The Moscow State University of M.V. Lomonosov held a round-table discussion to mark the 20th anniversary of Armenia's Independence. The main topics for discussion were diplomacy, politics, the economy and cultural cooperation with Russia. Yerevan is a Russian ally in the Trans-Caucasus.
Armenia shares Russia's view on improvement of ties with CIS states. Cooperation with Armenia within the framework of the CSTO is a significant element of national security. Boris Gryzlov, Chairman of the Russian Parliament, called Armenia a Russian outpost in the South Caucasus.
Four reports will be made at the round table. Alexey Vlasov, Editor-in-Chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, is the moderator of the discussions and will make a report on prospects of integration in the South Caucasus. Tigran Minasyan, an expert of the Information-Analytics Center of MSU, will talk about the history of Armenian-Russian relations, Karen Markaryan, director of the science research institute for global economy, will discuss prospects for Armenian-Russian relations, Arsen Melik-Shakhnazaryan, a political analyst, will discuss the current state of Armenian-Russian relations.
Vlasov said that the most suitable strategy in the South Caucasus will be a win-win variant. Realization of such a strategy requires development of rail and naval communications and formation of staff training centers. He stated that the region is on the cusp of changes. The global economic recession, problems of information and social security, conflicts and collapse of value systems are a challenge on the one hand, while more youth refers to religion on the other. Such are the problems of the next 15 years. Russia and Armenia may become vulnerable like in the Arab world, unless these problems find a proper solution.
There are two main processes in post-Soviet space, which are taking place in Russia and Armenia particularly, the political expert points out. The first process is more discreet and is called chaotisation, which leads to instability. The new generation has not experienced the so-called "Soviet hostel". But, at the same time, there is a positive process and improvement of relations between the Islamic and Western worlds in the South Caucasus.
Ismail Agakishiyev, Director General of Vestnik Kavkaza, Lusik Gukasyan, Editor-in-Chief of the Armenia and World Journal, Henry Sardaryan, Chairman of the Association of Armenian Youth in Moscow, teacher of MGIMO, Mikhail Alexandrov, head of a section of the CIS Institute, Eduard Jambazyan, press-secretary of the Armenian Embassy in Russia, Russian MP Igor Chernyshenko, Vladimir Yevseyev, Director of the Center for Socio-Political Studies, Yevgeny Minchenko, Director of the International Institute for Political Expertise and Grigory Trofimchuk, Vice-President of the Center for Strategic Culture were invited for the meeting.
