Report Summary

In the wake of the recent revelation that Russia has begun the delivery of some $1 billion in arms and weapons systems to Azerbaijan , there is renewed concern over a possible shift in the already delicate regional balance of power in the volatile South Caucasus. Although this new arms deal does provide Azerbaijan with a significant amount of offensive weapons from Russia, including battle tanks, heavy artillery pieces and multiple rocket launchers, in strictly military terms, it is not sufficient to impact the balance of power on its own.

INVITATION

ONE HUNDRED DAYS OF THE SARKISIAN GOVERNMENT:
AN ASSESSMENT

Wednesday, 26 June 2013
15:00-18:00
Marriott Hotel, Second Floor
Sis Hall

The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and the Regional Studies Center (RSC) are pleased to invite you to attend a special seminar, entitled “One Hundred Days of the Sarkisian Government,” on Wednesday, 26 June 2013 from 15:00-18:00, in the Marriott Hotel’s Sis Hall. The event will include presentations by several leading analysts and experts focusing on the performance of the Armenian government 100 days since taking office (see event agenda attached).

More specifically, this event will provide an objective assessment and analysis of the first hundred days of the Sarkisian second presidential term as well as a discussion of the main political, economic and foreign policy challenges facing the Armenian government.

The event will be in English and Armenian, with simultaneous translation provided.

For more infrmation, please contacting Ms. Satenik Baghdasaryan, at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

An apparent Russian attempt to use energy supplies to force Armenia, one of its closest allies, to choose membership of the Customs Union over closer association with the EU, appears to have failed. With a hike in the price of Russian gas coming into effect, Yerevan said it's looking at alternative suppliers like Iran and holding talks on the sale of its largest hydroelectric power plants to a US company. 

http://www.bne.eu/story5073/Armenia_snubs_Russia_after_gas_price_hike

Of all the international players involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the EU has good reason to be concerned over the threat the conflict represents for regional stability and security, which is not in the least related to the energy and transport corridors the EU is heavily invested in.

http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist-318623-nagorno-karabakh-and-the-eu-time-to-increase-engagement.html

Brussels based think-tank European Policy Centre (EPC) hosted a conference titled 'Nagorno-Karabakh and the role of the EU'.

http://www.news.az/articles/politics/80566