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PFA'S NEW REPORT LAYS OUT A ROADMAP FOR ARMENIA'S RELATIONS WITH THE WEST
Lragir.am
Politics - 03 October 2014, 09:41
PFA's New Report Lays out a Roadmap for Armenia's Relations with the
West and a New Vision for the Caucasus
Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)--a Washington-based international think
tank--announces today the publication of its State of the Nation
Report on "Armenia and the West: A New Vision for the Caucasus", an
earlier version of which was presented as a background paper during
a high-level workshop at the Atlantic Council in Washington on July
2, 2014.
The report is intended for policymakers with interest in strengthening
Armenia and its ties with the West. It offers some out-of-the-box
thinking that challenges prevailing views about Western involvement in
Armenia and the Caucasus. The report essentially sets aside a critical
handicapping factor--Armenia's leadership and governance--and lays
out a vision for the country's role in the region under a leadership
that would enjoy widespread support among its people; understand and
stay current with global trends; and maintain a reasonable degree
of independence from foreign interference. The report states that,
if implemented in practical terms, a leadership change of this nature
will unleash Armenia's developmental potential and effectively lead
to the proposed foreign policy reorientation.
The report notes that, while Armenia owns its current problems, the
West has lost a valuable opportunity to steer Armenia toward more
democracy and better governance. However, recent developments in the
wider region bring new opportunities for the West to forge stronger
ties with Armenia. Yet, as argued in the report, this cannot be done
with the current ruling regime, which has squandered the country's
economic and geopolitical potential and brought Armenia close to a
point of no-return.
The report provides a thorough review of Armenia's bilateral relations
with all its neighbors and Russia. While it recognizes the gravity
of the current status quo that relies heavily on Russia's meddling in
Armenia's domestic and foreign policy choices, it proposes a way out.
The report notes that the Russia's control of Armenia is working
against the long-run interests of both countries. This state of affairs
is not sustainable. The challenge is to convince Russia to step back
and allow Armenia to build bridges with other countries/blocks, as
dictated by its own strategic interests, while still maintaining an
exclusive relationship with Russia.
In his remarks, Armenia's first Ambassador to the United States, Rouben
Shougarian noted that: "The report that followed the multifaceted
discussion at the Atlantic Council is both a gratifying result of
a comprehensive insight into Armenia's foreign and security policy
and a creative after-thought to the discussion itself. It is also
a rare attempt to put Armenia's future into strategic perspective,
which helps it to graduate beyond one-dimensional dependence on Russia
and opens the door for alternative political thinking. Foreign policy
problems and challenges are rightfully linked to better governance
and democracy building."
While analyzing the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, the report
lays out three possible scenarios. The most attractive scenario for
Armenia--one that requires strengthening the country's economy and
defense capabilities to retain control over Nagorno-Karabakh--is
one that would also bring stability to the region and allow the
creation of a Transcaucasian economic market for the benefit of all
players. In terms of Armenia's attractiveness for the West, the report
lays out a vision in which Armenia plays a role of a key corridor for
de-blockading Iran, when the Western sanctions are lifted; acts as
a reliable partner for Georgia in an otherwise very volatile region;
and presents itself as a potential buffer against Turkey's neo-Ottoman
aspirations in the region.
"I have been following the activities of Policy Forum Armenia for
some time, and find the work of this small but outstanding group
of professionals truly impressive. PFA's ability to think outside
the established norms and cliches, its perseverance and its well
researched and thorough reports on difficult and hard-hitting subjects
have always met the highest professional standards. Their latest
report on Armenia and the West is no exception. One may or may not
agree with all its conclusions, but the report stands as one of the
most thoughtful and possibly consequential works on the subject of
Armenia's foreign relations." said Vahan Zanoyan, author and retired
Chairman of PFC Energy International, a global energy advising firm.
Policy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at
strengthening discourse on Armenia's economic development and national
security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.
