EVN Talks - EVN Report

Tim Jemal, president of Global ARM, discusses the recently introduced PEACE Act — a U.S. congressional bill that he says “puts a target on Aliyev’s back,” sanctioning Azerbaijan’s leadership, military capacity, and financial institutions tied to its oil and gas sector in the event of renewed aggression against Armenia. Jemal also outlines Global ARM’s strategic approach to political advocacy, one designed to counter Azerbaijan’s powerful lobbying machine and strengthen coordinated, global pro-Armenia and pro-Artsakh efforts. The post The PEACE Act: Targeting Azerbaijan’s Achilles Heel appeared first on EVN Report.

From organizing the first energy conference in 1992, which concluded that the Medzamor Nuclear Power Plant should be restarted for the country’s survival, to developing AI algorithms combating disinformation campaigns against Armenia, ARPA Institute has long been at the intersection of research, innovation and national strategies for the future. Dr. Hagop Panossian, founder and president of the institute, speaks about the solutions-based approach that has defined ARPA’s work for more than three decades. The post ARPA’s Data Driven Mindset appeared first on EVN Report.

ReA Comics, a recently established publication focusing on graphic storytelling is presenting some of its inaugural publications to the readers this fall. Bedo Demirdjian, one of the co-founders of the publication, speaks not just of the vision behind the initiative, but of community, culture and the search for a new kind of an Armenian reader. The post Armenian Graphic Novels: An Uncharted Territory appeared first on EVN Report.

How do you teach one of history’s darkest chapters to new generations? Roxanne Makasdjian, co-founder and Executive Director of The Genocide Education Project (GenEd), joins EVN Report’s Maria Titizian to explore the initiative’s origins and its influence on how American educators approach the Armenian Genocide and human rights in the classroom. She also shares insights about GenEd’s Teacher Fellowship Program, an immersive experience that brings educators to Armenia to engage directly with the history and memory of genocide. The post The Genocide Education Project appeared first on EVN Report.

2026 is going to be quite the eventful year for Armenia, with parliamentary elections in June and the country hosting global events like COP17—the UN’s biodiversity summit—in October. To understand what COP17 means for Armenia, the preparations required and the challenges involved in hosting global negotiations about the future of the planet, we spoke with Tatiana Der Avedissian, head of business development for Economist Impact’s World Ocean Initiative, and sits on The Economist Group’s sustainability steering committee. The post Ahead of COP17: A To-Do List appeared first on EVN Report.

A U.S. proposal to lease a transit route through Armenian territory to connect Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan has sparked debate over sovereignty, security and regional power dynamics. Dr. Nerses Kopalyan offers expert insight into the implications and possible outcomes. The post The U.S. Proposal, Sovereignty, and the State of Play appeared first on EVN Report.

MIT nuclear physicist Dr. Areg Danagoulian analyzes Iran's nuclear weapons program following recent Israeli strikes, assessing regional security implications for Armenia. The conversation explores Armenia's nuclear energy future, the need for small reactors to replace aging infrastructure, and challenges in developing nuclear engineering expertise domestically. The post Nuclear Choices, Regional Consequences appeared first on EVN Report.

World Bank senior economist Julie Rosenberg discusses Armenia’s path to green growth, focusing on reducing natural gas dependency, expanding solar energy, addressing water management challenges, and implementing key policy and financing reforms outlined in the Country Climate and Development Report. The post Armenia’s Green Transition appeared first on EVN Report.

Gorr Sahakian, Vice President of the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation and Hovnanian Investment Corporation, helps manage a legacy spanning three generations. In this episode of EVN Talks, Gorr reflects on continuing the philanthropic vision of his grandfather, Hrair Hovnanian, and shares how the foundation is evolving to meet today’s challenges, balancing tradition with innovation. The post Stewarding a Vision appeared first on EVN Report.

When we record history, we typically do so chronologically, documenting facts and events, capturing footage, etc. In the process, the human voice often gets lost. It is the voice of the witness of the times that this podcast aims to capture and archive, preserving their experiences and perspectives. The post The Voice of the Witness appeared first on EVN Report.

