YEREVAN, Armenia — On April 18-19, 2025, the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) Turpanjian Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) held a conference on international affairs titled “The South Caucasus Along Fault Lines: Regional and International Perspectives.” The two-day conference convened 22 scholars and specialists from Armenia, the United States, China, and beyond to discuss regional and international perspectives on the South Caucasus.
The conference opened with remarks by AUA Provost Dr. Alina Gharabegian and TISS Director and conference organizer Dr. Stephan Astourian.
“This conference marks a significant milestone: not only as one of the most substantial academic gatherings on international relations to be held at AUA, but also as a testament to our University’s growing role in fostering rigorous, regionally-grounded scholarship with global relevance and global reach. I am proud to witness the vision and vitality with which the Turpanjian Institute has stepped into its role as a leading research institute, creating synergies with AUA’s graduate programs in international relations and diplomacy and public affairs,” said Dr. Gharabegian. “My most heartfelt thanks to Dr. Stephan Astourian, for his vision and leadership in conceptualizing and developing this conference, and to the hardworking faculty and staff, the team of people whose support was indispensable to the success of this conference, for all their labor of love that has helped our gathering materialize today.”
Taking the stage, Dr. Astourian delineated the developments that have motivated the organization of the conference and the topics to be discussed: “This conference is occurring at an opportune time, as both the political and economic world orders are in crisis at the same time, which is extremely unusual, and this has obvious consequences of the South Caucasus,” said Dr. Astourian. “While the outcome of the Ukrainian conflict is still unclear, tensions in and around the region are more than clear. The post-Soviet bipolar moment — a moment of perhaps excessive enthusiasm — is now challenged.” He concluded by thanking the Turpanjian family, which has contributed so greatly to AUA, and especially Lori Muncherian, as well as the late Edward Misserlian and his spouse Vergine, along with their sons Mihran and Nareg Misserlian, whose generous donations made the conference possible. He also recognized AUA staff members Ani Shahoyan, coordinator of the Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy and Master of Arts in Public Affairs programs, and Tereza Avetisyan, events coordinator, for their tireless work in organizing the event.
The two-day conference consisted of five panel discussions. The first day touched upon issues related to international perspectives, specifically Russia, the United States, and the South Caucasus. Meanwhile, the second day tackled the topics of Europe; Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, Turkiye and regional cooperation; and Armenia and its security. Each panel was followed by a Q&A session that granted audience members the opportunity to ask questions and offer their own comments and perspectives.
Most of the conference recordings from both days will soon be available online. For more information about the panel discussions and the panelists, please visit the official conference webpage.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
Media Coverage:
[ArmInfo] ՀԱՀ-ում անցկացվում է միջազգային համաժողով՝ նվիրված Հարավային Կովկասում տիրող իրավիճակին
[Mediamax] «Նախկին Օսմանյան կայսրության տարածքում Թուրքիան իրեն տանն է զգում»
