Series: COG

Roundup on the Ukraine Crisis - February 22, 2022

Topics:

• Why did Putin Recognize Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts as Independent Republics?
• Is Putin Trying to Recreate the USSR?
• Is “The West” a Homogeneous Political Bloc?
• What are the Objectives of the US?

Guest:

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian, who is a Lecturer in History at the American University of Armenia in Yerevan. His research focuses on the history of Soviet Armenia and the Caucasus.

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
• Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 123 | Recorded on Friday, February 22, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220222.html

2021-ի «Շուշիի Հռչակագիրը» - The 2021 “Shushi Declaration” by Azerbaijan and Turkey

A Conversation in Armenian with Mihran Hakobyan (in Armenian)

Topics:

• 2րդ Արցախեան պատերազմի հիմնական պատճառները
• ՀՀ Դիվանագիտական/Ռազմավարական ձախողումները
• Շուշիի համաձայնագրի հիմնական բաղադրիչները և սպառնալիքներ
• Ռուսաստանի և Իրանի երկարաժամկետ շրջանային եւ աշխարհաքաղաքական նպատակները
• The Fundamental Drivers of the 2nd War in Artsakh
• The Armenian Government’s Diplomatic and Strategic Failures
• The Key Components and Threats of the Shushi Declaration
• The Long-term Regional and Geopolitical Goals of Russia and

Political Topics with Edmon Marukyan - February 18, 2022

Topics:

• Constitutional Change Commission
• Artsakh Law on Occupied Territories
• State of Bright Armenia Party
• Turkish-Armenian Normalization

Guest:

• Edmon Marukyan, who is a lawyer by profession and the leader of the Bright Armenia party (Լուսավոր Հայաստան). He was a member of the fifth, sixth and seventh convocations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia from 2012 till 2021. He’s also a member of the newly formed commission to amend the constitution.

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
• Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Legal & Human Rights Developments in Armenia A Conversation with Ruben Melikyan

Ruben Melikyan was formerly Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman, and prior to that he was rector of the Justice Academy of Armenia. In 2019, Melikyan co-founded and currently leads the “Path of Law” NGO. Իրավական ուղի in Armenian.

Topics:

• Introduction
• Decisions of the International Court of Justice
• Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
• More Constitutional Changes
• Civil Contract Appoints new HR Ombudsman for Armenia
• Continuing Harassment of Opposition Leaders
• Legislating Away Civil Liberties

Episode 117 | Recorded on Thursday, February 3, 2022

Armenian Songs for Children Bedros Afeyan talks with Isabel Bayrakdarian

Groong Links:

• linktr.ee/Groong

Topics:

• Journey Back to Armenian Music
• Musical Harmony Between Armenian Music and Classical Canon
• Researching, Teaching and Choosing Songs
• Isabel’s Favorites and Influences

Guest:

• Isabel Bayrakdarian @IBsoprano

Host:

• Dr. Bedros Afeyan

Song Excerpts list & timestamps: (Note: All excerpts used with permission)

• 00:00 Komitas - Sleep My Child - Lullaby
• 01:35 Komitas - Six Children’s Songs
• 27:03 Ganachian - The Swallow / Tsitsernak
• 29:06 Komitas - Little Wooden Horse

Turkish-Armenian Normalization Negotiations A Conversation with Harut Sassounian

• Harut Sassounian has been the publisher of The California Courier newspaper since 1983. He is also the President of the Armenia Artsakh Fund, a non-profit organization which has delivered to Armenia and Artsakh $947 million of humanitarian assistance since 1989. He is currently engaged in forming the Diaspora Armenian Parliament through local elections.

Topics:

• History of Turkish-Armenian Attempts at Negotiations
• Who are The Players?
• Why Now? What’s on the Agenda?
• What are the Pitfalls and Opportunities?

Thirty Years After the USSR

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian is a Lecturer in history at the American University of Armenia in Yerevan. His research focuses on the history of Eastern Armenia and the Caucasus, especially Soviet Armenia during the era of Nikita Khrushchev’s Thaw. His analyses on Russia and the former Soviet region have appeared in The Nation, The Plain Dealer, the Russian International Affairs Council, Hetq, and more.

Topics:

• How did the USSR Dissolve, who were the personalities behind it?
• Did Ethnic Nationalism Have a Hand in it?
• Did Ronald Reagan Defeat the Soviet Union?
• What are the

Anar Valiyev and Benyamin Poghosyan discuss stumbling blocks in post-war negotiations

Guests:

• Dr. Anar Valiyev, Associate Professor at Azerbaijani Diplomatic Academy (ADA) University in Baku.
• Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan, Chairman of Yerevan-based think tank Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies.

Topics:

• Artsakh Status (@4:54)
• Is the conflict really “solved” (@11:04)
• Opening of Communications (@38:52)
• Corridor for Corridor (@46:32)
• “Unimpeded” Access (@50:15)
• Russia’s regional role (@53:16)
• Turkey’s regional role (@58:48)
• 3+3 or 3+2 Format

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Mr. Vardan Aramyan - Fmr. Minister of Finance, Republic of Armenia

Topics:

• 2022 Budget and Economic Growth @1:24
  • Did Armenian economy recover already? @3:55
  • Does the structure of growth mirror worldwide growth @8:55
  • What happens if growth doesn’t meet target @14:25
  • Why did the IMF underestimate Armenian growth initially @17:38
• Growth Sectors in Budget @23:41
  • Are prices for Copper/Aluminum extremely inflated? @25:50
• Inflation @32:48
  • Effect on wages, income inequality, poverty & other socioeconomic markers? @41:36