Series: Cog

Guest:

• Gev Iskajyan

For three days now the campaign instigated by the government of Azerbaijan has prevented the freedom of movement of Armenians of Artsakh. Gas supplies have also been cut off.

“Artsakh is still Armenian land. Artsakh is still an independent republic. Artsakh is not gone. … We have to hold on to what remains of this land here.” - Gev Iskajyan

Episode 183 | Recorded: December 14, 2022

Guest:

• Dr. Anna Karapetyan

Topics:

• What’s Armenia’s Goal in pushing the CSTO in a direction that it won’t go?
• What Came Out of the CSTO Summit in Yerevan?
• What is the Level of Trust between the CSTO and Armenia?
• How should Armenian proceed in Relations with the CSTO?
• Does Armenia have Alternatives?

Episode 180 | Recorded: December 5, 2022

Guest:

• Gev Iskajyan @GevIskajyan

Topics:

• November 10 as perceived by Artsakhtsis
• Update on the status of refugees
• Update on the economy of Artsakh
• Rally at the Renaissance Square
• Generating and communicating support for Artsakh

Episode 178 | Recorded: November 14, 2022

Guest:

• Harut Sassounian @HarutSassounian

Topics:

• What is HyeID , what problems is it trying to address?
• Organizations and models for Diaspora representation
• Funding and operations
• Outreach to the Diaspora and the Armenian government
• Current State of the project

Episode 176 | Recorded: November 12, 2022

Guest:

• Arthur Khachatryan @Arthur.Khachatryan

Topics:

• Massive Stepanakert Rally
• Sullivan Plan vs. Russian Plan
• Upcoming Protest on November 5

Episode 174 | Recorded: November 3, 2022

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Massive Stepanakert Rally
• The Sullivan Plan
• CSTO Security Council Convened
• Trilateral Summit in Sochi
• From Sochi to Tehran

Episode 173 | Recorded: November 1, 2022

Guest:

• Harut Sassounian

Topics:

• What is the background of Armenia-Diaspora relations against which this conference is taking place?
• Why did the government need this event right now, and is this the right time?
• Who was invited, who was not? Why?

Episode 172 | Recorded: October 29, 2022

Guests:

• Ardashes ‘Ardy’ Kassakhian is a Glendale City Councilman, and the current mayor of Glendale
• Adrin Nazarian is the California State Assemblymember from the 46th District, representing the San Fernando Valley

Topics:

• On the LA City Council scandal and how to move forward
• On Paul Krekorian, elected LA City Council president
• On redistricting in the aftermath of the scandal
• On the effect of the scandal on the LA mayoral race
• On Armenia’s Situation in the South Caucasus
• On Armenia’s Negotiations with Azerbaijan
• On Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”

Episode 170 | Recorded: October 19 & 20, 2022

Guest:

• Benyamin Poghosyan

Topics:

• Goals and Tactics of Azerbaijan’s Negotiations
• How did “Corridors” Become a Thing?
• Russia’s Contributions to the process
• Options and Scenarios Going Forwards

Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022

From ‘revolution’ to war: deciphering Armenia’s populist foreign policy-making process Conversation with Dr. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan

Armenian News Network/Groong - September 12, 2022

Recently two AUA professors (Prof. Hovhannes Nikoghosyan and Prof. Vahram Ter-Matevosyan) published a paper in Taylor and Francis Online (TANDF) that analyzes the foreign policy decision making (FPDM) process of the Nikol Pashinyan administration, titled: “From ‘revolution’ to war: deciphering Armenia’s populist foreign policy-making process”. In this episode, we talk to one of the authors

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - August 29, 2022 Conversation with Anna Abrahamian

In the spring and summer of 2022 the Armenian parliamentary opposition was in the streets of Yerevan in large numbers, with a goal to remove the de-facto prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan. That failed, or at least did not achieve all of the goals it had set for itself.

