PSIA Hosts Ambassador of Sweden to Armenia

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YEREVAN, Armenia — On April 27, 2022, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) program, together with its research arm, the Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis (TCPA), hosted H.E. Mr. Patrik Svensson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to Armenia. The event was organized as part of the PSIA Conversations with Ambassadors series launched in Fall 2021 to foster dialogue with various foreign diplomats and official representatives to Armenia.

PSIA associate professor and initiator of the series, Asbed Kotchikian made the welcoming remarks, then introduced the guest speaker. Ambassador Svensson began his talk first covering highlights of Swedish foreign policy, then went on to describe the Swedish-funded projects in Armenia, as well as the educational opportunities in Sweden that Armenian youth could consider pursuing. He also touched upon the current Russia-Ukraine war and Sweden’s security policy in that regard, mentioning that the Swedish government is currently considering the option of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The discussion was followed by a Q&A session, during which AUA students and faculty had the opportunity to expand on various points and seek further elaboration on some existing problems. Among the topics brought up by the audience were questions on issues of migration that Sweden has been facing since 2011, and the challenges of Covid-19 in 2020 to which Sweden’s response has been described as “differing” from restrictions adopted globally. Among other relevant questions, the audience was interested to learn more about Åland island, an autonomous and demilitarized region of Finland since 1920, which remains exclusively Swedish-speaking.  

The Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) program of the American University of Armenia (AUA) equips students with advanced analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and communication skills through the study of political science and international affairs, emphasizing local and global perspectives and practical applications of theory. The program provides world-class teaching and research, producing graduates who can best contribute to the development of the nation.