More than three decades after Armenia's independence, Canada finally opened its embassy in Yerevan. Canada's first resident Ambassador Andrew Turner, a career diplomat, speaks to EVN Report's Maria Titizian about the journey to establish an embassy and Canada's strong commitment to support Armenia's democracy and security. The post New Canadian Embassy Signals Commitment to Support Armenia appeared first on EVN Report.

Armenia’s Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan speaks about the challenges of addressing the healthcare needs of the forcibly displaced population of Artsakh following Azerbaijan’s large-scale attack and the ensuing mass exodus. Aside from mobilizing to provide emergency first-aid, the Ministry is making preparations for the long-term needs of the displaced. The post Healthcare and Forced Displacement appeared first on EVN Report.

Shant Petrossian, a four-time Emmy award winning producer traveled to Armenia after more than 100,000 Armenians from Artsakh were forcibly displaced from their ancestral homeland by Azerbaijan. For the past month, Shant has been working with the AGBU and the World Central Kitchen, an organization launched by chef José Andrés that provides fresh meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises around the world. The post Frontline Kitchen appeared first on EVN Report.

California Superior Court Judge Gassia Apkarian, an advisor to the Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ), says that the forced deportation of the Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) by Azerbaijan constitutes genocide. The CFTJ, created in the aftermath of the 2020 Artsakh War, oversees the collection of firsthand testimonial evidence from survivors of war through in-depth, recorded interviews to be a living memorial to crimes against humanity, for study, education and legal action. The post This Is Genocide appeared first on EVN Report.

Former Member of the National Assembly of Turkey, Garo Paylan is in Armenia to meet with the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) who were ethnically cleansed from their ancestral homeland following a 9-month blockade and a large-scale military attack on September 19 by Azerbaijan. Paylan speaks about the need for unity as the Republic of Armenia is now facing an existential threat by both Azerbaijan and Turkey. The post This Must Be Our Last Catastrophe appeared first on EVN Report.

Communications Manager and Spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Zara Amatuni, speaks to EVN Report about the work of the ICRC following the mass exodus of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) after Azerbaijan's large-scale attack, the challenges facing the forcibly displaced who are now in Armenia and the fate of the missing. The post Humanity in Times of Darkness appeared first on EVN Report.

Vladimir de Gmeline, a crisis director with Reporters Without Borders, is in Armenia to assess the needs of the displaced journalists from Artsakh after Azerbaijan’s large-scale attack that led to the ethnic cleansing of the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Reporters Without Borders is a global organization defending the right of every human being to have access to free and reliable information. The post Helping the Forcibly Displaced Journalists of Artsakh appeared first on EVN Report.

Rasmus Canbäck, a freelance journalist from Sweden, talks about his investigations into Azerbaijan's Caviar Diplomacy, being a target of an Azerbaijani smear campaign and the ongoing blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in an exclusive interview with EVN Report's Maria Titizian. The post The Many Faces of Azerbaijan’s Caviar Diplomacy appeared first on EVN Report.

Deputy Minister of Economy Rafayel Gevorgyan talks to EVN Report about a number of new initiatives including a program to bring highly qualified specialists to work in different sectors, assistance to SMEs to purchase equipment, an action plan to develop the textile industry and the development of creative industries in the country. The post Supporting Armenian Industry appeared first on EVN Report.

Armenia's Human Rights Defender Kristinne Grigoryan speaks to EVN Report about the consequences of Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the violation of the rights of the people of Artsakh as a result of that blockade and the legal instruments that Armenia can and has implemented to counter the consequences. The post The Legal and Humanitarian Implications of the Lachin Blockade appeared first on EVN Report.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has been working in Armenia for the past three decades focusing on developing the country’s financial sector, supporting development of value-added industrial companies, improving the business environment and more. Head of EBRD’s Yerevan Resident Office, George Akhalkatsi, speaks to EVN Report about the organization’s activities and plans for the future. The post EBRD in Armenia appeared first on EVN Report.

