Garik Hayrapetyan has led the UNFPA – the United Nations Fund for Population Activities – for a dozen years. His research has impacted policy, and he and his team are observers of the key demographic trends during this period of transition. Hayrapetyan was a panelist at the END OF TRANSITION conference, hosted by USC Institute of Armenian Studies on April 9-10, 2017.
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Erdogan vs. İmamoğlu: The Battle for Turkey’s Presidency Begins
By Karena Avedissian Why İmamoğlu’s Arrest Matters “The security forces have deployed hundreds of police to my house,” Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival, said in a video message to supporters on Wednesday, March 19th. Moments later, he and several staff members were arrested. İmamoğlu’s detention is not just about removing a political rival—it signals Erdoğan’s deepening concern over his hold on power. As a leader who has spent more than two decades consolidating control, Erdoğan is now facing an existential political challenge. A leading figure in the Republican People’s Party (CHP), İmamoğlu’s popularity, especially […]
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70 Days Behind Enemy Lines: Surviving War and Finding Purpose
Kolya Stepanyan, a writer and a veteran made a life-changing decision to repatriate to Armenia in 2019 and serve in the military, only to find himself in an all out war and stranded behind enemy lines for 70 days. In this podcast interview with CivilNet, the 2020 Artsakh War survivor shares his story of survival, the bonds that he formed, and how he channeled his emotions into writing his debut novel Where.
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Endless excuses of the Baku regime
In this episode of Insights, host Eric Hacopian examines why Azerbaijan will never sign a peace agreement with Armenia and how its survival depends on continued conflict. He breaks down the latest tactics used by the Baku regime to stall negotiations, including territorial disputes, constitutional changes, and EU mission contradictions. He also covers the importance of U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz’s unprecedented call for Azerbaijan to release Armenian hostages. Finally, he explores Armenia’s economic successes, from record-breaking banking profits and booming tech exports to key government moves in the mining and gaming industries.
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Armenia ranks 13th in global entrepreneurship as job scarcity drives
By Christopher Crowson Despite the country boasting a thriving entrepreneurial sector, four out of five new entrepreneurs in Armenia claim to have started their businesses due to a lack of job opportunities in the labor market. The 2024 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report ranked Armenia 13th out of 51 countries based on the number of adults starting or running new businesses and 15th out of 51 countries for new entrepreneurs citing job scarcity as the reason behind starting their businesses. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor is a consortium of national country teams which conducts research on entrepreneurial activity from around the […]
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Border between Armenia and Turkey briefly opened for Syria humanitarian
By Alexander Pracht “Armenia’s long-shuttered border crossing with Turkey has been approved for reopening for ten days starting Friday to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to Syria.” “This measure will allow for faster and cost-effective transportation of humanitarian aid sent from Armenia to the Syrian Arab Republic,” today’s announcement said. The Turkish government has yet to confirm its cooperation. The decision follows discussions between Armenian and Syrian officials on humanitarian cooperation. Armenia previously provided aid to Syria, home to a significant Armenian community affected by hostilities and natural disasters, on several occasions. Aid will be delivered through Armenia’s recently-overhauled Margara border […]
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Crisis Unfolding: Armenia Must Act for Displaced Karabakh People
By Aram Tadevosyan Thousands of forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh remain in limbo more than a year after arriving in Armenia in late September 2023. Despite international sympathy and government efforts, gaps in assistance, legal recognition, and economic integration persist. A recent conference hosted by the Regional Center for Democracy and Security (RCDS) on February 4 brought these issues to the forefront, highlighting the urgent need for policy reforms and international engagement to support these vulnerable communities. Many donor states and organizations rely on government reports rather than direct input from affected communities. This results in an incomplete understanding of […]
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Yerevan Air Public Talk: Towards Cleaner Air in Armenia’s Capital?
By Christopher Crowson Air pollution levels have exceeded the World Health Organisation’s recommended limits in Yerevan everyday this year so far. On average, just by breathing in the city’s air, Yerevan’s inhabitants are smoking what calculates to one and half cigarettes per day. In an effort to raise awareness about air pollution in the city, the initiative Yerevan for People set up the Yerevan Air Public Talk at Ground Zero Café last week. During the discussion, physicians, environmental activists as well as representatives from the City Hall and the Ministry of Environment gave presentations. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions […]
