The Yerevan-based Public Journalism Club (PJC) hosted a joint press conference on April 8 with a discussion of Armenian foreign policy by RSC Director Richard Giragosian and Alexander Iskandaryan, the Director of the Caucasus Institute.  The discussion focused on a review of trends and developments in Armenian foreign policy, with an added analysis of events inUkraine, Syria and Russian-Armenian relations, as well as a brief look at domestic Armenian politics in the wake of the resignation of the Armenian prime minister.

For some of the Armenian media coverage, see the article (in Armenian) published in the “168 Zham” daily newspaper:

http://168.am/2014/04/08/350784.html

RSC Director Richard Giragosian dismissed speculation that the recent resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian was a result of Russian pressure, adding that the decision was made by two Sarkisians: Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian and President Serzh Sarkisian.

http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/04/08/richard-giragosyan/

In an Armenian-language interview with Araks Martirosyan of the 1in.am news agency, RSC Director Richard Giragosian provided an in-depth assessment of recent developments in Armenian foreign policy, ranging from the crisis in Ukraine to the mediation of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

http://www.1in.am/arm/armenia_interview_263163.html

RSC staff Mikayel Zolyan and Haykak Arshamyan participated in a talk show on April 3 aired on the Yerevan-based Shoghakat TV channel. The forty-minute talk show, “Civilizations and Empires,” focused on several key questions posed by the moderator, Anna Sargsyan, and included a discussion of the concept of a “clash of civilizations,” as well as an assessment of Armenia’s choices in terms of civilization and identity.

http://shoghakat.am/am/telecasts/1452

RSC Director Richard Giragosian was cited in an analysis of Armenian-Iranian relations published by EurasiaNet on April 2. The article, “Why is Russia Silent on Iran’s Gas Courtship of Armenia?” by Marianna Grigoryan, focused on the recent announcement by Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisian that Armenia is seeking a nearly 75 percent increase in the amount of natural gas it imports from Iran. Giragosian was cited as expressing doubt over Armenia’s ability to negotiate such a substantial new deal with Iran, arguing that in the wake of Armenia’s sated commitment to join the Russian-dominated Customs Union, it was far from certain whether Moscow would allow Yerevan such latitude. He further added that “the real question is how much freedom and flexibility Moscow will allow Yerevan to have in terms of expanding its relations and energy deals with Tehran.”

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/68226