Yerevan—On November 18, the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) marked the 30th anniversary of its founding with a reception at central headquarters here.

The celebration of ACNIS, Armenia’s first independent institute for strategic policy research and analysis, was attended by Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisian of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; UK Ambassador John Gallagher, the Dutch Ambassador Marieke Monroy-Winter, Syrian Ambassador Nora Arisian, and high-level diplomats from the Russian Federation, Romania and the Islamic Republic of Iran; current and former associates of ACNIS; members of parliament; and colleagues from the press and public.

“An original flagship of strategic thought and policy analysis, ACNIS has remained true to its principles of integrity and independence in the most difficult of times, and continues to strive for a culture of institutional policymaking, rather than personality-driven politics, in our struggling young nation,” said founding director Raffi K. Hovannisian during the opening ceremony.