Environmental challenges discussed at Model OSCE conference in
Armenia’s Syunik region

armradio.am
08.05.2010 11:22

Applying OSCE mechanisms to solve environmental security problems in
hypothetical countries of Valouchistan, Dakastan and Abrala was the
purpose of a student Model OSCE conference held in Armenia’s remote
Syunik region today.

The 1.5-day event brought together 24 students from various cities of
the region. The topics on the agenda of the simulated OSCE Permanent
Council session included chemical waste management, environmental and
economic disaster issues – the challenges inherent to the situation in
Syunik region.

"Enabling young people to learn about the OSCE structures and
decision-making processes is vital in promoting their awareness on the
international mechanisms to address security-related problems. The
experience will motivate them to get involved in the result-oriented
civil activity in their localities," said Grzegorz Michalski,
Politico-Military Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Satenik Baghdasaryan, Political Science student from Yerevan State
University who participated in the event said: "The event gave us an
opportunity to use our negotiation, problem solving and argumentation
skills in close to real life situations. We realized that only by
joint effort and enhanced cross-border co-operation is it possible to
counter universal environmental challenges in today’s interconnected
world."

The conference was preceded by lectures on the OSCE structure, a
training session on environmental matters, public speaking and
negotiation skills, as well as presentations on the OSCE work in
economic-environmental dimension.

The event was the third regional conference of the kind held by the
OSCE Office in Yerevan to promote OSCE principles and values among
active young people in Armenia.