This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide
assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the
Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/politics/view/33048#sthash.HmKn3u7v.dpuf
Lragir.am
Politics - 03 October 2014, 09:41
PFA's New Report Lays out a Roadmap for Armenia's Relations with the
West and a New Vision for the Caucasus
Policy Forum Armenia (PFA)--a Washington-based international think
tank--announces today the publication of its State of the Nation
Report on "Armenia and the West: A New Vision for the Caucasus", an
earlier version of which was presented as a background paper during
a high-level workshop at the Atlantic Council in Washington on July
2, 2014.
The report is intended for policymakers with interest in strengthening
Armenia and its ties with the West. It offers some out-of-the-box
thinking that challenges prevailing views about Western involvement in
Armenia and the Caucasus. The report essentially sets aside a critical
handicapping factor--Armenia's leadership and governance--and lays
out a vision for the country's role in the region under a leadership
that would enjoy widespread support among its people; understand and
stay current with global trends; and maintain a reasonable degree
of independence from foreign interference. The report states that,
if implemented in practical terms, a leadership change of this nature
will unleash Armenia's developmental potential and effectively lead
to the proposed foreign policy reorientation.
The report notes that, while Armenia owns its current problems, the
West has lost a valuable opportunity to steer Armenia toward more
democracy and better governance. However, recent developments in the
wider region bring new opportunities for the West to forge stronger
ties with Armenia. Yet, as argued in the report, this cannot be done
with the current ruling regime, which has squandered the country's
economic and geopolitical potential and brought Armenia close to a
point of no-return.
The report provides a thorough review of Armenia's bilateral relations
with all its neighbors and Russia. While it recognizes the gravity
of the current status quo that relies heavily on Russia's meddling in
Armenia's domestic and foreign policy choices, it proposes a way out.
The report notes that the Russia's control of Armenia is working
against the long-run interests of both countries. This state of affairs
is not sustainable. The challenge is to convince Russia to step back
and allow Armenia to build bridges with other countries/blocks, as
dictated by its own strategic interests, while still maintaining an
exclusive relationship with Russia.
In his remarks, Armenia's first Ambassador to the United States, Rouben
Shougarian noted that: "The report that followed the multifaceted
discussion at the Atlantic Council is both a gratifying result of
a comprehensive insight into Armenia's foreign and security policy
and a creative after-thought to the discussion itself. It is also
a rare attempt to put Armenia's future into strategic perspective,
which helps it to graduate beyond one-dimensional dependence on Russia
and opens the door for alternative political thinking. Foreign policy
problems and challenges are rightfully linked to better governance
and democracy building."
While analyzing the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, the report
lays out three possible scenarios. The most attractive scenario for
Armenia--one that requires strengthening the country's economy and
defense capabilities to retain control over Nagorno-Karabakh--is
one that would also bring stability to the region and allow the
creation of a Transcaucasian economic market for the benefit of all
players. In terms of Armenia's attractiveness for the West, the report
lays out a vision in which Armenia plays a role of a key corridor for
de-blockading Iran, when the Western sanctions are lifted; acts as
a reliable partner for Georgia in an otherwise very volatile region;
and presents itself as a potential buffer against Turkey's neo-Ottoman
aspirations in the region.
"I have been following the activities of Policy Forum Armenia for
some time, and find the work of this small but outstanding group
of professionals truly impressive. PFA's ability to think outside
the established norms and cliches, its perseverance and its well
researched and thorough reports on difficult and hard-hitting subjects
have always met the highest professional standards. Their latest
report on Armenia and the West is no exception. One may or may not
agree with all its conclusions, but the report stands as one of the
most thoughtful and possibly consequential works on the subject of
Armenia's foreign relations." said Vahan Zanoyan, author and retired
Chairman of PFC Energy International, a global energy advising firm.
Policy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at
strengthening discourse on Armenia's economic development and national
security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia.
This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide
assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the
Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/politics/view/33048#sthash.HmKn3u7v.dpuf