Category: Georgia

Guest(s):

• Tevan Poghosyan

Since the end of the first Nagorno-Karabakh war in 1994 and for over quarter of a century, Armenia has engaged in diplomatic activity with Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia and the West. The aim of those diplomatic initiatives was to find a solution to the conflict by engaging in direct diplomatic negotiations as well as track two diplomacy.

In September 2020, diplomatic initiatives gave way to a military one resulting in a war that reversed Armenia’s military successes and led to the signing of a cease-fire agreement which completely undermined Armenia’s position

Guest(s):

• Emil Sanamyan
• Pietro Shakarian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 33 - Dec 13, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Renewed Fighting & the OSCE MG visit
• Expedited Border Demarcation?
• What will happen to Sotq?
• Diplomatic Relations with Azerbaijan?

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Emil Sanamyan
• Pietro Shakarian

Recorded: Dec 13, 2020

On November 9, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed The Statement ending the war in Artsakh, known more commonly as Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia emerged as a major winner, by ending the violence, introducing peacekeepers, and upholding its historical role as the regional referee in the Caucasus. What are Russia’s interests in the region, and in this agreement?

Pietro Shakarian helps us explore. He is a historian and a Ph.D. candidate in Russian History at the Ohio State University. His analyses on Russia, Armenia, and the post-Soviet space have appeared in several publications, including The

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 29 - Nov 29, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Border Demarcation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
• The Scene in Yerevan
• COVID Update
• Armenia Fund support for the post-war Economy

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Hrant Mikaelian

Recorded: Nov 29, 2020

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Pietro Shakarian

Topics:

• The Life and Times of Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan

Episode 28 | Recorded on December 3, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 27 - Nov 15, 2020

Topics Covered:

• The war ends. What are the terms of the deal?
• Pax Russiana
• The extent of Turkey’s presence in Azerbaijan
• Jubilation in Baku

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Artyom Tonoyan

Recorded: Nov 15, 2020

Guest(s):

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 18, 2020

Topics Covered:

• In retrospect: Tracing our steps back to Sep. 27
• Call from extra-parliamentary opposition for a War Council
• Mobilization of the Armenian diaspora

Your Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Resident Panelists:

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan

Episode 22. Recorded: October18, 2020 Playlist: WiR (Week in Review)

ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 4, 2020

Topics:

• Stepanakert under persistent bombardment using banned cluster bombs.
• Turkey’s role in the war.
• Why is Russia quiet?
• What can we expect next?

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Asbed Kotchikian
• Marine Manucharyan
• Emil Sanamyan

Episode 20 | Recorded: Oct 3, 2020

Guest(s):

• Tom de Waal
• Jerald Libaridian

Conversations on Groong - October 3, 2020

It has now been 7 days since Azerbaijan initiated a wide-scale attack against Armenia and Artsakh. The tragic news of deaths and destruction continue to stream in every hour.

In today’s conversation on Groong, we talk to Jirair Libaridian and Thomas DeWaal about the regional geopolitics that helped create a ripe environment for renewed fighting and various potential scenarios that may develop as a result of it.

Questions explored:

• What was the path leading to the latest escalation?
• Why has Turkey taken an