ACNIS HOLDS PRESENTATION ON NAGORNO KARABAKH BY ITALIAN GUEST SCHOLAR

armradio.am
18.12.2009 17:52

The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
convened a special presentation by ACNIS "guest scholar" Luca Guiduzzi
from the University of Turin in Italy. The Italian Ambassador to
Armenia, the Honorable Bruno Scapini, served as the "master of
ceremonies" for the presentation of the scholar’s research from his
recent field work in Nagorno Karabakh.

This research study on Nagorno Karabakh was conducted by Luca Guiduzzi,
a graduate of Anthropology (Masters Degree) from the University of
Turin, and was translated into English by Ms. Ilenia Santin, an Italian
language lecturer at Brusov University. The scholar’s field work in
Karabakh was conducted and completed between August and November 2009,
while Guiduzzi was a visiting "guest scholar" with ACNIS.

After welcoming the participants, ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian
explained that "although the scholar’s findings, research and
conclusion do not necessarily reflect the position of ACNIS or the
Italian Embassy in Armenia, both the scholar’s tenure as a visiting
‘guest scholar’ at the Center and his research contribute to the
deepening of Italian-Armenian relations and help raise public awareness
of the Karabakh issue."

In addition, Giragosian noted, Italian Ambassador Scapini’s
participation in this event "was a reflection of the ambassador’s
broader effort to deepen cooperation between Italy and Armenia and,
in this way, although this event presented the work of a young Italian
scholar, in cooperation with prominent Italian expert on the Caucasus
Dr. Aldo Ferrari, today’s event is also part of a broader effort by
ACNIS to help the Italian Embassy in Yerevan promote intellectual,
academic and analytical cooperation between Armenia and Italy."

Italian Ambassador Scapini then welcomed the participants by expressing
his "appreciation for the efforts of ACNIS in promoting objective
research" and thanked the Center for "having hosted Guiduzzi as
a visiting guest scholar." Ambassador Scapini stated that he was
"actively committed to helping to encourage Italian and Armenian
researchers, scholars and analysts to deepen their ties and cooperation
in pursuit of learning, as the best in the proper and finest historic
Italian tradition."

Following the Ambassador’s comments, Guiduzzi then presented
a summary of his findings, which he defined as "a study of the
socio-anthropological aspects" of Armenian identity in Karabakh.

According to the scholar, the "Soviet legacy was an important factor
as an influence over everyday life in Karabakh" and said that the
"socio-cultural perception of the people of Karabakh was defined
by a self-perception of heroism and sacrifice that is reflected in
historical events."

The Italian scholar then explained that this "historical continuity,
which occurs in celebrations as well as in customs, reflects a
fear of losing this recent historical past that means independence,
self-determination and the political birth of Karabakh." Concluding
his presentation, Guiduzzi said that he "would like to outline a
cultural approach to the negotiations (with Azerbaijan) by suggesting
a long-term preliminary phase aimed at involving both the Armenian
and Azerbaijani civil societies in order to set the basis for an
intercultural, cooperative and interactive dialogue that would turn
the adversarial logic of these peoples into a confrontation on the
economic, political and social levels."