Especially as we near the end of August and the protests are set to restart, we’re analyzing what didn’t work, and how to take more effective steps forward. We want to look at specific issues such as whether to move for

Armenian News Network / Groong

Ներքաղաքանան իրավիճակը Հայաստանում Էդգար Ղազարյանի հետ The State of Armenian Politics with Edgar Ghazaryan

Թեմաներ:

• Անկախության հռչակագիր
• Օգոստոսի 23-Õ« հանրահավաքը
• Անվստահության քվե (Õ«Õ´ÕºÕ«Õ¹Õ´Õ¥Õ¶Õ¿)
• Փաշինյանն Õ¨Õ¶Õ¶Õ¤Õ¥Õ´ Սահմանադրության
• Ընդդիմության Õ¡Õ¼Õ¡Õ»Õ«Õ¯Õ¡ անելիքների Õ´Õ¡Õ½Õ«Õ¶

Մեր հյուրը`

• Էդգար Ղազարյան, Վայոց Ձորի Õ¶Õ¡Õ­Õ¯Õ«Õ¶ մարզպետ,

Aid to Nagorno Karabakh Effectively Blocked - August 25, 2022 A Conversation with ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN

Topics:

• The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Has Called on Congress to Investigate the Biden Administration’s Artsakh Aid Blockade.
• The Biden Administration’s Record on Armenian-Backed Resolutions.

Guest:

• Aram Suren Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Guest(s):

• Aram Suren Hamparian

Hosts:

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

Episode 158 | Recorded on Thursday, August 25, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220825.html

Armenian News Network/Groong - August 23, 2022

On August 23, 1990 the Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic proclaimed Armenia as independent.

True, Armenia officially celebrates independence day on September 21, due to the referendum which was held on Sep 21 1991, the following year. But for me, the date of August 23 - the date of the proclamation of the declaration of independence - is no less special.

For it is this document comprised of 12 articles that form the basis for all laws in Armenia and for the constitution itself. From the need to establish historic justice,

Armenia’s Economy in 2022 - PART 2 Conversation with Vardan Aramyan

Topics:

• Bank Secrecy Legislation
• Cashless Transactions
• Explaining Economic “Paradox”

Guest:

Mr. Vardan Aramyan is the former Minister of Finance of the Republic of Armenia from 2016-2018. He is currently Senior Vice President for Finance and Economy at Vallex Group in Yerevan.

Guest(s):

• Vardan Aramyan

Hosts:

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

Episode 155 | Recorded on Friday, August 5, 2022

Armenia’s Economy in 2022 - PART 1 Conversation with Vardan Aramyan

Topics:

• Inflation
• Monetary Policies
• Fiscal Policies

Guest:

• Mr. Vardan Aramyan is the former Minister of Finance of the Republic of Armenia from 2016-2018. He is currently Senior Vice President for Finance and Economy at Vallex Group in Yerevan.

Guest(s):

• Vardan Aramyan

Hosts:

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

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220812.html Episode 154 | Recorded on Friday, August 5, 2022

Talking with Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte | Ep 153 - August 11, 2022

• Growing up Armenian in Azerbaijan
• Experiencing Armenia as an Armenian from Azerbaijan
• Advocating for Armenian Families and Children
• Thoughts on the condition of Artsakh, and Armenia
• The projects in progress at Astvatsaturian.org, Anna’s 501c3 charity organization.

Guest:

• Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte is an Armenian-American author, city counselor, human rights advocate, and also a refugee from her original city of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which her family fled, as violence mounted against Armenians.

This is a live recording of our Twitter Spaces discussion from August 7, 2022 with Alison Tahmizian Meuse who joined us from Aghavno.

The situation in Berdzor/Aghavno is quite concerning as residents were told to vacate their homes, their town and their homeland by August 25.

Guest: Alison Tahmizian Meuse

Guest(s):

• Alison Tahmizian Meuse

Hosts:

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

Episode 151 | Recorded on August 7, 2022

The Situation Around Berdzor with Hakob Hakobyan and Davit Galstyan

Իրավիճակը Բերձորի շուրջ Հակոբ Հակոբյանի և Դավիթ Գալստյանի հետ

Guests / Հյուրեր:

• Hakob Hakobyan , co-chair of the Artsakh Justice Party. Հակոբ Հակոբյան, Արցախի Արդարություն Կուսակցության Õ¶Õ¡Õ­Õ¡Õ£Õ¡Õ°:

• David Galstyan(/guest/dgalstyan), leader of the Justice faction in the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh. Ô´Õ¡Õ¾Õ«Õ© Ô³Õ¡Õ¬Õ½Õ¿ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, Արցախի Հանրապետության Ô±Õ¦Õ£Õ¡ÕµÕ«Õ¶ ÔºÕ¸Õ²Õ¸Õ¾Õ«

Armenian News Network/Groong: Current Topics with the Mayor of Glendale - July 14, 2022 A Conversation with Ardy Kassakhian

Topics:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:33 Mayor and Councilman of Glendale
• 21:45 June 2022 Elections
• 29:03 US National Politics
• 37:43 Armenian-American Political Advocacy
• 53:55 Turkish-Armenian “Normalization”
• 58:00 Relations between Glendale and Armenia

Guest:

• Ardashes ‘Ardy’ Kassakhian is a Glendale City Councilman and the current mayor of Glendale.

