On December 10, 2024, a conference titled "Key Issues in the Effective Conduct of Armenia's Foreign Policy in the Context of National Security" was held at YSU Balian Hall, under the auspices of the National Security Research and Forecasting Group at the Institute of Armenian Studies.
The event brought together leading researchers and scholars to discuss urgent issues related to Armenia’s foreign policy and national security in the context of regional and international developments.
The conference began with an opening speech by Vahram Petrosyan, Director of YSU Institute of Armenian Studies, who emphasized the strategic importance of modernizing Armenia's foreign policy approaches in the era of complex geopolitical challenges. The conference was divided into two thematic sections.
"Key Issues in Ensuring the Security of Armenia's Foreign Policy"
Topics addressed included the modernization of Armenia’s foreign policy, regional control of armaments, and infrastructure security. The speakers included Narek Grigoryan, Head of the National Security Research and Forecasting Group at IAS, who analyzed the methodological issues in Armenia's foreign policy in the context of regional and international security developments; Davit Hovhannisyan, who discussed the impact of new geopolitical shifts on Armenia; Andranik Grigoryan, who examined the armaments control issue in the context of Armenia's foreign and security policies; Hayk Kocharyan, who focused on Armenia’s infrastructure security; and Tigran Yepremyan, who explored the theories of international relations and the real world in the context of foreign policy analysis.
"Foreign and Security Challenges of Armenia in the Context of Regional and International Developments"
The conference also addressed urgent issues such as political developments in Arab countries, Armenian-Indian military cooperation, and Turkey's "Turkic integration" policy. Mushegh Ghahriyan presented the security implications of changes in the Arab world for Armenia, Tigran Harutyunyan discussed Armenian-Indian military cooperation, Nelly Minasyan analyzed the impact of Turkic integration on Armenia, Lusine Sahakyan addressed the role of Hemshin Armenians in the Armenian diaspora, and Ani Voskanyan presented the peculiarities of military development in the Ottoman Empire and Republican Turkey.
The conference concluded with a professional discussion of the presented reports, followed by a closing speech by Vahram Petrosyan, who emphasized the critical need for interdisciplinary cooperation in addressing national security challenges.
The conference served as a vital platform for exchanging ideas, fostering dialogue, and strengthening Armenia’s strategic approach to enhancing its foreign policy and national security.
