The National Interest
By E. Wayne Merry
31 January 2013 

Summary: In the conflict zone stretching from Syria to Afghanistan lies another war waiting to re-emerge: Nagorno-Karabakh. This dispute is likely to occupy President Obama’s new foreign-policy team whether they want it or not.  Two decades ago the newly independent states of Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a bitter war over this remote area of mountains and valleys. Armenia won the war, but nobody has achieved peace. A fragile ceasefire signed in 1994 remains the only tangible achievement of diplomacy.  Since then, a mediation effort led by Washington, Moscow and Paris has sought a solution. Despite the best efforts of the three governments—including presidential initiatives by all three—the parties to the conflict do not and will not negotiate. This impasse has contributed to a dangerous evolution of the dispute in recent years from post-war to pre-war. 

Link: http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/another-regional-war-the-wings-8042

The Regional Studies Center (RSC) released a new report, “Armenia: Pre-Election Assessment,” RSC Special Analysis, Volume II No. 1, 31 January 2013.

Wilson Center
30 January 2013

Summary: Four years in, the relationship between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu remains a troubled one. What’s behind the tension, can it be alleviated and how will regional challenges such as Iran’s nuclear program or the impasse in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict affect the U.S.-Israeli relations?

Allies at Odds: Obama, Netanyahu, and the State of U.S. – Israeli Relations

Summary: On 29 January 2013, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee formally approved the nomination of Senator John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to the post of US Secretary of State. Senator Kerry’s nomination hearing testimony and the questions and Kerry responses (related to Armenia) that were submitted for the record are each attached:

New US Secretary of State John Kerry

Questions for the Record

The National Interest
By Sergey Markedonov
28 January 2013 

Summary: 2013 will be a presidential election year for all of the countries of the South Caucasus, with Armenia becoming the first state to begin its contest. The campaign kicked off in Armenia with the beginning of the nomination process for candidates on December 25. The vote itself is scheduled for February 18. What surprises, if any, can we expect from this election? And how will this campaign impact the general situation in the South Caucasus? 

Link: http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/armenias-looming-elections-8018