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PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 - 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: www.acnis.am
March 27, 2008
ACNIS Focuses On NATO's Enlargement Toward the Caucasus
Yerevan--The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) today convened a foreign policy roundtable to discuss NATO's
Caucasus enlargement policy and its impact on Armenian interests. The
meeting brought together diplomatic representatives, leading analysts,
policy specialists, public and political figures, and media
representatives.
ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian welcomed the
audience with opening remarks. "In today's discussion, we will attempt
to elucidate the primary measures Armenia needs to undertake in light
of possible military and political rearrangements taking place in our
region," Kalenchian said. "In which direction should Armenia turn if
our neighbor Georgia becomes a NATO member sometime in the future?
What challenges will our country face? Which will be the best option
for guaranteeing the security of the Armenian people and the state?
Will we benefit or suffer from our continuing cooperation within the
framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization?"
The day's first speaker was Armenia's former deputy minister of
defense Vahan Shirkhanian, who not ruling out a repeat of the Balkan
scenario in our region, looked into Armenia's security threats against
the backdrop of Georgia's probable accession to NATO. In Shirkhanian's
viewpoint, if and when the unfolding events take a certain course,
Armenia could face not only food shortage, but also confront possible
military actions. Expressing his concern, Shirkhanian explained that
"once the territorial integrity of Georgia is restored with NATO's
assistance, Azerbaijan likewise will start a marathon race towards
NATO membership. As a result, Armenia will be surrounded by the three
countries of the North Atlantic Alliance and therefore will rely
solely on Iran". On the other hand, according to him, the great
victory achieved in Karabagh might be the price Armenia has to pay for
sprinting toward NATO membership.
In his talk, ACNIS senior analyst Hovsep Khurshudian explored the
process of democracy in Armenia and the country's external security
challenges. In Khurshudian's view, the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) prefers to defend the political regimes of its
member nations rather than guarantee the actual security of those
countries. "In terms of civilization orientation, there is a
significant difference between the aspirations of our people and the
current political system and mode of operation of the authorities. The
bulk of the Armenian body politic is inclined toward Western values,
whereas the country's administration is devoted to the letter and
spirit of the CSTO," Khurshudian noted, underscoring the fact that
Armenia will become isolated if Georgia enters NATO. He also pointed
to the need for further developing Armenia's relations with NATO
regardless of the fact as to when a full membership can become a
reality.
In his intervention, independent analyst Manvel Sargsian spoke about
the changes that are likely to occur in the Caucasus if Georgia
becomes a NATO member. He emphasized that in contrast to Georgia, the
probable changes will bring forth entirely different problems for
Armenia. In Sargsian's assessment, these problems depend specifically
on the possible threat of neighbors, the lack of appealing natural
resources, and on the fact that the Artsakh conflict to date remains
unresolved. "In global politics, the geopolitical importance of
Armenia is being linked to its regional role as a factor that holds
back the politico-military activeness of Turkey and Azerbaijan,"
Sargsian asserted. Sargsian continued that such a role is equally
acceptable for both NATO and Russia who are more interested in the
impact that the Armenian factor has on Turkey.
The policy roundtable concluded with an exchange of opinions and
policy recommendations among Nino Aptsiauri of the Georgian Embassy;
ACNIS senior analyst Tatul Hakobian; political scientists Edward
Antinian and Ara Sargsian; director Tevan Poghosian and analyst Ashot
Khurshudian from the International Center for Human Development; and
several others.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi
K. Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors,
ACNIS serves as a link between innovative scholarship and the public
policy challenges facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the
post-Soviet world. It also aspires to be a catalyst for creative,
strategic thinking and a wider understanding of the new global
environment. In 2008, the Center focuses primarily on civic education,
democratic development, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the
nation.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit www.acnis.am
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 - 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: www.acnis.am
March 27, 2008
ACNIS Focuses On NATO's Enlargement Toward the Caucasus
Yerevan--The Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS) today convened a foreign policy roundtable to discuss NATO's
Caucasus enlargement policy and its impact on Armenian interests. The
meeting brought together diplomatic representatives, leading analysts,
policy specialists, public and political figures, and media
representatives.
ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian welcomed the
audience with opening remarks. "In today's discussion, we will attempt
to elucidate the primary measures Armenia needs to undertake in light
of possible military and political rearrangements taking place in our
region," Kalenchian said. "In which direction should Armenia turn if
our neighbor Georgia becomes a NATO member sometime in the future?
What challenges will our country face? Which will be the best option
for guaranteeing the security of the Armenian people and the state?
Will we benefit or suffer from our continuing cooperation within the
framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization?"
The day's first speaker was Armenia's former deputy minister of
defense Vahan Shirkhanian, who not ruling out a repeat of the Balkan
scenario in our region, looked into Armenia's security threats against
the backdrop of Georgia's probable accession to NATO. In Shirkhanian's
viewpoint, if and when the unfolding events take a certain course,
Armenia could face not only food shortage, but also confront possible
military actions. Expressing his concern, Shirkhanian explained that
"once the territorial integrity of Georgia is restored with NATO's
assistance, Azerbaijan likewise will start a marathon race towards
NATO membership. As a result, Armenia will be surrounded by the three
countries of the North Atlantic Alliance and therefore will rely
solely on Iran". On the other hand, according to him, the great
victory achieved in Karabagh might be the price Armenia has to pay for
sprinting toward NATO membership.
In his talk, ACNIS senior analyst Hovsep Khurshudian explored the
process of democracy in Armenia and the country's external security
challenges. In Khurshudian's view, the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) prefers to defend the political regimes of its
member nations rather than guarantee the actual security of those
countries. "In terms of civilization orientation, there is a
significant difference between the aspirations of our people and the
current political system and mode of operation of the authorities. The
bulk of the Armenian body politic is inclined toward Western values,
whereas the country's administration is devoted to the letter and
spirit of the CSTO," Khurshudian noted, underscoring the fact that
Armenia will become isolated if Georgia enters NATO. He also pointed
to the need for further developing Armenia's relations with NATO
regardless of the fact as to when a full membership can become a
reality.
In his intervention, independent analyst Manvel Sargsian spoke about
the changes that are likely to occur in the Caucasus if Georgia
becomes a NATO member. He emphasized that in contrast to Georgia, the
probable changes will bring forth entirely different problems for
Armenia. In Sargsian's assessment, these problems depend specifically
on the possible threat of neighbors, the lack of appealing natural
resources, and on the fact that the Artsakh conflict to date remains
unresolved. "In global politics, the geopolitical importance of
Armenia is being linked to its regional role as a factor that holds
back the politico-military activeness of Turkey and Azerbaijan,"
Sargsian asserted. Sargsian continued that such a role is equally
acceptable for both NATO and Russia who are more interested in the
impact that the Armenian factor has on Turkey.
The policy roundtable concluded with an exchange of opinions and
policy recommendations among Nino Aptsiauri of the Georgian Embassy;
ACNIS senior analyst Tatul Hakobian; political scientists Edward
Antinian and Ara Sargsian; director Tevan Poghosian and analyst Ashot
Khurshudian from the International Center for Human Development; and
several others.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi
K. Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors,
ACNIS serves as a link between innovative scholarship and the public
policy challenges facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the
post-Soviet world. It also aspires to be a catalyst for creative,
strategic thinking and a wider understanding of the new global
environment. In 2008, the Center focuses primarily on civic education,
democratic development, conflict resolution, and applied research on
critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the state and the
nation.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit www.acnis.am