global Action and Armenia” held in October 2019.

The speakers were Irina Ghaplanyan, Deputy Minister of Environment, Carmen Arguello Lopez, Green Climate Fund Advisor for FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Diana Harutyunyan, UNDP Climate Change Program Coordinator, and Glenn Bush, Assistant Scientist at Woods Hole Research Center. This panel was moderated by UNDP Impact Investment Advisor Vahagn Voskanyan.

Deputy Minister of Environment Irina Ghaplanyan set the stage for this important topic by outlining the issues around Armenia’s goal to double the forest cover. She announced that more than 250,000 hectares of land may be needed to expand the forest at this scale, at a cost of nearly $800,000,000. She acknowledged that Hayantar does not have a large nursery capacity to grow the seedlings needed, but that ATP has several tree nurseries and greenhouses in operation and MyForest, a new NGO, is establishing its first nursery. All of these nurseries will help to support the government’s effort to double the tree cover, explained Dr. Ghaplanyan, and the government is partnering with FAST Foundation to create tools to monitor the work and utilize new technology.

Turning to financing, Dr. Ghaplanyan pointed out that Armenia is a signatory to the Paris Agreement and there is an expectation that developed countries will fund programs like this as part of the fight against climate change. The funds available are expected to be $100 billion worldwide annually starting in 2020. There is a shortage of global programs which can effectively mobilize funding at this scale. Armenia has been developing a climate finance mechanism around debt for nature swaps. For example, Armenia has $1 billion in bilateral debt. Negotiations are underway with France, which will help developed countries meet their commitment under the Paris Agreement. If the mechanism works between Armenia and France, it can possibly be scaled up for other developing countries.

Carmen Arguello Lopez provided several recommendations to help Armenia access climate finance. These include the need for strong in-country coordination, discussions with in-country stakeholders to develop transformational projects, and understanding all types of financial instruments available in addition to grants. She cautioned that working with the Green Climate Fund can be a long process, with two years for a project to be approved and implementation over a period of 8-10 years. Short term thinking can be a limiting factor.

Next, climate change expert Diana Harutyunyan highlighted other conservation finance mechanisms which can be better utilized in Armenia, including environmental taxes since forests provide valuable ecosystem service benefits including soil and water protection. The opportunity exists to monetize the biodiversity value of Armenia’s forests by attracting funding from private sector companies doing business in Armenia that receive benefits from the environment including the beverage industry and the mining industry. She noted an issue around financing that is often overlooked in Armenia. In addition to planting new forests, there is a need to protect existing forests, because protection and sustainable forest management is usually more cost-effective than replanting new forests.

Glenn Bush, an environmental economist at Woods Hole Research Center, rounded out this panel with additional insights on financing mechanisms. He pointed out that good data is necessary for projects to be successful, both in terms of project management and measurement of impact. The funds mentioned in this panel are highly oriented toward having a large-scale impact.

“The challenge in Armenia for the next 30 years is to define how much forest and what type is needed, and where they need to be planted. By going through this process and evaluating if forests are needed for production, for fuelwood, for ecosystem service benefits, you can start to identify the impact and performance framework that needs to be monitored,” explained Dr. Bush.

Reflecting on his experiences in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, Dr. Bush pointed out that many of the climate funds are looking for “payments for performance” frameworks, where disbursements are made after an agreed upon set of impacts to unlock the next tranche of funding. He cautioned that this requires strategic planning and management, and an impact assessment to measure if the projects actually achieved what they set out to do.

He explained that many of the funds go beyond measuring carbon reductions from planting new forests. Often it’s necessary to measure social and economic metrics, he said. Recognizing the challenge of measuring and monitoring when resources and capacity are limited, he recommended developing a set of measurements that allow you to “measure once and report twice” to the various funders as a way of keeping costs down. Many of the performance metrics are the kinds of data that Armenia may already be collecting, like government metrics on social impacts, and standard of living.

Internationally, programs exist to provide debt-for-nature swaps and carbon offsets. As discussed in this panel, in order to become eligible for participation in such programs Armenia must conduct a thorough inventory of existing forests and develop detailed mechanisms to track new plantings and monitor survival rates. Many of the participants at the Forest Summit have successfully assisted other countries in achieving eligibility, and Armenia should consult with them as plans evolve.

