In an article entitled “South Caucasus will struggle to win Iran's attention,” Carmen Valache of Business New Europe (BNE) cites RSC Director Richard Giragosian in her assessment of the future of Iran’s relations with the countries of the South Caucasus now that sanctions against Iran are being lifted.
The Regional Studies Center (RSC) held its latest closed monthly briefing on 20 January, with presentations by RSC Director Richard Giragosian and Senior Analyst David Shahnazaryan. This month’s briefing featured a comprehensive analysis consisting of three main areas: (1) assessing recent political developments in Armenia, related to the implications of the December passage of the constitutional referendum, and a review of the negative economic impact on Armenia from the Russian crisis; (2) an overview of regional developments, including the recent Russian military buildup in Armenia, the deepening economic crisis in Azerbaijan, and the outlook for Armenia-Turkey “normalization,” especially given the recent Turkish-Russian crisis; (3) an assessment of the broader military situation, in light of the recent escalation of clashes over Nagorno-Karabakh and with an added focus on the outlook for the diplomatic mediation of the Karabakh conflict following the December meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in Switzerland.
In an interview with the Lragir news agency, RSC Analyst Dr. Mikayel Zolyan assessed the outlook for expanding Armenian relations with Iran. In the interview, conducted in Armenian, Dr. Zolyan noted that although the recent easing of sanctions against Iran presented a significant new opportunity, Armenian dependence on Russia will only elevate the role of Russia in determining the scope of expanding relations between Armenia and Iran.
MORE THAN A MAN…..THE NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF HRANT DINK
Hrant Dink
1954-2007
In Memoriam,
The ninth anniversary of his murder
It is always difficult to eulogize the dead, but it is especially painful to commemorate the loss of the brave and the innocent. Far too often we only truly appreciate the basic treasures of life when it is too late. We long for loved ones, whether friends or family, only after they have passed. We tend to take for granted their value and their company. That is only human, but so too is the tragedy of loss.
In an interview with Radio Free Europe’s (RFE/RL) Armenian Service, RSC Director Richard Giragosian hailed the lifting of sanctions against Iran and noted the significant opportunity for Armenia to emerge as a strategic avenue for Iran’s re-engagement with the global economy. Stressing Armenia’s “unique position” as the “only stable, friendly and reliable neighbor of Iran,” Giragosian also warned that the “imperative is for the Armenian government to act quickly, develop a far-ranging strategy for engagement and dispatch a delegation to Iran in the coming weeks, in order not to lose the opportunity of this new opening.”