Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: root@acnis.am or info@acnis.am
Website:

February 15, 2007

ACNIS Examines International Views on Upcoming Parliamentary Elections

Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
today commenced its 2007 seminar series with a policy roundtable entitled
"Armenia’s Parliamentary Elections and the Statements of the International
Community." The meeting brought together members of Armenia’s political
establishment, leading analysts, policy specialists, political scientists,
and media representatives.

ACNIS senior analyst Hovsep Khurshudian greeted the audience with opening
remarks. "The international press has been paying considerable attention to
Armenia in the recent months," he said. "It behooves us to evaluate its
message in light of domestic political developments."

In his address, ACNIS director of research Stepan Safarian reflected on this
message. He noted that the international community, having resolved to
settle various geopolitical matters, would pay special attention to Armenia’s
pre-election processes. After reading out some of the international
community’s pronouncements to the Armenian political arena, Safarian
proceeded to separate them into three categories: those relating to the
Karabagh conflict, those relating to Armenia-Turkey relations, and those
relating to Armenia-NATO relations. In his view, these messages are
addressed primarily to the authorities of Armenia with the goal of
soliciting their positions and gauging Armenia’s policy on the eve of
republic-wide elections. "The purpose of the message, delivered
internationally in the form of diplomatic announcements and publications by
influential news media, is to bridge the gap between the international
community and those who are preparing to form a government in Armenia,"
Safarian argued.

Boris Navasardian, chairman of the Yerevan Press Club, spoke next, focusing
on the projected reactions of international bodies to the forthcoming
elections. It is highly unlikely, he asserted, that the West and its many
institutions will intervene in a potentially fraudulent election process in
Armenia. According to Navasardian, the world’s four major power
centers–regional intergovernmental organizations, the European Union, the
United States, and international NGOs–are disposed neither to interfere in
the electoral processes in the country nor to prevent or condemn election
fraud. "Placing our hopes on the outside world, therefore, is pointless,"
Navasardian said. "Instead, we ought to dig deep into our internal
resources." He added that beyond its hope for a stable and predictable
Armenia, Europe is unconcerned with the nation’s politics.

Participants in the ensuing discussion included Felix Khachatrian of the
Central Election Commission; Yerevan State University lecturer Sasun
Saribekian; political analyst Gevorg Altunian of the Armenia Television
Company; analyst Vakhtang Siradeghian of the Center for Regional
Development; Edward Antinian, deputy chairman of the Liberal Progressive
Party; ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian; analyst Marine
Karapetian of the Concord Center for Legal and Political Studies; and Zhanna
Aleksanian of Human Rights Watch.

Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2007, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, democratic development, conflict resolution,
and applied research on critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the
state and the nation.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email root@acnis.am or info@acnis.am; or visit