BUILDING STATES AND NATIONS IN TURBULENT CONTEXTS: SYMPOSIUM AT YSU

During the first day of the symposium organized on the initiative of YSU and Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University the representatives of AUA, George Washington University.

Harvard University, San-Diego University, McGill University (Canada) as well as of Kiev Polytechnic University made their reports. The participants were greeted by the head of YSU Department of International Cooperation Alexander Markarov who tanked the participants for their contribution to the symposium. M. Markarov pointed out that the theme of the symposium is very actual and that he was sure that the reports would be followed by interesting discussions.

The reports of those present related to the regional safety, leadership, counteraction of countries and to state-building in turbulent situations. There were references to the cooperation with the Crimea, Donbass, countries of the European Union and Eurasian Economic Union. The representative of McGill University of Canada Juliet Johnson made a report on the flag of EU and on the speculation of the latter. According to the speaker, the protesters seem to need the EU Flag only to complete their opposition image and to show the Government that the latter doesn’t understand the European values properly.

The speaker also referred to the civil and political movements in Armenia and outlined that during the recent events she didn’t notice any cases of waving the EU Flag in general. “There was an interesting case during “Electric Yerevan” movement: the participants of the action didn’t let one of them wave the EU Flag”, noticed Juliet Johnson. The speakers also made reports on other countries of the region pointing out the issues related to the safety, leaders, national regime, political situation in those countries of the region. The symposium is to continued tomorrow at Slavonic University.