ACNIS at Twelve: A Public Accounting by the Center’s Director of Research Stepan Safarian

Dear colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

It is with great pride and among your pleasant company that today we celebrate the twelfth anniversary of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS). For me personally, concurrently celebrating two anniversaries is an inexplicable emotion. Even though I have been working at ACNIS only since 2002, in the institutional sense I likewise feel twelve years old—just as old as my colleagues who have been working at the Center ever since its establishment. Hence, my accounting cannot avoid those twelve, or encompass a mere few, years.

The Center’s track record since 1994 is marked by the work product of its analytical and investigative insight, multi-disciplinary and intensive research, and other valuable initiatives supporting the quest for a strategic model of true statecraft.

In my deep conviction the founding of ACNIS, which engendered a comprehensive geopolitical approach in the early years of Armenia’s independence and its liberalization, was a bold yet justified move. When looking back over the years, we can only guess as to the emotions felt by ACNIS’s founder, Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K. Hovannisian, and his fellow believers. Maybe there was concern that this institution—which had proved on numerous occasions its effectiveness in developed countries and had assisted state and society to a great extent—would not succeed in newly independent Armenia and, as has been the case many times, a patriotic concept would become distorted and devalued. Prior to that, however, Raffi Hovannisian had had the distinct honor of heading Armenia’s diplomacy, which likewise was charted from scratch. And the experience and accomplishment which he gained from this domain became beneficial for the surmounting of all apprehension and, together with a group of common idea bearers, his founding of the first-ever strategic research center in Yerevan. Subsequently, seasoned analysts and political scientists, as well as still young but promising talents would join the Center, and thus everything fell into its place.

It is beyond any doubt that the Center’s founder, owing to his distinction and the prominence of his reputation, could have turned ACNIS into a one-man show, a phenomenon which we see around us very often. In his absence today, I, as an Armenian citizen and as an ACNIS analyst and director of research, would like to thank Mr. Hovannisian for not doing that. Instead, he built this institution from the bottom up, refusing to interfere with or put limitations on the independence and individuality of the human mind, and by his own example encouraging comprehensive, cutting-edge thinking and a free competition of concepts and options. I can openly point out without exaggeration that ACNIS, true to the precepts and the spirit of democracy, has humbly served the highest interests of Armenia, its liberty and political culture, and every good idea that has arisen from the depths of society. Many of those present today can corroborate that they were the authors of various initiatives and public roundtables. We simply provided assistance so that they could be brought to life. Lastly, I want to express hope and confidence that not only such institutions, but also all other systems—to the establishment of which we, together with Raffi Hovannisian, will contribute—that distinguish a democratic country will likewise become successful. We know how Mr. Hovannisian always takes the pioneering first step, how he inspires his colleagues, and how he creates all the conditions necessary for advancement and success. And the vivid illustration, the telling proof, and the secure pledge of this is ACNIS at twelve.

The matter at hand, both in the past and now at the Center, was to examine and consider, in professional fashion and without any predisposition, the horizons of regional developments and their strategic challenges; to shed light on Armenia’s import against the background of geopolitical events; to outline the probabilities and prospects; and to sound an alarm against the perils that threaten the country’s sovereignty. The following years really became a turning point for the shaping and the strengthening of ACNIS; its voice became more incisive, and its word more mature. Individual and team work, coupled with the determined work of its staff members, made it possible for the Center to tackle contemporary topics, to broaden the reach of its research, to combine theoretical and practical advantages, and to develop a unique hallmark in applied studies.

ACNIS’s founding demonstrated that the notion of democratic institutions is not alien to the great majority of the Armenian people. Many correctly perceive such establishments as a progressive power and a building block for civil society. All this makes us optimistic, and also determined, to work together to deepen democratic values in our country.

Unfortunately, we still have individual politicians who need further explanation as to the purpose and the activity of such centers, what their objectives are, and why they publish books, analytical works, and reviews. We are obligated to remind them that these institutions are platforms for healthy debate and robust exchanges of view. They provide alternative avenues with respect to the country’s development and the priorities of current policy. They are neither tractor factories nor candy production facilities, nor even benevolent organizations. Moreover, to the chagrin of a few unconscientious individuals who have made slanderous accusations of late, these centers are also not intelligence agencies that serve foreign interests.

