An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said Armenia has made progress in strengthening its regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety but still faces challenges, including a shortage of qualified and experienced staff at the regulatory body.
The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team on 17 June concluded a seven-day follow-up mission to review Armenia’s implementation of recommendations and suggestions made during an initial IRRS mission in 2015. The follow-up mission was conducted at the request of the Government of Armenia and hosted by the Armenia Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ANRA).
IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national nuclear and radiation safety regulatory infrastructure, based on IAEA safety standards and international good practices, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.
The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) in Metsamor provides 40% of the country’s electricity. ANPP’s Unit 1 was permanently shut down in 1989, while the operating license for Unit 2 has been extended until 2021 subject to yearly safety demonstrations, with preparations under way for requesting an additional extension until 2026. Armenia also has a dry spent fuel storage facility, a radioactive waste storage facility, and uses radioactive sources in medicine, industry and research.
“Armenia has made substantial progress in developing a policy and a strategy for safety,” said IRRS team leader Hans Wanner, who is Director General of the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate. “However, the regulator faces a critical situation related to human resources. ANRA and its technical and support organization, the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Centre (NRSC), are not financially competitive compared with the industry and ANPP. There is an urgent need to address this issue.”
The team found that Armenia since 2015 has taken key steps forward by adopting a strategy for spent fuel and radioactive waste management, and by intensifying inspections related to emergency preparedness and response. Armenia is still addressing some other recommendations and suggestions from the 2015 mission, in part because the country is undertaking a comprehensive legislative review process, including on a new Atomic Law.
The team acknowledged that ANRA faces many challenges in regulating nuclear safety, including implementation of findings related to a European Union initiative on conducting nuclear power plant stress tests. The initiative, which Armenia has joined, stems from lessons learned from the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan.
The team provided a new recommendation and suggestion for further enhancing the national legal and regulatory framework for safety, including that ANRA should upgrade its management system in line with IAEA safety standards.
“The findings of the IRRS follow-up mission help ANRA to make decisions towards further improvement of the national regulatory framework for safety, in line with IAEA safety standards,” said Ashot Martirosyan, ANRA chairman. “To cope with this task ANRA should first resolve the staffing problem as confirmed by the IRRS team. Measures are already under way to resolve this issue, which is also in the focus of Armenia’s leadership.”
“In light of ongoing challenges associated with the long-term operation of the Armenia Nuclear Power Plant, the findings made by the IRRS mission to improve regulatory infrastructure for safety are very timely,” said Greg Rzentkowski, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Installation Safety. “Recommended improvements, once implemented, will help place appropriate focus on safety, including continued safe and reliable operation of the plant.”
The 12-member IRRS team comprised senior regulatory experts from Argentina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, Germany, Romania, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United States of America as well as three IAEA staff members.
The final mission report will be provided to the Government in about three months. The Government plans to make the report public.
Ambassador Gevorgyan visits Latakia, meets local Armenians
Armenia’s Ambassador to Syria Tigran Gevorgyan visited the northwestern regions of Syria. In Latakia and Armenan-populated Kessab, the Ambassador held meetings with local self-government and the Armenian community representatives.
Ambassador Gevorgyan and Latakia’s Governor Ibrahim Khudr al-Salem discussed the perspectives of decentralized cooperation between Armenia and Syria. Reference was made problems facing the Armenian community of Latakia and the ways of solving them.
The Governor hailed the Armenian community’s contribution to the social-economic development of the province and voiced hope that local Armenians could serve as a bridge between the two countries.
The Ambassador, in turn, expressed gratitude to the leadership of the province for the warm and careful attitude towards the Armenian community.
Amb. Gevorgyan briefed local Armenians on the domestic political developments in Armenia over the past year, the latest developments in the Karabakh conflict settlement process and the perspectives of Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.
The Ambassador also visited Kessab, where he met with Mayor Vazgen Chaparyan and community representatives and visited the Armenian church in the town.
EU Ambassador on law related to filmmaking industry in Armenia
Second torch lit in Khor Virap for the 7th Pan-Armenian Games
The second torch lighting ceremony for the 7th Pan-Armenian Games took place at Khor Virap monastery located on the hills of Ararat province in Armenia. The torch was lit by Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler, Olympic Champion Arthur Alexanyan who addressed the attendees saying sport that unite Armenians all over the world.
As the press office at the Pan-Armenian Games report, dozens of residents, tourists and guests followed the torch-lighting ceremony.
Traditionally, three torches are lit ahead of the Games. The first flame was lit by Pan-Armenian Games co-founder Armenian-American philanthropist Albert Boyajyan at the Holy Mother of God Armenian Church in Vakif, a village on the foothills of Musa Ler in Turkey.
The torches from Khor Virap and Musa Ler will be taken to Artsakh where the third torch will be lit in Tigranakert to symbolize the unity of Armenia, Diaspora and Artsakh.
The 7th Pan-Armenian games will take place from August 6 to 17 with representatives from over 35 cities to compete in 17 sport competitions. This year, the opening ceremony of the Games will take place in Artsakh capital Stepanakert.
Jailed ex-lawmaker Manvel Grigoryan taken to civilian hospital again
Jailed ex-lawmaker Manvel Grigoryan taken to civilian hospital again
13:32,
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Former lawmaker Manvel Grigoryan, currently jailed in pre-trial detention on charges of embezzlement and grand theft, has again been taken to a civilian hospital in Yerevan.
Director of the Nairi Medical Center Anatoly Gnuni told ARMENPRESS Grigoryan was taken to their hospital Friday afternoon based on the correctional facility’s notice.
