PRESS RELEASE
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: [email protected] or [email protected]
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December 13, 2007
ACNIS Continues Its Youth Debate Series
Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
today convened a policy discussion to explore the ways toward resolving the
Mountainous Karabagh conflict and to analyze whether this dispute should be
settled by means of one-package or multi-phase solution alternatives. The
meeting brought together students from the leading institutions of higher
learning, young political activists, and policy specialists.
Welcoming the audience with opening remarks, Hrair Manukian of the Armenian
State University of Economics (ASUE) emphasized the necessity for civic
participation by the students in order to elucidate the subject matter of
the day. "The Mountainous Karabagh conflict is an actual topic, and the
political discussions over the one-package and multi-phase alternatives
toward its solution have become active once again," Manukian stated.
In his intervention, Sevada Gevorgian of ASUE spoke in favor of the
multi-phase alternative and brought attention to the effectiveness of this
option. He also made note of the possible outcomes should this alternative
be used for the Karabagh resolution. "In the case of applying the
multi-phase alternative, Artsakh’s independence will be guaranteed further
and its prospects for continuous stability and international recognition
will increase more steadily," Gevorgian noted.
Next speaker, Suren Parsian of ASUE, made a retrospect and examined the
changing attitude of the international community with respect to the
Mountainous Karabagh question. He also pointed to the fact that the Armenian
settlement proposals are more in tune with the international law. "The
concessions must be evenly balanced and therefore rather than handing over
occupied regions to attain autonomy, the occupied regions must be swapped
instead," Parsian maintained.
The policy roundtable concluded with an exchange of opinions and policy
recommendations among university students, civil activists, and policy
specialists. Reflecting on the views expressed by the students, political
scientist Edward Antinian likewise offered his professional analyses. In her
turn, Armenia’s first Ombudswoman and MP Larisa Alaverdian underscored the
necessity for such discussions among the youth circle and urged the students
to make maximum use of any discourse with their Azerbaijani counterparts.
"Respect your adversary, meet and make contact with one another and only
then shape your own views," Alaverdian said.
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 [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit