Roundtable briefing on security challenges for Armenia

At short notice, EuFoA learnt about the visit to the NATO headquarters of 6 Members of the Armenian Parliament (Alexander Arzoumanian, Grigor Grigoryan, Ishkhan Khachatryan, Khachatur Kokobelyan, Tevan Poghosyan, and Artur Stepanyan). Using this occasion, EuFoA organised an ad-hoc round-table briefing with them on Wednesday, 19 June 2013. The meeting focused on security challenges which Armenia is facing given its geo-strategic situation.

After a short introduction by EuFoA Secretary General Dr Kambeck, and a presentation of the security issues by Mr Poghosyan, the meeting switched to a lively debate between the speaker and distinguished guests. High-level representatives from the European institutions, Embassies, international organisations, NGOs and media took part in the dialogue, including EUSR Philippe Lefort, MEP Charles Tannock, and former Head of the EU Delegation in Armenia, Raul de Luzemberger.

The meeting was followed by a light cocktail during which individual discussions continued.

Background for the roundtable:
Armenia is situated in a strategic neighborhood, between growing geopolitical powers, i.e. Turkey, Russia and Iran. On the other hand, Armenia is entangled in a 20 years old conflict with Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh is the most perilous of the so-called frozen conflicts in Eastern Europe. In an area almost free of observers, the implications of a new war are largely underestimated. Regarding the EU Eastern Partnership, the NATO cooperation programs and the evolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia will meet new challenges related to security not only for its own territory but also for the whole region and for Europe at large.

Roundtable on security challenges for Armenia