As an independent “think tank” in Armenia, the Regional Studies Center (RSC) was pleased to host a visiting delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on March 28 and to provide a briefing focusing on an “Overview of Armenian National Security and Defense Reform.” The RSC briefing consisted of a specific assessment of several issues, including Armenia’s foreign and national security priorities, an analysis of regional security challenges from an Armenian perspective and an overview of Armenian defense planning and reform.
.The RSC was joined by two prominent representatives from Armenian civil society, Mr. Varuzhan Hoktanyan and Ms. Sona Ayvazyan, the Executive Director and Deputy Director, respectively, of the Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center NGO in Yerevan. The Transparency International team presented an insightful presentation focusing on two issues: (1) an overview of corruption in Armenia and (2) a briefing on their current project to promote transparency and accountability in the Armenian defense sector (for more information on that project, see: http://transparency.am/en/projects/view/78).
The briefing was the only meeting with Armenian civil society for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) delegation, and followed the group’s meetings with the Armenian president, speaker of parliament and ministers of defense and foreign affairs. Throughout their time in Yerevan, the delegation was also working closely with Armenian Member of Parliament Koryun Nahapetyan, the head of the Armenian Delegation to the NATO PA. The RSC Director also provided a security briefing and assessment of the regional military situation for the staff of the NATO PA in their Brussels headquarters on March 20, during his visit to Brussels.