Guest(s):

• Ardy Kassakhian

Hosts:

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

Episode

Guest(s):

• Sedda Antekelian
• Gegham Mughnetsyan

The Armenian Diaspora Survey - July 9, 2022

Topics:

• What is the ArmenianDiasporaSurvey.com?
• Survey Resources
• Survey Objectives and Benefits
• Why Diaspora Armenians should take the Survey

Guests:

• Sedda Antekelian is a Learning and Development Specialist at the USC Shoah Foundation Institute and a doctoral student in USC Rossier’s Global Executive Doctor of Education program.
• Gegham Mughnetsyan is the Chitjian Researcher Archivist at the USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies, and a specialist in International Affairs, focusing on

Guest(s):

• Hratch Tchilingirian
• Ayda Erbal

The Armenian Diaspora Survey - May 21, 2022

Topics:

• What is the ArmenianDiasporaSurvey.com?
• Sponsor and Admin teams
• Survey Details
• Why Diaspora Armenian should take the Survey

Guests:

• Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian, a sociologist, is the Director of the Armenian Diaspora Survey project. He is Associate of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford in the UK. 
• Ayda Erbal is an adjunct instructor of political science at New York University, She is the Survey Manager in the New York/New Jersey region and leading the social media

ANCA Advocacy Agenda 2022 - MaY 13, 2022 A Conversation with ARAM SUREN HAMPARIAN

Topics:

• The US/Turkey F-35/F-16 Fallout
• US Aid to Armenia and Artsakh
• The Armenian Genocide Education Bill
• Dr. Oz is Mehmet Oz
• The US Election Cycles of 2022 and 2024

Guest:

• Aram Suren Hamparian is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Guest(s):

• Aram Suren Hamparian

Hosts:

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

Episode 136 | Recorded on Thursday, May 12, 2022 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20220513.html

The State of Armenia’s Economy - March 10, 2022

A Conversation with Vache Gabrielyan

Topics:

• 00:00:00 Introduction
• 00:01:25 Risk from the Ukraine War
• 00:37:18 Pandemic, War and Beyond Economy
• 01:01:47 Normalization with Turkey and Corridor Economics

Guest:

Dr. Vache Gabrielyan who is the Dean of the Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics at the American University of Armenia and specializes in public administration and economics. Since 2008, he has served as Vice-Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia, Minister of Finance, Minister-Chief of the Government Staff, Chief Advisor

Armenia’s Regional Challenges - February 26, 2022 A Conversation with Tatev Hayrapetyan

Topics:

• Tatev’s Background and Entrance into Politics
• Armenia Going in the Wrong Direction?
• Aliyev and his Regime after the 44-Day War
• The Shushi and Moscow Agreements
• Armenia’s Foreign Affairs Establishment

Guest:

• Tatev Hayrapetyan is an expert in Azerbaijani studies and holds a PhD in History. She was an MP at the 7th convocation of Armenia’s National Assembly, a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Armenian Delegation at the PACE. She is mainly focused on domestic

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.

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian

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 Õ°Õ«Õ´Õ¶Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ պատճառները
• ՀՀ Ô´Õ«Õ¾Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Õ«Õ¿Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶/Ռազմավարական ձախողումները
• Շուշիի համաձայնագրի Õ°Õ«Õ´Õ¶Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ բաղադրիչները և սպառնալիքներ
• Ռուսաստանի և Իրանի երկարաժամկետ շրջանային եւ աշխարհաքաղաքական նպատակները
• The

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.

