The Regional Studies Center (RSC) held its latest closed monthly briefing on 20 January, with presentations by RSC Director Richard Giragosian and Senior Analyst David Shahnazaryan.  This month’s briefing featured a comprehensive analysis consisting of three main areas: (1) assessing recent political developments in Armenia, related to the implications of the December passage of the constitutional referendum, and a review of the negative economic impact on Armenia from the Russian crisis; (2) an overview of regional developments, including the recent Russian military buildup in Armenia, the deepening economic crisis in Azerbaijan, and the outlook for Armenia-Turkey “normalization,” especially given the recent Turkish-Russian crisis; (3) an assessment of the broader military situation, in light of the recent escalation of clashes over Nagorno-Karabakh and with an added focus on the outlook for the diplomatic mediation of the Karabakh conflict following the December meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in Switzerland. 

The Regional Studies Center (RSC) held its latest closed monthly briefing on 22 December, offering a comprehensive analysis consisting of three main areas: (1) assessing recent political developments related to the implications of the passage of the 6 December Armenian constitutional referendum; (2) the outlook for Armenia-Turkey “normalization,” especially given the recent Turkish-Russian crisis, and (3) an assessment of the broader military situation, in light of the recent escalation of clashes over Nagorno-Karabakh and with an added focus on the outlook for the diplomatic mediation of the Karabakh conflict. 

In light of recent developments, the Regional Studies Center (RSC) held a special closed briefing on Wednesday, 21 January, to assess the implications of the recent tragedy involving the murder of an Armenian family by a rogue Russian soldier stationed at the Russian military base in Gyumri.

The Regional Studies Center (RSC) held its latest closed monthly briefing on November 5, offering a comprehensive analysis consisting of three main issues: an assessment of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, with a focus on the last three meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents; a review of developments in Armenia’s “strategic orientation,” including both the course of Armenia’s bid to join the Eurasian Economic Union and the outlook for the development of Armenian relations with the European Union (EU); and an analysis of recent political developments in Armenia.

RSC Director Richard Giragosian provided a briefing on recent developments in Armenia and the broader South Caucasus region to a visiting group of students and facility members form the UK Royal College of Defence Studies on June 2, 2014.  Giragosian offered an assessment of significant trends in regional security, with an added analysis of domestic drivers and determinants of Armenian foreign policy.  The RSC Director joined Ambassador Traian Hristea, the head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Oleksandr Pavlyuk, the head of the Council of Europe office in Armenia, Carel Hofstra of Counterpart International and Ms. Genya Petrosyan from the office of the Armenian Human Rights Defender, or Ombudsman, as part of a larger panel briefing for the visitors.