Regional Studies Center (RSC)
Organizational Description
Since our founding as an independent think tank in 2012, the Regional Studies Center (RSC) has been conducting a wide range of strategic analysis and objective research, and implementing a number of educational and policy-related projects. As a leading think tank based in Armenia, the RSC conducts research and analysis and develops policy initiatives aimed at bolstering political and economic reform and conflict resolution in the broader South Caucasus region.
Moreover, as an independent think tank, the RSC is actively engaged in the public policy process and, over the longer term, seeks to serve as a catalyst for democratic reform and sustainable economic development through the empowerment of civil society and by contributing to the formulation of public policy through innovative and objective research, analysis and policy recommendations. Our research and project activities consist of five main program areas:
- Regional analyses and assessments of political, economic and security issues in the South Caucasus, but also including Iran, Russia and Turkey;
- National security and defense reform;
- Democratization and good governance;
- Economics and sustainable development;
- Educating and empowering youth as an “agent of change.”
Regional Studies Center (RSC)
60 Aram Street, #53, 3rd floor
0010 Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (+374) 11 70 99 69
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE REPORT ON GEOPOLITICS IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
RSC Director Richard Giragosian participated in a conference sponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New York at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Washington, DC, entitled, “The New Geopolitics of the South Caucasus: Prospects for Regional Cooperation and Conflict Resolution.” Under the direction of Dr. Shireen Hunter, the conference brought together experts from the region, including from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia and Turkey, as well as from the European Union, with additional analytical support from several former U.S. ambassadors and government officials.
RSC MONTHLY CLOSED BRIEFING
The Regional Studies Center (RSC) held its latest in a series of closed monthly briefings on Thursday, 26 January, with presentations by RSC Director Richard Giragosian and Senior Analyst David Shahnazaryan focusing on three main areas:
ARMENIA: THE YEAR IN REVIEW
In a special program for the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Armenian Service, RSC Director Richard Giragosian joined three other leading analysts in an assessment of major developments in Armenia throughout 2016. The 90-minute show aired on 1 January 2017. Giragosian joined Aleksandr Iskandaryan, the Director of the Caucasus Institute, journalist and commentator Hakob Badalyan and sociologist Armen Badalyan.
RSC INTERVIEW WITH “AZERI TODAY” ON REGIONAL IMPACT OF U.S. ELECTION
In an interview for the “Azeri Today” news agency website, RSC Director Richard Giragosian assessed the impact of the election of President Trump on U.S. policy on the region, with an added analysis of both Armenian-Russian relations and Russian “power and influence” in the South Caucasus. The interview was conducted in English but translated into Russian.
RSC ON U.S. VICE-PRESIDENT-ELECT’S CALL TO ARMENIA
Commenting on the telephone call from U.S. Vice-President-Elect Mike Pence to Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Armenian Service, RSC Director Richard Giragosian explained that unlike the usual protocol of conversations between the U.S. presidents and heads of state, such as those between President-Elect Donald Trump and the presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine among others, the fact that the incoming U.S. Vice President called the Armenian president was a “breach of protocol that represents an unusual situation.” However, Giragosian downplayed the significance of that breach, saying that it “does not reflect any diplomatic insult.” Rather, he interpreted the call from Pence as a way to repair the damage from recent calls from Trump to other world leaders that were largely criticized, most notably including the Trump conversation with the Pakistani premier. Giragosian concluded by stressing that “therefore, I think that Washington apparently decided to place the call to the Armenian president and rely on the professional and experienced Vice President instead, which is probably better for Armenia.”
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