Guest(s):

• Edmon Marukyan

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan

Guest(s):

• Ruben Melikyan

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

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

Talking with Alison Tahmizian Meuse - TW/@AliTahmizian - November 17, 2021

• Alison Tahmizian Meuse is a graduate of the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. She is a French and Arabic speaker, and a veteran Middle East journalist, having worked over the past decade as a producer, correspondent and editor for major international publications including Agence France-Presse, NPR, and the Asia Times. She currently serves as a strategic advisor for the New Delhi-based consultancy DeepStrat and is newly based in Yerevan.

Topics:

• The drive to cover dangerous

The State of Affairs in Lebanon A Conversation with Dr. Ohannes Geukjian and Vera Yacoubian

Topics:

• A year after the Beirut Explosion, what’s the state of investigations?
• Has Anyone been held Accountable?
• Who are the Internal and External Players in Lebanon?
• What’s the State and Future of the Armenian Community in Lebanon?

Guests:

• Dr. Ohannes Geukjian
• Vera Yacoubian

Guest(s):

• Ohannes Geukjian
• Vera Yacoubian

Hosts:

• Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
• Katia Peltekian TW/@KatiaPeltekian

Episode 98: Recorded on Saturday, November 6, 2021 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20211108.html

Guest(s):

• Virginia Davies
• Heghnar Watenpaugh

Save Armenian Monuments A Conversation with Virginia Davies and Heghnar Watenpaugh

Topics:

• One year after the War in Artsakh, the State of Armenian Monuments in Lands turned over to Azerbaijan
• What is Save Armenian Monuments?
• The Significance of Pilgrimage and Holy Sites
• Armenia and Azerbaijan at the International Court of Justice: Is Intentional Cultural Destruction a form of Racial Discrimination?
• What Next Steps?

Guests:

• Virginia Davies TW/@vdaviesnyc
• Heghnar Watenpaugh TW/@HeghnarW

Host:

• Simon Maghakyan TW/@simonforco

Episode 97 |

Armenia’s Borders in Maps - A Conversation with Rouben Galichian | Ep 95 - Oct 29, 2021

Guest:

• Rouben Galichian

Topics:

• Following the 44-day War in Artsakh, Azerbaijan’s president demands Armenia sign a “Peace Treaty” involving full border recognition.
• Historical and contemporary mapping of Armenian borders
• Early cartography and 20th-century developments
• Enclaves, the Goris-Kapan Highway, and Sev Lake
• Armenia-Iran border considerations

Episode 95 | Recorded: October 29, 2021

Armenia’s Diplomacy and Corridor Politics

Topics:

• In the past month a flurry of diplomatic activity has risen around Armenia. The top diplomats from neighboring countries, regional and global powers have met with Armenia’s top leadership to discuss the shifting geopolitics reshaping the South Caucasus politically and economically for the coming decades. How is Armenia’s diplomacy navigating the “Corridor Politics” and what are the prospects for a peaceful neighborhood?

Guest:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan

Episode 93 | Recorded: October 18, 2021

Calls for a Commission to Analyze the Defeat in the 2020 Artsakh War

A Conversation with Dr. Simon Saradzhyan, Arthur G. Martirosyan, and Tevan Poghosyan

The disastrous outcome of the 2020 War in Artsakh has left Armenians in Armenia and around the world with many unanswered questions. Many long-time held beliefs about the capability of Armenia to defend Artsakh, and Armenia itself, were shattered on November 9, with the signing of the trilateral ceasefire statement.

A group of more than 10 academics and researchers recently published a lengthy set of questions that are proposed as a basis for

Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian

Topics:

• Sparring Partners: Moscow and Ankara
• Yerevan’s Diplomatic Dilemmas
• Aliyev’s Appetite and Ambitions

Guests

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian
• Yeghia Tashjian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html

Guest(s):

• Lori Khatchadourian
• Christina Maranci

Preserving Armenian Heritage

Topics:

• What is Armenian Art and Architecture?
• Where does Artsakh’s Heritage fit in the larger Armenian picture?
• What Armenian Heritage fell under Azerbaijani Control in 2020?
• What is Caucasus Heritage Watch and What does it do?
• What can International Organizations do for Artsakh?
• How do International Instruments fail in Preserving Armenian Heritage?

Host:

• Simon Maghakyan is an independent researcher of cultural destruction and lecturer in International Relations at the University of Colorado Denver.

Guests

How to Explain The MPG Polling Discrepancy With Election Results? A Conversation (in Armenian) with Aram Navasardyan

Guest: Aram Navasardyan is Director of MPG, a member of Gallup International Association and one of the main pollsters in the pre-election campaign for June 2021 parliamentary elections.

– Ինչպե՞ս բացատրել MPG- ի հարցումների անհամապատասխանությունը ընտրությունների արդյունքների հետ Զրույց Արամ Նավասարդյանի հետ

Հյուր: Արամ Նավասարդյանը MPG- ի տնօրենն է որը հանդիսանում է Gallup International Association- ի անդամ և հիմնական հետազոտական կազմակերպություններից մեկն եր 2021

Analyzing Party Platforms in June 20 Parliamentary Elections

A Conversation with Robert Markarian

Guest:

Robert Markarian was born in Iran and has university education in physics and law. For 25 years, he has worked as a host, editor, and analyst on Armenian Radio Hour in Iran’s public radio and television. He has cooperated articles covering Armenia and Artsakh in Armenian, Persian, and English published by Iranian and Armenian sites and analytical centers.

Topics:

• Security/Defense
• Economy and Social
• Artsakh
• Diaspora Relations

Conversation in English and Armenian

Guest(s):

• Robert

Aleksandr Khachaturyan on the 2021 Armenian Elections

Guest:

Aleksandr Khachaturyan who is a Managing Partner at TK & Partners, in Yerevan. In 2016 he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, and was CEO of the Center for Strategic Initiatives, advising the government on key economic and public administration reforms and strategies. He serves as a board member at ID Bank and various non-profits, and lectures on corporate finance law at the French University of Armenia (FUA). He holds law degrees from Boston University, FUA, and Jean Moulin

Hayastan Dashinq (Armenia Alliance), Elections and Postwar Outlook

Guest

Aspram Krpeyan, is a member of the Hayastan Dashinq led by former president Robert Kocharyan in the upcoming elections in Armenia, and a member of its list of parliamentary party representatives. She holds an MSt in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford and an LLM from the Geneva Academy of the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Her research interests lie in international law with a focus on the interplay between international humanitarian law and human rights, use of force, including the conduct

Guests:

• Areg Danagoulian
• Emil Sanamyan

Topic:

• This Conversations on Groong episode is our first Live Show on Clubhouse and hopefully it will be an informative, as well as an enjoyable discussion for all. We will be talking about the politics of opening the paths of communication, lifting blockades, and the rumors, facts, and fallacies around so-called “corridors” through each other’s countries.

Episode 83 | Recorded: June 14, 2021

ARF-Dashnaktsutyun: Roadmap and Challenges

Guest

• Giro Manoyan has been a member of the ARF-D Bureau since 2015. Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, he moved to Montreal, Canada in 1976. He has served as the Executive Secretary of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, as well as the Editor in Chief of the Horizon Armenian Weekly. In 1999 he moved to Yerevan and has served as the Executive Director of the Bureau of the ARF-D, in charge of the Armenian Cause, Hai Tahd Central Committee.

Topics

• The ARF in the Politics of Armenia
• On the War in 2020
• On the Upcoming Elections in 2021
• On the

Armenia, Superpowers and The New Cold War

A Conversation with:

Guest:

• Dr. Pietro Shakarian, who is a Cleveland-based historian of Russia and the Soviet Union, with a focus on Soviet Armenia and the Caucasus during the era of Nikita Khrushchev’s Thaw.

Topics

• Democracy-building in the Post Soviet Space
• NATO and expansion
• Russia in the Caucasus
• China and the New Silk Road through Iran and Georgia

Guest(s):

• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 68 | Recorded: June 4, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210608.html

Guest(s):

• Robert Markarian

Iran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian

The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.

Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional

Iran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections (in Armenian) A Conversation with Robert Markarian

Իրան: Արտաքին Հարաբերուտյուններ, գալիք ընտրություններ Զրույց Ռոբերտ Մարգարյանի հետ

Guest:

Ռոբերտ Մարգարյանը ծնվել է Թեհրանում և ունի բարձրագույն կրթությունն ֆիզիկայի և իրավաբանության ոլորտներում: 25 տարի աշխատել է Իրանի պետական ռադիո-հեռուստատեսության հայերեն ռադիոժամում, որպես լուրերի հաղորդավար, խմբագիր և մեկնաբան: Հայաստանի և Արցախի թեմաներով հայերեն, պարսկերեն ու անգլերեն հոդվածներով համագործակցել է իրանական ու հայկական կայքերի և հետազոտական հաստատությունների հետ:

Guest(s):

• Robert Markarian

Guest(s):

• Narek Margaryan

A Conversation with Narek Margaryan - 05/25/2021

Guest:

Narek Margaryan is an Armenian comedian, screenwriter and TV host. Along with his co-host Sergey Sargsyan, Narek stars in ArmComedy, a satiric news show series broadcast on Armenian television and on Youtube.