This year, Azerbaijan, along with seven other countries, is under review by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Geneva. Tamara Voskanian is the co-founder of the Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ) and lawyer Talin Hitik is heading up the CFTJ’s delegation in Geneva, presenting the organization’s report based on primary evidence on Azerbaijan’s ongoing violations during the CERD hearing. They spoke to EVN Report about their ongoing efforts to bring to the world’s attention the crimes committed by Azerbaijan and the impact this will have on the Armenia v. Azerbaijan case at the International Court of Justice. The post Azerbaijan’s Violations of International Law Through the Lens of Racial Discrimination appeared first on EVN Report.

An accomplished businesswoman and philanthropist, Edele Hovnanian, president of the H.Hovnanian Family Foundation speaks to EVN Report about the projects she has supported, incubated and launched in Armenia, including Birthright; her father, Hrair Hovnanian’s legacy and the importance of having a vision and being a fearless dreamer. The post Fearless Dreamers appeared first on EVN Report.

David Zakarian, author of “Women, Too, Were Blessed: The Portrayal of Women in Early Christian Armenian Texts” speaks with EVN Report’s editor Maria Titizian about the representation of women in 5th century Armenian literature and historiography; whether women were catalysts in the Christianization of Armenia and more. Zakarian is an associate faculty member in the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Oxford. The post “Women, Too, Were Blessed” appeared first on EVN Report.

The war in Ukraine has caused a wave of migration to Armenia from the countries involved in the conflict. Among them are many Armenians coming from the large diaspora communities those countries host. Ishkhan Saakian, the communications manager at Repat Armenia joins us today to speak about their initiatives to help those Armenians settle in Armenia. The post War in Ukraine: Helping Impacted Armenians Resettle appeared first on EVN Report.

EVN Report’s Editor-in-Chief Maria Titizian speaks to the new section editor of Creative Tech Njdeh Satourian about the importance of placing Armenia on the global tech landscape and to illustrate that Armenia, despite its critical challenges, is a country of potential, with the necessary logistics, human resources and desire to become a regional tech hub. The post Creative Tech ReLaunch appeared first on EVN Report.

Is Russia’s escalation of tensions with Ukraine really about Ukraine or is Putin trying to reassert Russia as a regional hegemon? What does this mean for Europe and the South Caucasus? Political Scientist Nerses Kopalyan explains. The post Russia Consolidates Its Orbit appeared first on EVN Report.

Back in 2020, the Paradigma Education Foundation published the “Guidebook on History Teaching: Why, How?” for teachers in Armenia the purpose of which is to develop active historical thinking. This year, they launched another innovative tool for teachers—a gender history pack—called History #5. Co-founder Narek Manukyan speaks to EVN Report about the idea, the journey and the purpose of this new tool. The post Innovative Teaching Tools appeared first on EVN Report.

Seda Grigoryan, the communication coordinator of the DAR Foundation for Regional Development and Competitiveness speaks to EVN Report about the foundation’s new initiative called the Gagarin Project. It aims to create a sustainable model of community development in the villages of Ddmashen, Zovaber, Tsaghkunk, Geghamavan, Varser and Gagarin in the Gegharkunik region of Armenia. The post Gagarin Project’s Valley of Dreams appeared first on EVN Report.

Imagine growing up on a vineyard in Tuscany, surrounded by a millennia-old tradition of winemaking. That’s how Aimee Keushguerian spent 12 years of her life. She eventually moved to Armenia to be part of her family’s growing wine business. Today, she is the Managing Director of Wineworks, a winery incubator offering winemaking and viticulture services as well as strategic winery and marketing management support. The post A Heritage of Winemaking appeared first on EVN Report.

As a serial entrepreneur and passionate technologist, Al Eisaian has over two decades of experience building highly successful teams in areas ranging from computer hardware to data analytics. He speaks to EVN Report about passionate leadership, his engagement with Armenia and the future of the tech industry. The post Serial Entrepreneurship appeared first on EVN Report.

Creative Armenia is an art foundation for Armenians that supports filmmakers, musicians, writers and artists across all creative fields with funding, mentorship, promotion and strategic support. Director of Programs, Anush Ter-Khachatryan speaks to EVN Report about their new initiative called Art Box, a reinvention of the incubator model for the art world. The post Art Box for the Art World appeared first on EVN Report.

