PSIA Hosts Ambassador of Estonia to Georgia and Armenia

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YEREVAN, Armenia — On April 25, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) program hosted the Ambassador of Estonia to Georgia and Armenia, H.E. Riina Kaljurand. The event was organized as part of the PSIA Conversations With Ambassadors series launched in Fall 2021 to foster dialogue between AUA students and representatives of foreign countries and international organizations.

The initiator of the series, PSIA Interim Program Chair and Associate Professor Asbed Kotchikian made the welcoming remarks and introduced the guest speaker, after which Ambassador Kaljurand took the floor and spoke about Estonia’s foreign policy and the cooperation between Armenia and Estonia. She discussed Estonia’s trajectory of joining the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also touching upon the challenges that Estonia faces as a small state. “You don’t have much choice as a small state especially when you are in the Eastern part of Europe,” she remarked, adding, “Although we are small, we have the right to exist and we also have added value.” 

The presentation was followed by a Q&A discussion, during which AUA students and faculty had the opportunity to expand on various points and seek further elaboration on several topics covered by the Ambassador. Among the points raised by the attendees were: the current Russia-Ukraine war and its consequences on the future of NATO and the Baltic States; the history and future of Estonia-Russia relations; Estonia’s position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as well as the future of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. 

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.

AUA is pleased to announce the launch of its two new graduate degree programs: Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy (MAIRD) and Master of Public Affairs (MPA) in the College of Humanities and Social Science (CHSS). The two degree programs are set to begin in Fall 2023.