Anna Karapetyan - Pashinyan in DC, Trump Sanctions ICC, Azerbaijani Diplomacy, Workers Strike at ZCMC | Ep 413, Feb 9, 2025 [EP413]

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Anna Karapetyan Director of the Insight Analytical Center for Applied Policy and Research.

Topics:

• Pashinyan in DC
• Trump Sanctions the ICC
• Azerbaijani Diplomacy in Action
• Workers Strike at Zangezur Mining Co.

Episode 413 | Recorded: February 11, 2025

Show Notes

Main Topics Addressed

Pashinyan in DC

• Pashinyan’s trip to Washington was more about securing a photo op with U.S. officials than achieving concrete outcomes.
• His speech at the Atlantic Council and the meeting with Armenian-Americans in Washington.
• Pashinyan’s new discourse about Armenia’s future development and relations with the diaspora.

Trump Sanctions the ICC

• Trump sanctioned the International Criminal Court (ICC), which Armenia had joined in the hopes of prosecuting Aliyev.
• Armenia’s willingness to withdraw criminal cases against Azerbaijan upon a peace agreement.
• Luis Moreno Ocampo’s backlash on Armenia’s stance regarding ICC investigations into crimes against Armenians.

Azerbaijani Diplomacy in Action

• Hikmet Hajiyev’s visit to Tehran, with the focus on the Zangezur Corridor and Iran’s opposition to it.
• Azerbaijan expelling Russia’s Rossotrudnichestvo and escalating tensions with Russia.
• Armenia’s role in navigating tensions between Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia.

Workers Strike at the ZCMC

• Workers at Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Compound (ZCMC) went on strike, and the government took a passive stance.
• The geopolitical context of ZCMC’s ownership and its role in Armenia’s economy.

Key Questions Discussed

Pashinyan in DC

• What was the real purpose behind Pashinyan’s trip? Was it about securing a high-level meeting with U.S. officials, or just for optics?
• Why was the photo-op with J.D. Vance so important for Pashinyan’s government?
• What does Pashinyan mean by a “balanced and balancing” foreign policy? Is it a departure from previous foreign policy strategies?
• Did Pashinyan’s government make any significant progress with Turkey and Azerbaijan during his visit?

Trump Sanctions the ICC

• Why did Armenia join the ICC if it knew it would eventually withdraw its cases against Azerbaijan?
• Was Armenia’s membership to the ICC more about political leverage than legal action?
• Can Armenia stop ICC investigations into crimes against Armenians, and what are the long-term consequences of withdrawing cases?

Azerbaijani Diplomacy in Action

• Why is Azerbaijan so insistent on the Zangezur Corridor, despite Iran’s strong opposition?
• How can Armenia balance its relations with Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia given the geopolitical context?
• What does Azerbaijan’s expulsion of Russia’s cultural center and its tightened visa restrictions signify for regional diplomacy?

Workers Strike at the ZCMC

• Why has the Armenian government taken such a passive stance towards the workers’ strike? Could there be a political motive?
• What does the ZCMC strike mean for Armenia’s economy, especially with its large tax revenue contribution?

Links Referenced During the Show

Pashinyan in DC

• Pashinyan’s Visit & IRF Summit
• Agenda Change Reference
• Sharmagh Mardi

Trump Sanctions the ICC

• Trump Sanctions ICC
• ICC Welcomes Armenia
• Luis Moreno Ocampo on ICC Cases

Azerbaijani Diplomacy in Action

• Iran’s Opposition to Zangezur Corridor
• Azerbaijan Expels Russian Cultural Center
• Azerbaijan Tightens Visa Restrictions for Russians
• Tensions Between Russia & Azerbaijan
• Aliyev’s Latest Moves

Workers Strike at the ZCMC

• Worker Strike at ZCMC
• ZCMC Worker Dismissals
• Government’s Response to Strike

Armenian Hostages and POWs

• Catholicos Aram I’s Letter to Trump on POWs
• Armenian Diplomatic Efforts on POWs

Thoughts from the Participants

Hovik

• Gratitude for Catholicos Aram I’s leadership and letter to Trump urging immediate action on Armenian POWs.
• The hypocrisy of diaspora Armenians attending Pashinyan’s meetings while he denies genocide and criticizes diaspora institutions.

Anna

• The lack of real national resistance to Pashinyan’s policies, including his rhetoric on Armenia’s identity and genocide denial.
• The increasing acceptance of Pashinyan’s agenda within Armenian society despite its contradictions with Armenian history.

Wrap-up

Links and Resources

• Patreon - Support Groong
• Buy Me a Coffee - Support Groong

That’s our show! We hope you found it useful. Please find us on Social Media and follow us everywhere you get your Armenian news.

Thanks to Laura Osborn for the music on our podcasts.

Guests

Hosts