Founder of TEDx Yerevan, Head of the Leadership Lab at Picsart and author Kristine Sargsyan talks about her newly published book “Pilgrimage to the Brain”. Inspired by her curiosity of how the human brain works, the book is meant for people of all ages to understand the power and potential they have within them. The post The Pilgrimage appeared first on EVN Report.

A professional in environmental management focusing on solar energy and water, Hasmik Barseghyan was part of Armenia’s delegation to COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. She says that although Armenia has and continues to face many challenges, it is possible to benefit from the opportunities of Armenia’s geography as the “center of the world”, linking different regions together. The post Armenia, Climate Change and the Global Conversation appeared first on EVN Report.

After the 2020 Artsakh War, Arpi Karapetyan, like many others, asked herself a simple question: What now? As a human resources professional and successful businesswoman, she put into action what she knew best and launched a new program called New Page. A social responsibility program, the aim of New Page is to help veterans of the war acquire new knowledge and develop skills to enter the labor market. The program has helped 1000 veterans and the second phase has 700 vets already signed up. To donate to the program, follow this link. The post Helping Veterans Reintegrate and Reimagine a New Future appeared first on EVN Report.

On November 16, 2021, Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched a large-scale offensive along the eastern border of Armenia’s Syunik region, resulting in intense battles. A Russian-mediated ceasefire came into force later that evening. This latest attack was yet another example of Armenia’s ongoing security challenges and vulnerabilities. Azerbaijani expert Tatevik Hayrapetyan and political scientist and international security expert Dr. Nerses Kopalyan of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas talk to EVN Report’s editors about the situation. The post Armenia’s Continuous Security Dilemma appeared first on EVN Report.

After graduating from Yerevan State University with a PhD in physics, Dr. Garik Israelian went on to lead the international collaboration that provided the first observational evidence that supernova explosions are responsible for the formation of Black Holes. Israelian works at the Institute of Astrophysics in the Canary Islands and is a professor at the University of La Laguna. He is also the founding director of Starmus Festival, a global festival of science communication and art. The post Shooting for the Stars appeared first on EVN Report.

On September 16, 2021, Armenia instituted proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Azerbaijan on the basis of violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Yeghishe Kirakosyan, Armenia’s agent at the ICJ and international law expert Levon Gevorgyan who was an advisor and part of Armenia’s legal team at The Hague speak to EVN Report about the landmark case. The post Armenia at the International Court of Justice appeared first on EVN Report.

Launched in 2005, DigiWeek is the marquee event for Armenia’s technology sector. The anchor event for DigiWeek is the Digitec Expo (the largest tech expo in the Caucasus) and the first ever Digitec Summit, an exclusive conference bringing together technologists from around the world. Raffi Kassarjian, the executive director of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises and Nerses Ohanian, founder of HyeTech speak to EVN Report about how the tech sector is turning challenges into opportunities. The post Armenian Tech: Turning Challenges Into Opportunities appeared first on EVN Report.

The Crowdfunding Formula, is one of the most successful marketing agencies in the world. Co-founder and CEO, Narek Vardanyan, who is also the author of the best selling book “57 Secrets of Crowdfunding” explains how the idea started with a failure that led to identifying a gap in the innovation industry. His message: Have big ambitions, turn knowledge into valuable products that can solve global problems and most of all, eliminate the fear of coming from somewhere small. The post Finding the Right Formula appeared first on EVN Report.

The 18th annual Golden Apricot International Film Festival (GAIFF) kicked off in Yerevan on October 3. Varvara Hovhannisyan, head of the festival’s international department and Sona Karapoghosyan, the project manager of GAIFF Pro (a Cross Border Regional Co-Production Feature Film Project and Work-in-Progress Markets for filmmakers from the Lesser Caucasus) speak to EVN Report about the films that are being featured this year and the position of GAIFF in the global film festival circuit. The post Golden Apricot: Your Access to the Biggest Premieres in the Film Industry appeared first on EVN Report.