PSIA Seminar Reviews Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict and Analyzes Azerbaijan’s Anti-Armenianism

2 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia – On April 13, 2015,  the American University of Armenia (AUA) Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) program held a seminar on ‘Azerbaijan’s Anti-Armenianism and Aggression: A Need to Re-Evaluate the Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Plan Within,’ with AUA and Cambridge University alumna Nvard Chalikyan. The event was part of a series of PSIA seminars that are held every Monday at 3:30 PM. Dr. Simon Clarke, Chair of the PSIA program, introduced the speaker.

The seminar dealt with the phenomenon of anti-Armenianism in Azerbaijan by examining the actions of key institutions that, traditionally, are supposed to play a pivotal role in preparing the society for peace – the state (official statements and policies), academia, the media, and the public education system. In general, it appears that anti-Armenianism is a state policy and is a widespread occurrence that encompasses all layers of society in Azerbaijan.

The speaker concluded that Azerbaijan’s leadership is preparing the population and future generations not for peace, but for animosity and aggression towards Armenians. She also suggested that, taking into consideration the hostile feelings towards Armenia that exist in Azerbaijan, and also given the fact that Azerbaijan is enhancing its military budget with the explicit aim of retaking the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by force, any concession on the Armenian side will further shift the military balance towards Azerbaijan and will make another war more likely.

With the centennial of the Armenian Genocide quickly approaching, Chalikyan commented that the question of Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenianism as a form of incitement of violence against Armenians must be addressed within the framework of the centennial, as well as within the framework of human rights violations in Azerbaijan.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.

AUA’s PSIA program held a seminar on ‘Azerbaijan’s Anti-Armenianism and Aggression: A Need to Re-Evaluate the Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Plan Within,’ with AUA and Cambridge University alumna Nvard Chalikyan.