ANN/Armenian News Conversation with Tevan Poghosyan – 12/29/2020

Armenian News Network / Armenian News


Conversation on Armenian News: Tevan Poghosyan on Diplomacy, War and The Way Forward


ANN/Armenian News


Guest

  • Tevan Poghosyan

  • Hovik Manucharyan

  • Asbed Bedrossian


Hello and welcome to the Armenian News Network, Armenian News. In this Conversations on Armenian News episode, we’ll be talking with political analyst Tevan Poghosyan on the post-war political outlook for Armenia.


This episode was recorded on Monday, .


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 vis-a-vis Azerbaijan and Turkey.

To understand the background of Armenia’s diplomatic activities before the war as well as to look at the future of Armenia’s role in the region, today we will discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by Armenia in the last two decades as well as the way forward. 

Today we’re joined by:

Tevan Poghosyan, who is President of the International Center for Human Development. Mr. Poghosyan was an MP at the National Assembly between 2012 and 2017 from the Heritage party. In 1997-1999 he served as the NKR Public Affairs Office Director in Washington, D.C.


As someone who has taught conflict resolution, reconciliation and track two diplomacy, could you please give us an overview of the initiatives and activities you were involved in or followed, on the issue of Armenian-Azerbaijani as well as Armenian-Turkish track two diplomacy?

How would you evaluate the state of the negotiations prior to the September war?

What were the key events that put us on a warpath?

What factors led to Armenia losing the war?

Since November 9, Armenia has been in an internal political turmoil with segments of society, including opposition parties, religious leaders, as well as many prominent public figures in Armenia and Diaspora have demanded the PM’s resignation. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister himself has been continuing with a “business as usual” attitude. What can you tell us about the internal political processes right now?

What do you think of Prime Minister Pashinyan’s offer to opposition parties to negotiate a date for snap parliamentary elections, without him resigning?

You have Artsakhtsi background, you were there during the war and you visit frequently. Can you tell us what life is like over there right now?

How can Armenia and Armenians overcome the current state of crisis?


That concludes this Conversation On Armenian News. We hope it was helpful in your understanding of some of the issues involved. We look forward to your feedback, including your suggestions for Conversation topics in the future. Contact us on our website, at groong.org, or on our Facebook PageANN – Armenian News”, or in our Facebook Group “Armenian News – Armenian News Network.


Special thanks to Laura Osborn for providing the music for our podcast. On behalf of everyone in this episode, we wish you a good week. Thank you for listening and we’ll talk to you soon.

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Tevan Poghosyan, International Center for Human Development, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Artsakh, Diplomacy

Additional: ICHD, Track Two Diplomacy, Artsakh War, Karabakh War, Vazgen Manukyan, Edmon Marukyan, Nikol Pashinyan, Elections, Resignation, Stepanakert, Scenario Based Planning, Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations, Armenian-Turkish Relations, Negotiations, Territories, Lavrov Plan, Madrid Principles, Kazan Document, OSCE Minsk Group, Failed State


Tevan Poghosyan, International Center for Human Development, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Artsakh, Diplomacy, ICHD, Track Two Diplomacy, Artsakh War, Karabakh War, Vazgen Manukyan, Edmon Marukyan, Nikol Pashinyan, Elections, Resignation, Stepanakert, Scenario Based Planning, Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations, Armenian-Turkish Relations, Negotiations, Territories, Lavrov Plan, Madrid Principles, Kazan Document, OSCE Minsk Group, Failed State

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS