In an interview with the “1in.am” news agency, RSC Director Richard Giragosian assessed the significance of the first visit to Armenia by Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission.

As part of our research and analysis, the Regional Studies Center (RSC) has initiated a new “Armenian Media Monitoring” effort, focusing on political and economic developments and based on a daily survey of Armenian print and electronic media outlets. This is our second publicly available edition, proving a brief summary of articles covering the period of 16-29 February 2016.

RSC Director Richard Giragosian is cited in an article published on 29 February in the Hurriyet Daily News by Selin Nasi, entitled, “The Caucasus: The next battleground for Russia and Turkey?”

In the article, Giragosian is quoted as saying that any “resumption of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan could escalate to a wider geopolitical conflict.”

In his latest external publication, RSC Analyst Mikayel Zolyan authored an article (in Armenian) examining “the historically complicated relationship between nationalism and liberalism.” Published in the journal “Analyticon,” the article explores the fact that “nationalism is often linked to extreme conservatism, denial of democratic and liberal values with anti-Western and anti-modern attitudes.” 

In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Armenian Service, RSC Director Richard Giragosian hailed the upcoming visit to Armenia by Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission. Giragosian noted that this visit is only “the latest reaffirmation of Armenia’s enhanced strategic significance” and represents an “important step in Armenia’s course of regaining and restoring a relationship with the European Union.”