Iran

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 active role in the conflict?
• Was Russia

ANN/Groong Week in Review - (Ep #18) - 09/27/2020

Topics:

• The 29th Anniversary of Armenian Independence;
• Armenia’s foreign policy;
• Azerbaijan war of disinformation; and lastly
• Opposition trio rally and Tsarukyan’s arrest

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Marine Manucharyan
• Emil Sanamyan

Hosts

• Asbed Bedrossian
• Hovik Manucharyan

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200927.html Episode 18 | Recorded on September 26, 2020

Armenian News Network/Groong: Telecommunications Security in Armenia - Sep 15, 2020)

Conversations on Groong

Background and formulation of the telecoms market in Armenia

Telecommunications market in Armenia started with the monopoly of the incumbent operator ArmenTel owned jointly by Greek state owned company OTE (90%) and Armenian government (10%). The sale-purchase agreement granted ArmenTel (recently rebranded to VEON) exclusive rights to provide basic telecommunications services including international Internet connectivity, mobile and fixed telephony. ArmenTel’s monopoly remained till

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 09/13/2020

Topics:

• Electoral Reforms in Armenia
• Journalist Dana Mazalov passes away
• ANSEF Reorganization
• My Step MP Arsen Julfalakyan Resigns from Parliament
• Russian Opposition Leader Navalny’s Poisoning and Recovery
• What is going on in Baku?
  • Azeri pressure on Arms Providers to Armenia
  • Aliyev vs. Aliyeva?
  • Caucasus 2020 Joint Military Exercises and those MIA

Guests

• Asbed Kotchikian
• Emil Sanamyan
• Alen Zamanyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20200913.html Episode 14 | Recorded on September 13, 2020

Judicial Reforms, Data Protection and Privacy - 09/05/2020

Conversations on Groong

Armenia has European grade laws in the areas of finance, business, data protection and privacy. What is preventing Armenia from achieving its full potential in foreign direct investment (FDI)? Why do many Armenian startups incorporate in foreign countries, and use Armenia as their offshore labor resource?

Our Guest is David Sandukhchyan is a lawyer with 20 years of experience in telecommunications, cyber law, media and personal data protection. He started his legal career as an Internet freedom advocate and

Education Reform in Armenia - 08/10/2020 Conversations on Groong Asbed Kotchikian talks with Ara Sanjian & Siranush Dvoyan

Topics:

Background of education reform(s) in Armenia In depth analysis of the content, standards & measurable outcomes of the proposed curriculum’s history & literature segments. Challenges of implementing the proposed curriculum

In recent months, Armenia’s government has published its proposal for K-12 curriculum reform in Armenian schools. The new curriculum, which includes education standards and learning outcomes, proved to be quite controversial with

Topics:

• Turkey: Zero Problems?
• Azerbaijan: The Myth of Brotherly Relations?
• Armenia: From Diplomatic Overtures to a Mini Cold War

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Ara Sanjian
• Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Host:

• Asbed Kotchikian

Episode 10 | Recorded: August 2020

Topics:

• Turkey’s Transformation in Historical Perspective
• Change and Continuity of Turkish Political Culture
• Turkey’s Foreign Policy

Guests:

• Varuzhan Geghamyan
• Ara Sanjian
• Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
• Diana Yayloyan

Host:

• Asbed Kotchikian

Episode 9 | Recorded: August 2020

ANN/Groong Week in Review - 08/16/2020

This Week in Review we talk with Hrant Mikaelian to discuss important issues and developments around Armenia, such as the Coronavirus Pandemic, and its economic effect; Armenia’s membership in EurAsian Economic Union and the economic effect of that organization on Armenia; and some of the trends affecting Russia and its economy.

Hrant will then join us in our weekly lightning round of questions from the past week’s headlines, to analyze Prime Minister Pashinyan’s interview with BBC’s HARDtalk; the presidential elections in Belarus; and the