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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
May 26, 2010
ACNIS Assesses Recent Developments in Greece, Kyrgyzstan and Thailand:
Are there Lessons for Armenia?
Yerevan-- Following a series of significant developments in several
countries over the past several weeks, the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies (ACNIS) convened a roundtable
discussion today to analyze the implications for Armenia from those
events. ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian presented an analysis
examining the recent political unrest in Thailand, the economic crisis
in Greece, and assessing the resurgence of violence in Kyrgyzstan, as
well as looking at the continuing political crisis in Iran. The
roundtable was attended by over thirty guests, including
representatives from the diplomatic community, international
organizations and a number of Armenian students, analysts and
journalists.
After welcoming the guests, ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian
explained that the recent trend of political unrest and economic
tension in these countries offered several specific lessons for
Armenia. These lessons included important and revealing
considerations in terms of the need for political consensus,
compromise and dialogue, the relationship between the authorities and
the opposition, and the impact of an economic crisis on political
stability and development.
Giragosian presented an analysis of the recent wave of unrest in
Thailand that left more than 85 people dead after a violent
confrontation between the army and opposition demonstrators.
Giragosian noted that the opposition demonstrators, known as `red
shirt' protestors, were `driven to take to the streets to oppose
entrenched corruption and mounting inequalities in wealth.' The
opposition, which was demanding new elections, he said, `organized a
series of demonstrations for ten weeks, until the Thai army moved in
last week and forcibly broke up the demonstrators.' The `lesson from
Thailand,' according to Giragosian, `is not only that the army's
actions did not resolve the crisis, but that the underlying reasons
for the crisis are only growing more serious.'
He then assessed the recent economic crisis in Greece, which has also
fueled widespread discontent. He noted that `the lesson from the Greek
crisis was that even a strongly democratic government can be
undermined by failing to manage an economic crisis.' The Greek
government, he said, `was plagued by the burdens of soaring debt and
low tax collection, structural problems that Armenia is also now
facing.'
Turning to the resurgence of violence in the southern part of
Kyrgyzstan, he noted that although the recent overthrow of the Bakiev
government stemmed from widespread discontent and frustration, the
current situation remained unstable, as mounting demands for change
and high expectations on the new Kyrgyz government was adding new
pressure on the new leadership. Giragosian added that the underlying
factors that sparked the initial unrest were unresolved and the
country's new leaders have only just begun to address the economic
crisis and tackle entrenched corruption. Against this backdrop of
economic crisis and as yet unmet demands for change, he warned that
such factors `are now present in Armenia as well, although to varying
degrees,' and added that `there are lessons for Armenia from what
happened in Kyrgyzstan in terms of the need for further reform and
real democratic change.'
The presentations were then followed by a series of questions and
answers, and featured a lively exchange among the discussants.
-----------------------------------------------------
The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is
a leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan,
Armenia. As an independent, objective institution committed to
conducting professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to
raise the level of public debate and seeks to broaden public
engagement in the public policy process, as well as fostering greater
and more inclusive public knowledge. Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the
institutional initiative of Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia's first
Minister of Foreign Affairs. Over the past fifteen years, ACNIS has
acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source of professional
independent research and analysis covering a wide range of national
and international policy issues.
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
From: A. Papazian
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
May 26, 2010
ACNIS Assesses Recent Developments in Greece, Kyrgyzstan and Thailand:
Are there Lessons for Armenia?
Yerevan-- Following a series of significant developments in several
countries over the past several weeks, the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies (ACNIS) convened a roundtable
discussion today to analyze the implications for Armenia from those
events. ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian presented an analysis
examining the recent political unrest in Thailand, the economic crisis
in Greece, and assessing the resurgence of violence in Kyrgyzstan, as
well as looking at the continuing political crisis in Iran. The
roundtable was attended by over thirty guests, including
representatives from the diplomatic community, international
organizations and a number of Armenian students, analysts and
journalists.
After welcoming the guests, ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian
explained that the recent trend of political unrest and economic
tension in these countries offered several specific lessons for
Armenia. These lessons included important and revealing
considerations in terms of the need for political consensus,
compromise and dialogue, the relationship between the authorities and
the opposition, and the impact of an economic crisis on political
stability and development.
Giragosian presented an analysis of the recent wave of unrest in
Thailand that left more than 85 people dead after a violent
confrontation between the army and opposition demonstrators.
Giragosian noted that the opposition demonstrators, known as `red
shirt' protestors, were `driven to take to the streets to oppose
entrenched corruption and mounting inequalities in wealth.' The
opposition, which was demanding new elections, he said, `organized a
series of demonstrations for ten weeks, until the Thai army moved in
last week and forcibly broke up the demonstrators.' The `lesson from
Thailand,' according to Giragosian, `is not only that the army's
actions did not resolve the crisis, but that the underlying reasons
for the crisis are only growing more serious.'
He then assessed the recent economic crisis in Greece, which has also
fueled widespread discontent. He noted that `the lesson from the Greek
crisis was that even a strongly democratic government can be
undermined by failing to manage an economic crisis.' The Greek
government, he said, `was plagued by the burdens of soaring debt and
low tax collection, structural problems that Armenia is also now
facing.'
Turning to the resurgence of violence in the southern part of
Kyrgyzstan, he noted that although the recent overthrow of the Bakiev
government stemmed from widespread discontent and frustration, the
current situation remained unstable, as mounting demands for change
and high expectations on the new Kyrgyz government was adding new
pressure on the new leadership. Giragosian added that the underlying
factors that sparked the initial unrest were unresolved and the
country's new leaders have only just begun to address the economic
crisis and tackle entrenched corruption. Against this backdrop of
economic crisis and as yet unmet demands for change, he warned that
such factors `are now present in Armenia as well, although to varying
degrees,' and added that `there are lessons for Armenia from what
happened in Kyrgyzstan in terms of the need for further reform and
real democratic change.'
The presentations were then followed by a series of questions and
answers, and featured a lively exchange among the discussants.
-----------------------------------------------------
The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is
a leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan,
Armenia. As an independent, objective institution committed to
conducting professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to
raise the level of public debate and seeks to broaden public
engagement in the public policy process, as well as fostering greater
and more inclusive public knowledge. Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the
institutional initiative of Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia's first
Minister of Foreign Affairs. Over the past fifteen years, ACNIS has
acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source of professional
independent research and analysis covering a wide range of national
and international policy issues.
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
From: A. Papazian