PRESS RELEASE

March 18, 2005

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Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: gohar@auac.net

AUA Poli Sci Lecture Discusses Phenomenon of Terrorism

Yerevan – AUA’s School of Political Science and International Affairs hosted
a public lecture entitled `Is Terrorism a New Phenomenon,’ by Dr. Shireen
Hunter, who is visiting Armenia at the invitation of the United States
Embassy.

`One man is a terrorist, the other man is a freedom fighter. Terrorism has
political motivation and a political goal, a political goal includes
ideological and religious factors,’ stated Dr. Hunter, who is currently the
Director of the Islam Program at the Center for Strategic and International
Studies in Washington, D.C. and Consultant to the RAND Corporation.
During the lecture, Hunter discussed the differences between terrorism and
criminal acts, separating them into two groups. Criminal acts include
killings by people who are involved, for example, in drug trafficking and
other self-motivated organized murders. Terrorism has political motive. Dr.
Hunter also pointed out that the use of terrorism in political purposes is
not a new phenomenon and that we are now facing a transnational kind of
terrorism. `This is a new stage that consequently requires sustained,
long-term multidimensional efforts and international cooperation.’

Dr. Hunter holds a Ph.D. in political science from the Institut
Universitaire des Hautes Études Internationales in Paris and an M.A. from
the London School of Economics and Political Science. She was Academic
Fellow at Carnegie Corporation (2000-2002), Visiting Senior Fellow at the
Centre for European Policy Studies (1993-1997). From 1966-1978, she was a
member of the Iranian Foreign Service, serving abroad in London and Geneva.
She attained the rank of Counselor and served as Charge d’Affaires of the
Iranian Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

AUA’s Graduate School of Political Science and International Affairs offers
students a variety of courses dealing with the political environment of the
21st Century. The School’s primary focus is to provide analytical, reasoning
and problem solving skills through the study of international, comparative,
and domestic governmental institutions and processes. The Master of
Political Science and International Affairs aims to provide students with
the knowledge and perspectives needed to function effectively in public
service, the private sector and as responsible citizens.

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The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit

Photo: Dr. Shireen Hunter, Director of the Islam Program at the Center for
Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. speaks at AUA

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress