Armenian News Network - Groong: Week In Review Podcast

ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 22 - Oct 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

Recorded: Oct 18, 2020 

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ANN/Groong Week in Review - 10/12/2020

Topics Covered:
- Security situation on the ground;
- Diplomatic activity, short & long term goals;
- Humanitarian impact in Artsakh &  Armenia;
- Effect of social media on the war.

Your Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Asbed Kotchikian

Resident Panelists:
- Lara Aharonian: Co-founder & co-director of the Women's Resource Center NGO in Yerevan
- Robert Avetisyan: Representative of Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the US

Recorded: Oct 12, 2020 

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ANN Groong Week in Review - Oct. 4, 2020

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

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This episode of the podcast was fully devoted to the war in Artsakh. It was recorded on the morning of Saturday, Oct 3 Pacific time while one of our guests, Varuzhan Geghamyan was in Stepanakert as the city was undergoing constant bombardment.

Unfortunately, the air assault on Stepanakert and other civilian areas of Artsakh seems to have only intensified with more active use of cluster bombs, long-range missiles and suicide drones. As of early Monday morning (Pacific time) we have confirmed that Varuzhan is OK though he communicated that the situation is dangerous as the city is still under constant bombardment.

The use of cluster munitions, let alone targeting of civilian structures, is prohibited by international law and it seems that the dictator in Baku, Ilham Aliyev, is intent to level the city to the ground. As of this time, according to the Artsakh foreign ministry, 19 civilians have been killed, 80 wounded, and over 2700 property and civilian infrastructure has been damaged. We’re worried about the safety of Artsakh’s peaceful civilian population and urge you to raise awareness of this travesty among your non-Armenian friends and elected representatives.

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Resident Panelists:

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

Hosts:

- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan

Recorded: Oct 3, 2020 

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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 caught off-guard with the escalation?
- Does the OSCE Minsk Process matter anymore?
- How does Iran factor in the conflict?

Guests:
  - Thomas DeWaal
  - Dr. Jirair Libaridian

Host: Asbed Kotchikian

Produced by:
  - Asbed Bedrossian
  - Hovik Manucharyan

Episode recorded on October 2, 2020

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SHOW NOTES:

Topics:

- The 29th Anniversary of Armenian Independence;

- Armenia’s foreign policy; 

- Azerbaijan war of disinformation; and lastly

- Opposition trio rally and Tsarukyan’s arrest

Resident Panelists:

- Asbed Kotchikian
- Marine Manucharyan
- Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan

Recorded: Sep 26, 2020 

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It’s been two and a half years since the dramatic popular protests of 2018 that resulted in the resignation of Serge Sargsyan and the subsequent election of Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister in Armenia. The change in power, which is commonly referred to as “The Velvet Revolution”, gave many the hope of a more democratic Armenia. Many promises were made in 2018, and mid-way through this administration many of us want to know how the Armenian government is delivering on those promises.

In this Conversation On Groong, we talk to two long-time activists who ended up on opposite sides of the fence on this topic with one becoming a member of parliament while the other a fiery critic of the government. 

Marine Manucharyan is the president of the Civic Forum NGO. She holds a Masters degree in Educational Management from Yerevan State University. Since 2004, she has been a civic and political activist and has worked with a number of local and international organizations. Her main areas of focus include Nagorno Karabakh, the Armenian Armed Forces, National Security and Foreign Policy.

Mikael Zolyan is a member of the National Assembly of Armenia. He has a Ph.D. in history from Yerevan State University, and has taught at the Yerevan State University of Linguistics and Social Sciences, his research focuses on issues of nationalism, conflict and democratization. Currently Zolyan is a member of the standing committee on Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly of Armenia.

Topics:

- Introduction to guests
- Democratization
- Corruption

Guests:
  - Marine Manucharyan
  - Mikael Zolyan

Host: Asbed Kotchikian

Hosts:
  - Asbed Bedrossian
  - Hovik Manucharyan


Episode recorded on September 23, 2020

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SHOW NOTES: https://bit.ly/2FVpjSE

Topics:

 - Constitutional Court Appointment

 - Armenia’s Growing National Debt

 - Calls for the Resignation of the Minister of Education

 - Escalated Tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijan border
    - Armenian Soldier dies amidst escalation
    - Azerbaijan again slams negotiations, turns away Russian AWACS

- Khodorkovsky Publishes New Dossier on Armenian & Azerbaijan

- Bob Dole hired by Embassy of Armenia as a Lobbyist

Resident Panelists:

- Hrant Mikaelyan
- Emil Sanamyan
- Alen Zamanyan

Hosts:

- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan

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Over the past few months, we’ve seen a public tussle between Georgian regulatory firms and a Azeri company called NEQSOL which acquired 49% of Caucasus Online, a Georgian telecommunications company. How does this deal affect Armenian national security given that a significant portion of Armenian internet traffic goes through Georgia (including Caucasus Online).

Topics:

- Background and formulation of the telecoms market
- Azerbaijani company’s stake in Georgia’s Caucasus Online
- National Security issues related to telecommunications
- What can be done to beef up quality of Armenia’s external communications access

Guest: David Sandukhchyan

Hosts:
- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan

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SHOW NOTES: https://bit.ly/3iwMQHR

Topics:

- Electoral Reforms in Armenia

- Journalist Dana Mazalová 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

Resident Panelists:

- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan
- Alen Zamanyan

Hosts:

- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan

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SHOW NOTES: https://bit.ly/2FcYqt3

Topics:

- Adios Madrid?
- A New Repatriation Package & iGorts
- Adios Torosyan?
- Update on Covid in Armenia and State of Emergency
- Panelist Soapboxes

Special Guest: David Sandukhchyan

Resident Panelists:

- Asbed Kotchikian
- Emil Sanamyan

Hosts:

- Asbed Bedrossian
- Hovik Manucharyan

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