As part of our research and analysis, the Regional Studies Center (RSC) has initiated a new “Armenian Media Monitoring” effort, focusing on political and economic developments and based on a daily survey of Armenian print and electronic media outlets. The RSC offers a summary compilation of the most significant articles, translated into English and produced every two weeks.
RSC Director Richard Giragosian and RSC Researcher Arpi Grigoryan attended a session of the Yerevan School of Political Studies (YSPS) on 13 February in the Armenian resort of Tsakhadzor. Giragosian presented an assessment of the Armenia-Turkey “normalization” process, focusing on the wider implications of the recent Russian-Turkish crisis, the war in Syria and the Western-brokered nuclear deal with Iran. Much of the discussion also addressed the Azerbaijan factor in the normalization process.
RSC Director Richard Giragosian met with visiting Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström on 9 February, during her first visit to the South Caucasus. In a meeting with four other Armenian civil society representatives, Foreign Minister Margot Wallström and her delegation participated in an active, hour-long discussion that covered a wide range of issues, from domestic politics to regional developments, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and gender-related issues. Reporting on the visit, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Armenian Service also interviewed Giragosian, citing his comments on the domestic political situation within Armenia.
In an interview with the Tert.am electronic news agency on 9 February, RSC Senior Analyst David Shahnazaryan assessed the latest development in the crisis in relations between Turkey and Russia. He pointed to three recent factors that are contributing to an escalation of the crisis and warned that as has “repeatedly happened throughout history, Russia is seeking to use Armenia as a small coin in its confrontation with Turkey. Neither our authorities nor our society should be enthusiastic about it in any way. We are in a rather grave situation and we must clearly understand that the interests of Armenia and Russia are becoming more and more in conflict. In this situation, Armenia has to make certain steps, first of all out of its own state interest.”
Interview in Armenian: www.tert.am/am/news/2016/02/09/shahnazaryan/1926528
Interview in English: www.tert.am/en/news/2016/02/09/shahnazaryan/1926528
The following is a brief summary of news from the Regional Studies Center (RSC), an independent think tank based in Yerevan, Armenia.