Region

Regional Post talked to a senior partner in McKinsey & Company consulting firm, Co-founder and Trustee of Repat Armenia Foundation and Arar Foundation Avetik Chalabyan about challenges that Diaspora and Armenia face in 21st century and his vision of nation’s future.

The Repat Armenia Foundation, a non-governmental and non-profit organization, was established in August 2012 to take the concept of repatriation to the next level, complete with a full time, dedicated professional staff based in Yerevan and a network of active supporters worldwide. Regional Post talked to Vartan Marashlyan, the co-founder/Executive Director of Repat Armenia Foundation about the importance of repatriation, the Diaspora’s attitude on the subject, as well as current developments and challenges faced by the foundation within its mission in creating a better Armenia.

Every year Armenian environmental activists warn us about new and devastating cases regarding the felling of trees in the forests, particularly in the North of the country, in and around Dilijan National Park. Sometimes the Government will respond, initiate an investigation, and in most of the cases it either turns out that the felling is legal, or some of the lower level forestry officials are fined, fired or imprisoned. So, what is the current situation of our forests, what did it look like in the past, what do we want it to be like in the future, and how do we achieve this?

Armenia is located in one of the most seismically active regions of the world. One of Armenia’s most devastating tragedies occurred on December 7, 1988. An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale completely destroyed the town of Spitak, over 25,000 people were killed, and the consequences of the catastrophe are still being felt. Swiss experts were among the first who came to assist the survivors. This is how the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) began its operations in Armenia. For nearly three decades the SDC has been working on various disaster risk reduction projects, aiming at improving local and central preparedness systems.

This June Armenia’s Syunik region hosted a sheep shearing festival, a unique attraction for tourists and a great opportunity for farmers from the nearby villages to sell their products. But that’s only a small part of the big program of Inclusive Sustainable Economic Development, which the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) undertakes in Armenia.

During 25 years of Armenia’s membership to the United Nations, the organization has collaborated with a number of Armenian ministries, agencies, international and non-governmental organizations, to contribute to Armenia’s development and progress. Below, UN partners tell us about their cooperation and accomplishments.

Twenty-five years ago, the Armenian flag was raised at the headquarters of the United Nations – a landmark moment in the history of Armenia’s independence. The pursuit of lasting peace, development and respect for human rights have since laid down the principles and objectives, which continue to define Armenia’s engagement with the world. Within the United Nations, through various forms and formats of participation, Armenia has been consistently working to advance international cooperation, in the face of complex challenges and threats.

Exclusive interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov on Russian-Armenian relations and situation in the region in general.