“He is in a moderate severe state,” Gnuni said, adding that the ex-MP was taken to Nairi hospital for a checkup. He said the test results will enable to give a final conclusion on Grigoryan’s health.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Defense Minister attends killed soldier’s funeral
Defense Minister attends killed soldier’s funeral
14:43,
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan personally attended the funeral of an on-duty Armenian soldier who was shot dead in a cross-border shooting from Azerbaijan at the Artsakh line of contact on June 13.
Defense Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan said on Facebook that attendees at the funeral applauded the fallen soldier during the three-volley salute.
“Our nation’s attitude for its heroes is unique,” he said.
Artyom Khachatryan, a 20-year-old soldier, was killed by Azerbaijani gunfire while patrolling at a military base in the northern direction of the Artsakh line of contact.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Defense Minister visits border military base
Defense Minister visits border military base
16:07,
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan has visited a military base of the Armenian Armed Forces today, spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan said on Facebook, without elaborating the location.
“At the combat position D. Tonoyan personally viewed the tactical situation, the adversary units, the engineering work done by our troops etc. At the end of the visit Davit Tonoyan issued relevant orders to the commanders,” Hovhannisyan wrote on Facebook.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
President Sarkissian congratulates Iceland on National Day
President Sarkissian congratulates Iceland on National Day
10:03,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has congratulated President of Iceland Guðni Jóhannesson on the Icelandic National Day, Sarkissian’s Office said.
In an address sent to Jóhannesson, Sarkissian wished robust health and new achievements to the president, and peace and progress to the Icelandic nation.
Icelandic National Day is an annual holiday in Iceland which commemorates the foundation of The Republic of Iceland on 17 June 1944.
Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Mayor of French city of Bourg-lès-Valence to appeal court’s decision on cancelling friendship declaration signed with Artsakh’s Shushi
Mayor of French city of Bourg-lès-Valence to appeal court’s decision on cancelling friendship declaration signed with Artsakh’s Shushi
10:30,
YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. Mayor of the French city of Bourg-lès-Valence Marlène Mourier announced that she is going to appeal the decision of the administrative court on cancelling the friendship declaration signed with Mayor of Shushi of Artsakh Artsvik Sargsyan in October 2014.
“I appeal the interpretation of the administrative court which called this declaration illegal. I am convinced that this declaration is accordance with the legislative order and announce that I will appeal the ruling”, the Mayor said on Facebook, relying on the words of French President Emmanuel Macron who announced during the dinner of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organization of France that the programs relating to education and humanitarian areas, which are the most important parts of declarations, will not be subject to state persecutions.
Mayor Marlène Mourier stated that beyond the legal aspects, her moral commitment towards the residents of Shushi remains intact. “I have visited Shushi for many times and understood what hope the expressions of humanity and friendship awaken in the heart of a population whom the hostile Azerbaijan is trying to quell”, she wrote.
Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
168: Beyond rationality and reasonableness, or Artsakh is the target
The recent observations by political scientist Styopa Safaryan represent an overtly anti-Artsakh stance and are a fact that a wedge is being thrust once again. Safaryan made groundless and manipulative allegations against the policy of the authorities of Artsakh and made some calls that are fanciful and allege that the authorities of Artsakh are conspiratorial. He talked about the statements made during the military exercises held in the Azerbaijani city of Gabala and directly blamed the official Stepanakert for those statements.
Let us try to understand what really happened, and it will become clear that, in this sense, there is a serious clash of geopolitical interests in the region.
Recently, during its 73rd session, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution on the status of the refugees of Abkhazia and South Ossetia once again (the resolution was initiated by Georgia in 2008). This year, Armenia, which had been voting against the resolution every year, didn’t participate in the voting for the first time ever.
As a matter of fact, 79 countries voted in favor, 15 voted against and 57 abstained from voting. It is clear that this resolution itself is anti-Russian, and this voting is quite ambiguous and contains deep messages.
There is serious doubt that Georgia will understand the message that the Republic of Armenia conveyed. It is almost impossible to see Georgia not sign under anti-Armenian resolutions during any international conference, say, the anti-Armenian policy and diplomacy of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Brilliant evidence of this is the statement that Minister of Defense of Georgia Levan Izoria made during the joint military exercises held recently in Gabala, stating that Georgia supports application of the principle of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
It is a clear fact that no matter what policy Armenia leads or how it votes, it is impossible to pull Georgia away from the “claws” of the Turkey-Azerbaijan tandem.
It seems as though the “shooting” between Armenia and Artsakh is over, but alongside that, for instance, Styopa Safaryan is regularly making statements and, as a matter of fact, he is targeting Artsakh very intensively and at any opportune or inopportune moment.
Amid this, what is also interesting is the fact that news pieces and interviews focusing on the authorities of Artsakh continue to be posted on the website pertaining to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan.
There is really nothing on the outside, at least this is the case for Artsakh, but in Armenia, we see that various pro-government analysts and political scientists are regularly assaulting the military and political leadership of Artsakh.
In this case, we must stress the fact that it is strange that all this is happening in a time when the situation on the border has clearly become tense (Azerbaijan is even organizing aerial flights along the length of the borderline and even by crossing the border), but it seems as though this is nothing, nothing has happened in Armenia, and the government continues to keep Artsakh in the range of offense consistently and intensively, not taking into consideration the fact that there is a totally different agenda on the table.
Summing up, let us state the following: the most dangerous consequence of worthlessness is that public opinion starts to be formed by people who are far from having standards of morality and rationality, and they make the public acclimatized to assessment of what is good and bad, right and wrong, without having their personal opinions, principles and convictions. It is easy to insinuate in people without personal opinions that what is right today, will be wrong tomorrow because this is what revolutionary appropriateness requires. It is easier to manipulate those without opinions, and that which is sensual is thrown into the arena instead of that which is rational, and that which is sensual is not always subjective.
ARMAN GALSTYAN