Hosts

Hovik Manucharyan Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 63 | Recorded: April 25, 2021

Guest(s):

• Vicken Hovsepian

Armenians at Crossroads - 04/17/2021

Topics:

• The Last Few Years in Armenian Politics
• Thoughts on the Second War in Artsakh
• What is the Role of the Diaspora?
• How do we get back on our Feet?
• Thoughts on the Current Rift in the ARF

Guest

• Dr. Viken Hovsepian holds a BA in Political Science from UCLA, and an MA and PhD in International Relations from USC. He has served on the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau, the highest executive body of the Organization, and has been a member, and chairman of the ARF Western US Central Committee. In 2019, he helped establish the Pan

Guest(s):

• Armen Der Giureghian

Armenia’s Earthquake Preparedness - 02/21/2021

Topics:

• Was it an Earthquake?
• Have Construction Codes Improved since 1988?
• Do Contractors Comply with Regulations?
• Is Armenia Ready for The Big One?
• Is there Earthquake Preparedness in Armenia?
• What Conversations are not Happening?

Guest:

• Dr. Armen Der Giureghian is a structural and civil engineering professor at UC Berkeley with research focus on earthquake engineering. He is a co-founder and was president of the American University of Armenia from 2014 until 2019.

Host:

• Asbed Bedrossian

Website:

Guest(s):

• Ruben Muradyan

Armenian IT Security and Readiness During Wartime - with Ruben Muradyan - Jan. 31, 2021

Experience being called up and participating in the war

Ethics of a security professional. What to do when a government member asks you to conduct greyhat (potentially unlawful or unethical) security?

On the 2nd day of the war Ruben was called up to the army as part of an infantry company.

• Can you describe your experience?
• How were you drafted? And where did you serve?
• What specialty did you have in the army?
• What can you tell us about what you saw?
• Why did we lose the war?

Groong Links:

• GIVE to GROONG
• linktr.ee/Groong

Guest:

• Armen Ashotyan , MP, VP Republican Party of Armenia (HHK)

Topics:

• What took place in 2018?
• Why did RPA support Vazgen Manukyan as PM candidate?
• Nov. 9/10 ceasefire agreement & Jan 11 statement
• Is the RPA truly serious about removing Pashinyan? Why hasn’t the opposition mobilized more people onto the streets?
• Lessons learned from Dec. 2018 elections.

Episode 44 | Recorded on January 17, 2021

Guest(s):

• Ruben Melikyan

Former Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan - 01/18/2021

We’ll be discussing various legal and human-rights topics within the context of recent developments in Armenia.

Guest:

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

Topics:

• Why are there Armenian POWs still in Azerbaijan so long after the Nov. 9 ceasefire agreement?
• On Constitutional Court judges being forced to resign
• On Parliament’s endorsement of Gagik

Guest(s):

• Aram Vardevanyan

Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021

Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related

Guest(s):

• Maria Karapetyan

Conversation with My Step’s Maria Karapetyan - 01/08/2021

As protesters in the streets of Yerevan continue demanding the resignation of PM Nikol Pashinyan in the aftermath of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ruling My Step faction seems to be firmly on the side of the prime minister.

In the last week or so here at Groong we hosted representatives of various opposition parties and today we will host a representative from the ruling My Step faction to talk about the ongoing political crisis in Armenia.

Today we’re joined by:

Maria Karapetyan, who is a member

Guest(s):

• Arevik Anapiosyan

Research in Policy Making and Implementation (Ep #38) - 01/03/2021

Asbed Kotchikian is an associate professor of political science and international relations at the American University of Armenia, where he teaches courses on post-Soviet space and the Middle East.

Talks with

Arevik Anapiosyan is the Partnerships and Development Finance Advisor to the UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, and has served as the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia. She co-founded and was the Executive Director of the Institute of Public

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