“This panel provided recommendations that many organizations and policymakers can follow. ATP, for example, is always interested in accessing funds to scale up our work,” noted Executive Director Jeanmarie Papelian.

CIVILNET.Daron Açemoglu: We May Learn the Wrong Lessons From COVID-19

Emma Jilavian
CIVILNET.AM

18:11

Daron Açemoglu, world renowned economist and author of “Why Nations Fail,” spoke to CivilNet’s host interviewer, AUA Adjunct Lecturer, Ph.D Narek Mkrtchyan about the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has confronted democracies with.   

“Covid Talks” is CivilNet’s program where prominent international thinkers, scholars and policymakers present their views on the impact of COVID-19 on world politics and humanity. 

Asbarez: During Major Azerbaijani War Games, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Announces U.S. is Pulling Plug on Artsakh De-mining

Emma Jilavian

Pictured, separately, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy, who announced on a Facebook Live event today the end to U.S. funding to de-mine Artsakh, and the late Princess Diana – a global champion of de-mining and the work of the HALO Trust – which has safely removed tens of thousands of mines across Artsakh over the last decade.

U.S. Rolls Out “Preparing Populations for Peace” Initiative by Ending Humanitarian Aid to Artsakh, While Sending Over $100 Million in U.S. Military aid to Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON—As Azerbaijan continued large-scale military exercises this week, amid a $100 million U.S. military aid increase to Baku, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy announced that the Trump Administration is ending USAID’s humanitarian Artsakh de-mining program in favor of initiatives that “prepare populations for peace,” reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We’re deeply troubled that Ambassador Tracy – while Azerbaijan is conducting war-games — announced that the State Department is pulling the plug on the life-saving Artsakh humanitarian de-mining program,” said ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian.  “It appears that the current Administration defines ‘preparing populations for peace’ as ending lifesaving de-mining programs in Artsakh while sending over $100 million in military security assistance to Azerbaijan. This is unacceptable.  We will continue to work to ensure that the U.S. Congress has the last word on this subject,” added Chouldjian.

During a Facebook Live presentation held at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan earlier today, Ambassador Tracy fielded a viewer question on U.S. funding for Artsakh de-mining, the transcript of which is provided below:

Kelly Long, US Embassy to Armenia Press Attache: We have received one other question about the future of the U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karabakh regarding the de-mining program, which, I think as many people know, concluded.  Please comment.

Ambassador Lynne Tracy: So, we are very proud of the work that we supported through the de-mining program to help in a humanitarian way the people of Nagorno Karabakh.  We think the investment of $17 million dollars over nearly the past 20 years has been extremely successful.  And so what we are starting to look at now as the de-mining – our involvement in the de-mining – has concluded is to turn to another area – preparing populations for peace, which is in support of the work of the Minsk Group, to see what kind of activities we can conduct in this space to help toward that goal of achieving a lasting peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Ambassador Tracy’s statement and the State Department’s position on U.S. funding for Artsakh de-mining is in sharp contrast to multiple calls by over 100 Senate and House members for the inclusion of a $1.5 million Artsakh de-mining allocation in the FY2021 foreign aid bill.  Over the past month, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) was joined by over 75 House colleagues in support of the effort, while Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Robert Menendez (D-CA) and 30 Senate colleagues made a similar request.  The ANCA continues to lead a nationwide online campaign – anca.org/aid – in support of ongoing funding for The HALO Trust’s Artsakh de-mining effort with over 10,000 advocates taking action over the past months.

Ambassador Tracy, or the State Department more broadly, have made no comment on U.S. efforts to prepare the Azerbaijani population for peace or condemning Azerbaijan’s military exercises, which threaten to destabilize the Caucus region amidst the ongoing pandemic.  Yesterday, eighteen U.S. House members, expressed “grave concern” regarding Azerbaijan’s May 18-22 military exercises calling on the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-chairs to “immediately condemn the reckless actions of the Azerbaijani military” and to work with U.S. allies and international partners to halt the provocative actions being taken by the Aliyev Regime.  The members of Congress were “especially concerned” about the $100 million in U.S. security assistance to Azerbaijan, sent through Section 333 Building Partner Capacity Program.  “The aid appears to have allowed Azerbaijan to shift resources toward offensive capabilities and further threaten Armenian lives and regional stability as the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues warned in letters sent to you in September and November of 2019,” stated the Congressional letter to Secretaries Pompeo and Esper.