Now please allow me to present some statistics on the activities carried out by ACNIS. Throughout the past twelve years, hundreds of our brothers and sisters living in Armenia and in approximately twenty other countries—US, United Arab Emirates, Great Britain, Australia, Greece, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Thailand, Cyprus, South Korea, France, Lebanon, Egypt, Iceland, Argentina, etc.—have supported our Center in their own way and to their own capacity. They all carry but one standard: The strategy for Armenia’s development must be planned in Armenia, and this must be done, with their support and partnership, by those people who live in their homeland and know the realities of the latter full well. Those who plan strategies must always be in tune with global developments and concepts. And this is why ACNIS’s strategic partners assist us; they do so in order that our specialists can attend the most diverse and the most prestigious gatherings and conferences around the world.

We extend our profound gratitude and appreciation to all those who are helpful in making the voices, the concerns, and the aspirations of Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh reach different international arenas. We are thankful to all the embassies—US, Great Britain, Romania, Greece, Iran, Germany, and Italy—and international organizations—OSCE, UN, USAID, UNDP, etc.—functioning in Armenia, because very often these foreign missions resolve certain matters such as prompt issuance of entrance visas and facilitation of travel.

Thanks to Raffi Hovannisian and the Armenian specialists who have worked and continue to work at our Center, ACNIS enjoys the status of an invited guest to countless policy meetings and conventions. The latest illustration of this profile is the global leaders’ call for action “Towards a Comprehensive Settlement of the Arab-Israeli Conflict,” which was disseminated yesterday, on October 4, by the renowned New York Times and Financial Times. Those who signed under this petition include 135 of the world’s foremost statesmen—former presidents, prime ministers, ministers of foreign affairs and defense, MPs, and heads of international organizations. In this worldwide initiative, Armenia is represented by its first Minister of Foreign Affairs and ACNIS founder Raffi K. Hovannisian; and this comes to prove yet again that our often passive foreign policy is frequently complemented by an active public diplomacy.

The addressees of our appreciation are numerous. Nonetheless, I would especially like to express gratitude to those civic, public, and national figures who, recognizing the importance of such a trailblazing institution, have taken part and continue to take part—in varying degrees and formats—in our activities.

A hearty word of thanks also goes out to the public, which follows our undertakings and initiatives. Its analytical mind, curiosity, as well as helpful advice and suggestions allow us always to be in touch with everyday developments, and this is of utmost value to us. In the meantime, the signals coming from deep within society have recalled the importance of working more closely with the public as well as a broad array of social and political currents. An outcome of this realization was the founding, in 2003, of the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) in the programs of which partake well-known public, political, and cultural personalities, academicians, and countless citizens. It is through NCI that ACNIS very often gets the results of its research across to the body politic.

The following year, 2004, saw the next vital achievement: the establishment at the Center of the National Public Opinion Service. To date, this body has already conducted 13 public and 9 expert surveys throughout Armenia. Despite the fact that the mindset of a limited circle within Armenia suspects and tries to mar everything good, the clear evidence of our work is the high level of public trust in those queries which has been attested to on numerous occasions. The Armenian citizen is proud to know that his or her opinion counts. In light of this, we are also indebted to those journalists and media outlets that cover ACNIS and NCI events impartially, and inform the people about the results of our public and expert opinion polls and other relevant findings.

We were the first, but not the only, research center in Armenia. Subsequently, many others were established. Currently, we collaborate with a lot of them directly and complement one another. Among such organizations are the International Center for Human Development, Transparency International, European Integration, Cooperation for Democracy, the Institute of Civil Society, the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Helsinki Association of Armenia, and several others.

Our policy deliberations and analyses, whose key attribute is their transparency, have treated a vast range of realms and topics including global and regional developments; environmental and educational policy; the rights of the former residents of Yerevan’s Northern Avenue and Biuzand Street; conflict management and the Mountainous Karabagh process; the macroeconomic reality of Armenia and the family business; the nation’s minorities; and other societal imperatives.

Those who keep track of our work, or visit our website, must have become aware of our multi-faceted and all-inclusive activities. These comprise meetings with statesmen, diplomats, and experts from numerous countries; active association with a diverse range of local and international events; publication of countless monographs which reflect on urgent policy issues, as well as books and almanacs; and dissemination of regular communiques with respect to ACNIS projects.

Dear compatriots:

I do not want to take undue advantage of your time, but the presentation of this modest public accounting was our obligation. Please share with us today’s joy, since ACNIS is not just ours, it belongs to us all. Its doors have always been and will continue to stand open before all initiatives and proposals that benefit the nation. Our dignified mission is to pave the way toward the freedom of thought and speech, the expression of different views, and the holding of open debate and dialogue—all of which constitute fundamental benchmarks of democracy. Our endeavor is to ensure that all of society becomes the bearer of such values. I wish a long, productive path to ACNIS, and success to all of you. Let us enjoy together the great pleasure of this little celebration.