The Regional Studies Center (RSC) participated in a special working session at the Armenian Ministry of Defense on January 23, offering analysis and an assessment of defense reform as part of Armenia’s “strategic defense review” (SDR) process. Convened by Armenian Deputy Minister of Defense David Tonoyan, RSC Director Richard Giragosian joined other leading analysts and experts in preparing an updated “threat assessment” and a formulation of a new set of defense reform policy proposals for the Armenian armed forces.

The new Winter 2013 Session of the RSC “Expert School,” featuring innovative and interactive workshops and simulation exercises, opened this past week.  A new group of participants engaged in a two-part special training workshop on 17 and 19 December.  The opening week started with an introductory orientation and a two-part session on “Research, Writing and Critical Analysis,” that was also bolstered by an interactive seminar based on current developments in the region.

Do you like to be challenged? Do you enjoy learning? Then join us on Tuesday, 17 December for the long-awaited start of the Winter 2013 Session of the RSC “Expert School,” featuring innovative and interactive workshops and simulation exercises. 

We will be offering two special training workshops on Tuesday, 17 December, and on Thursday, 19 December, from 19:00-21:00. The opening week will start with an introductory orientation and a two-part session on “Research, Writing and Critical Analysis,” with an interactive seminar based on current developments in the region.

 Please note our new venue: we will be meeting in the RSC Conference Room, located on the fourth floor of the Griar Business Center, at 4/6 Amiryan Street in Yerevan. For more information, email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the Regional Studies Center (RSC) at: 060 56 09 10.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

“Armenia’s New Choice:
Scenarios for the Economic and Political Future”

Thursday
12 September 2013
16:00-18:00
Marriott Hotel
Sis Hall

The Regional Studies Center (RSC) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) are holding a joint public event on 12 September, with presentations by a panel comprised of leading analysts and public figures focusing on the recent Armenian decision to join the Russian-led “Customs Union.”

That decision effectively canceled Armenia’s planned “initialing” of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) agreement with the European Union (EU) that, along with a pending Association Agreement, was to be concluded at the Vilnius Summit in late November 2013.

This event will offer a neutral platform to examine the issues and implications from Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union, with speakers providing objective assessments of the “pros and cons” of the move.  Moreover, the event is an opportunity for public education and debate over this important issue, which despite a flurry of media coverage, was never publicly discussed in such a format.

The event will be in English and Armenian, with simultaneous translation provided.

We look forward to having you join us for this event and, once the agenda is confirmed, we will be circulating the detailed program shortly. For any questions or more information, please feel free to contact the RSC staff at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

INVITATION

SPECIAL PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION

Cultural Continuum or Cultural Shock?
An anthropological study of Armenian-Americans living in Armenia

Presentation of research by
Karolina Pawłowska
Resident Fellow
Regional StudiesCenter (RSC)

Tuesday, 20 August 2013
14:00-15:30
Golden Tulip Hotel
Vivaldi Room

The Regional Studies Center (RSC) is pleased to invite you to a special presentation and discussion on Tues day, 20 August at 14:00, to be held in the Golden Tulip Hotel’s Vivaldi Room.

The Regional Studies Center (RSC) is pleased to host Karolina Pawłowska, a Resident Fellow at the RSC, for her presentation of the findings from her six-month research project in Armenia entitled, “ Cultural Continuum or Cultural Shock? An anthropological study of Armenian-Americans living in Armenia.”

As an anthropologist, Ms. Pawlowska specializes in various issues, including nationalism, ethnic and national group identity within former Soviet countries. She conducted her anthropological field research from January-July 2013, during her RSC Resident Fellowship, focused on studying the community of American citizens of Armenian origin that moved to Armenia during the period of 1991-2012. Pawlowska holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology and journalism from the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań, Poland.

As an independent “think tank,” the Regional Studies Center (RSC) offers a regular series of similar events and briefings, aimed at providing an alternative source of objective analysis.

For more information, please contact us at: (60) 56.09.10 or via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.