In this comprehensive interview with CivilNet, European Union Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos discusses the dramatic expansion of EU engagement with Armenia, including a groundbreaking €2.5 billion investment commitment through 2027. The ambassador details major infrastructure projects like the North-South Highway and Caucasus transmission network, explains the ongoing visa liberalization dialogue that could enable visa-free travel to EU countries, and addresses the success of the EU monitoring mission at Armenia's border with Azerbaijan.Maragos also tackles challenging political questions about Armenia's democratic development, responding to opposition criticism while outlining EU support for judicial and police reforms. He discusses what it means for Armenia to be "EU directional" rather than focused solely on distant membership prospects, emphasizing concrete benefits already flowing from closer relations. The conversation concludes with the sensitive issue of Armenian hostages detained in Baku, where the ambassador expresses EU commitment to addressing humanitarian concerns through diplomatic channels.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

A US-brokered peace declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan — brokered by Donald Trump — could mark a turning point in the region. It grants Armenia full sovereignty over a new transit route, elevates its status as a US strategic partner, and addresses issues like hostages, Artsakh refugees, and Azerbaijani forces on Armenian soil. But with Baku already pushing new demands, doubts remain over the deal’s durability. CivilNet’s Eric Hacopian speaks with Timothy Jemal, President of Global ARM, about the risks, opportunities, and shifting regional power dynamics.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

In this episode of Insights, host Eric Hacopian previews the trilateral meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, explaining why they’ll likely “initial” a peace deal without signing it. Havipian also discusses how a U.S. controlled Syunik corridor hands Aliyev access with zero concessions, and why dropping genocide and war-crime cases against Baku would mark a moral and strategic surrender.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #insightswitherichacopian

How can a small country like Armenia compete in the global AI race? Suzanna Shamakhyan, Executive Director of the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), says the answer is through ensuring the quality, not quantity, of the country’s future experts. FAST has a multi-layered approach to AI education, including its Generation AI school program, which trains future engineers and researchers starting from high school. Shamakhyan explains why AI literacy, diaspora engagement, and time-sensitive action are essential for Armenia to build a resilient tech ecosystem and turn today’s challenges into a strategic national advantage.0:00- Introduction 1:08- Armenia's place in the AI race3:36- What does AI literacy look like? 8:21- Challenges facing Armenia and the urgency to act 15:00- Roadmap for Armenia's AI future

In this episode of Insights, host Eric Hacopian unpacks Armenia’s half-billion-dollar Firebird-NVIDIA AI cloud partnership, which plans to create the only data center of its kind. He then tackles Baku’s phony trials of Armenian hostages and Yerevan’s lack of response.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #insightswitherichacopian

Yerevan faces a major environmental and public health challenge as most garbage containers across the city remain uncovered. During the summer, this issue becomes especially serious, leaving residents to cope with foul smells, pests, and other health risks.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

The newly formed Armenian Documentary Association (ArmDoc) is making its official debut with a week-long international workshop in collaboration with DOCA Documentary Association Georgia, a non-profit organization founded in 2022, dedicated to supporting and promoting the documentary film industry in Georgia. At Yerevan’s Cinema House, CivilNet learns about the mission of ArmDoc from the founders and follows filmmakers from Armenia, Georgia, and Iran as they pitch their documentary projects to a global jury. After gathering the feedback from the day’s pitches, these filmmakers from Armenia, Georgia, and Iran had the chance to give virtual pitches to global producers later the same week, in an effort to secure financing, distribution, and co-production partnerships for these regional stories. As a result, budding filmmaker from Artsakh, Narine Karapetyan, became the recipient of multiple awards.#CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ

• Arbitrators ordered Armenia to halt its seizure of the country’s power grid, arguing the nationalization of Electric Networks of Armenia would violate an international investment treaty. Armenia’s justice minister suggested the country may defy the decision.

• Global ratings agency Fitch affirmed Armenia’s “BB-” sovereign credit rating with a stable outlook.

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In this episode of Insights, host Eric Hacopian unpacks the results from the most recent polling by the International Republican Institute. The results of the survey show that 61% of respondents trust no politician and they also highlight shrinking support for Pashinyan after his clash with the church. #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ #insightswitherichacopian

In this episode of the CivilNet podcast, analyst Tigran Grigoryan shares insights from his recent trip to Washington, D.C., where he met with U.S. policymakers and experts on South Caucasus affairs. He discusses the Trump administration’s proposed settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including a controversial corridor plan through Syunik. Grigoryan also examines U.S. priorities in the region, the political risks Armenia faces in navigating the potential deal, and the deepening disconnect between the Armenian government and U.S. diaspora organizations. 0:00- Reading the view of Armenia in DC 5:24- Barrack’s suggestion for a Syunik corridor 11:18- What is behind the corridor talk? 16:27- Trump’s prediction of an Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal21:43- Role of diaspora orgs in Armenia-US relations #CivilNet #ՍիվիլՆեթ