As was the case throughout history, Syunik plays an important geopolitical role in ensuring and guaranteeing the national security of Armenia and the Armenian people. After the last Artsakh war in 2020, Azerbaijan continues to threaten and make territorial claims on Yerevan, Sevan and especially Syunik.

It is the responsibility of the Armenian youth, to strengthen the resilient spirit of the people of Syunik, to combat pan-Turkic ideology and to fight against the defeatist policies of the Armenian authorities.

In the light of the above, and especially in the context of the “Towards Syunik” program, ARF Bureau’s Youth Office, in collaboration with the ARF NikolAghpalyan student association, has launched a competition for research papers dedicated to Syunik’s geopolitical importance, security, demographic, and youth related issues. Therefore, we urge 18-27 years old students living in Armenia or in the diaspora to participate in the preparation of these papers.

The research papers should focus on the following topics (new topics may be proposed):
• Syunik in the light of the 20th century’s developments (historical review).
• Syunik’s security challenges (i.e. border, internal and external security) and prospects for addressing them.
• The geopolitical position and role of Syunik in the process of countering pan-Turkism agendas.
• Policies pursued by the current authorities of Armenia in relation to Syunik’s Problems.
• Syunik-Diaspora relations.
• Demographic, economic, and agricultural mapping of Syunik, relevant challenges and potential solutions.
• Approaches to increase the public awareness on Syunik.
• Syunik in Armenia’s foreign policy.
• Syunik’s historical and cultural Heritage

The research papers can be submitted in Armenian or English.
The papers will be reviewed by a panel composed of:
-Tatos Avetisyan, Member of the RA National Assembly, Economist.
-Tereza Yerimyan, Director of Government Affairs • Armenian National Committee of America
-Kevork Hagopjian, International Law expert, Vienna.
-Meline Anumian, historian -Turkologist, Yerevan.
-YeghiaTashjian, Political Analyst, Researcher, Beirut.

Finalists will have the opportunity to travel to Armenia, especially to Syunik and present their papers. Finalists traveling to Armenia will receive scholarships. It should be noted that in addition to the finalists, the remaining students that did not receive an award but were endorsed by the review panel will be published on social media and in the press.

The research papers can be submitted through the following link by October 15, 2021: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchR120j-QWBySPS1akasmDywoY6-B1IsJxkKX2zWgCk-3vXw/viewform?usp=sf_link
The research papers should be written in MS Word 2003-2010 and have a minimum count of 2,500 words and a maximum count of 6,000 words.
The results of the selection process will be published on October 31, 2021.
For more information or inquiries, please contact: [email protected].