Pandemic highlights the protracted Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh region

Emma Jilavian
Washington Times
 
 
 
 
Pursuing peace at the time of COVID-19
 
By Elin Suleymanov – – Tuesday,                                       
 
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
 
Sweeping through the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic attacked people’s health and damaged national economies; on a deeper level, as stated by Edward Luttwak, once described as “Machiavelli of Maryland,” the pandemic broke some convenient stereotypes about international institutions and politics. Whether it is the questions about wisdom of depending on a single supplier, or the strong belief in European institutions, or, perhaps, a renewed interest in prudence of common-sense dietary choices, the status quo around the world is changing.
 
In the greater Caspian area, a regional organization, the Turkic Council, which brings together nations of Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Turkey — and, most recently, Hungary — has emerged as an effective cooperative format.
 
The group was especially successful in providing mutual assistance and significantly increasing the volume of rail cargo along the Silk Road between Asia and Europe, the main artery connecting the Turkic Council nations and an important part of the recently adopted U.S. Central Asia strategy. Notably, the Turkic Council, under current chairmanship of Azerbaijan, became the first ever international organization to hold a head-of-state level online summit to address the challenge of COVID-19.

Importantly, Azerbaijan, along with other partner nations, is pursuing governance reforms by bringing new technocratic, result-oriented leaders to key positions in the government and promoting greater political pluralism. In fact, President Trump stated his strong support for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and independence in the congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev this month. 

The pandemic also highlighted the region’s weaknesses and perils, including the protracted Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The Organization for Security and Cooperation’s (OSCE) Minsk Group co-chaired by France, Russia and the United States has been mediating the negotiations for three decades with no visible progress. During the pandemic, the mediators held a video conference with foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and even adopted a joint statement.

 

Yet, with the world changing around the South Caucasus, Armenia seems to stick with the unsustainable and dangerous status-quo. Armenia’s Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatzakanyan denounced the so-called Madrid Principles, which were endorsed by the presidents of France, Russia and the United States in 2009 and include main principles of a future peace agreement. While, Mr. Mnatzakanyan’s denunciation was later reiterated by various Armenian officials, the confusing part is what exactly he’s been actively negotiating for the last two years if not the principles he so suddenly dislikes?

The principles include, among other elements, gradual withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijan’s internationally-recognized territories in accordance with four U.N. Security Council resolutions, return of displaced persons, resumption of economic ties and security guarantees for both Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Neither side was excited about these principles, and Azerbaijan accepted them as a basis for negotiations with some deep reservations. 

There is no other format for the negotiations, and rejecting these, admittedly imperfect principles, simply means abandoning peace talks altogether. This is why Azerbaijan, although enduring the Armenian occupation and the displacement of a million civilians as a result of ethnic cleansing, continued pursuing peace and engaging in the Minsk Group-led negotiations. This is what independent states and responsible members of the international community do, especially in our neighborhood of global strategic importance. 

Unfortunately for Armenia, its formal independence has not yet translated into real sovereignty. Externally dependent in military and economic terms, Armenia is also visibly absent from most regional integration initiatives as a result of its self-isolation. Armenia is hostage to its indefensible occupation of Azerbaijani lands, but it does not have to be this way.

For mono-ethnic Armenia with its poor record on anti-Semitism and controversies over Nazi collaborators, who sought after racial and ethnic purity, not trusting neighbors may appear to be the safest option. Yet, this is the lowest denominator, which denies the Armenian people their future and the country its sustainable development.                                                

 

During a different crisis and in a different context, the “failure of imagination” became a key word in America’s political discourse. Such a failure of imagination, especially at the time of the crisis today, aptly describes inability to conceptualize one’s own best interests. Achieving a lasting peace and living together with neighbors, building strong economic ties and partaking in the region’s successes are best bets for true security and growth. And if not, what other good options are there? 

Having served with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Azerbaijan, I heard from so many internally displaced persons that despite their suffering and bitterness about forced exile, they are ready and willing to live next to their Armenian neighbors in peace. These sentiments are frequently voiced by the leaders of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Perhaps, instead of dismissing this goodwill, Armenian leaders should contemplate a future of peace as well. 

• Elin Suleymanov is the ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States.