Yerevan, Armenia The 2025 APRI Forum, with the theme “Finding Stability in an Unstable World,” took place June 11–13 in Yerevan. It offered in-depth and thought-provoking conversations on the global uncertainties shaping Armenia and the South Caucasus. With ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the political metamorphosis under the Trump administration, and persistent instability, the Forum provided a place to think through and discuss these challenges and how to navigate them. The three-day conference brought together policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, civil society representatives, and engaged Armenians to address a range of critical issues—from fostering technology and investments and advancing energy security to navigating shifting geopolitics and strengthening civic engagement. Thought leaders from various fields debated over actionable recommendations to confront Armenia’s challenges in an increasingly volatile world. https://vimeo.com/1121812338 Quotes that inspired us: “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” Rumi “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Harriet Tubman “I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.” Antonio Gramsci, Letter from Prison, December 1929 Forum Agenda June 11 June 12 June 13 9:25 Welcome and Opening Remarks Lara Setrakian, President, APRI Armenia 9:30 Stability through Technology and Innovative Partnerships In this opening session of the 2025 APRI Forum, Hakob Arshakyan, Vice President of the National Assembly, shares Armenia’s vision for finding stability in an unstable world through enhanced focus on technology and innovative partnerships. Hakob Arshakyan, Vice President, National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Moderator: Arda Haratunian, Board Member, APRI Armenia, AGBU, AUA and Adjunct Professor, Queens College 10:00 APRI Armenia’s Foreign Policy Report: Diversification in the Post-Unipolar World APRI Armenia’s foreign policy report traces Armenian foreign policy developments since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War and examines the challenges in diversifying and deepening diplomatic, economic, and security relationships in the last four years. With the launch of this report, APRI Armenia provides an analysis of Armenia’s foreign policy diversification and offers recommendations on how the next phase can address ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. Benyamin Poghosyan, Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia Moderator: Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President, Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia 10:15 Decoding the Global (Dis)Order From wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other regions to a shattered global trade system, uncertainty is worsening. This session will focus on growing instability in the global order and how different and sometimes competing powers are responding to these changes. Iskander Akylbayev, Chief Executive Officer, Xander Group Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation Evgeniya Goryushina, Researcher at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS), HSE / Head of the Caucasus Studies Sector (ICCA RAS) Stefan Meister, Head of the Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, German Council on Foreign Relations, DGAP Moderator: Benyamin Poghosyan, Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia 11:00 Coffee Break 11:30 Armenia–Azerbaijan Negotiations: Prospects for Progress Peace remains Yerevan’s top priority after the turbulence of recent years but the outstretched hand has often been met with a closed fist. Few signs suggest progress will be made toward a peace agreement with Azerbaijan this year—even as Armenia builds on its policy of constructive engagement while boosting deterrence. In conversation with Armenian experts, Rusif Huseynov, from the Topchubashov Center, presents the view from Azerbaijan on prospects for negotiations and regional peace. How will Baku respond and does it see any reason to make peace? Is no peace/no war the best the region can expect in the short- to mid-term perspective? Tatevik Hayrapetyan, PhD in History, Expert in Azerbaijani Studies Rusif Huseynov, Co-Founder and Director, Topchubashov Center (Zoom) Moderator: Benyamin Poghosyan, Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia 12:15 Armenia–Turkey Normalization and the Quest for Regional Stability Despite high-level announcements, the Armenia–Turkey normalization process is at a standstill. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan links normalization with Ankara to the signing of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, leading to a seeming deadend. What is behind this and are there any prospects for change? How might a less Azerbaijan-focused Turkish foreign policy impact the region? Can external actors, including Europe, Russia, the United States, and Iran, provide effective support for Armenia–Turkey normalization? Mitat Çelikpala, Vice-Rector, Kadir Has University (Zoom) Varuzhan Geghamyan, Associate Professor, Chair of Turkic Studies, Yerevan State University Moderator: Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President, Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia 13:00 Networking Lunch & Musical Guests 14:00 Russia’s Foreign Policy and Russia–Armenia Dynamics Diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Moscow have intensified since mid-2024, while the economic relation remains strong. The need for a reset is now discussed between the two. How might Armenia and Russia capitalize on this moment? What are their mutual expectations? What role will Armenia, and the South Caucasus, take in Russia’s foreign policy? How will Armenia’s foreign policy diversification affect the Armenia–Russia relationship? Evgeniya Goryushina, Researcher at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS), HSE / Head of the Caucasus Studies Sector (ICCA RAS) Moderator: Leonid Nersisyan, Senior Research Fellow, APRI Armenia 14:45 Prospects for Iran–Armenia Relations Relations between Iran and Armenia are reaching a new level, with Iran a key partner for Armenia’s connectivity and security. Maintaining open trade with its neighbor is vital, as is Iran’s opposition to Azerbaijani plans for the so-called “Zangezur Corridor.” However, US pressure on Iran may intensify if the two sides cannot reach a new deal on nuclear restraints. In the wake of this uncertainty, how can Yerevan and Tehran continue to build upon their partnership? How does Iran view its foreign policy in the South Caucasus amid relations with regional and nonregional actors? Sergei Melkonian, Research Fellow, APRI Armenia Seyed Mohammad-Kazem Sajjadpour, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Institute for Political and International Studies Moderator: Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President, Strategy and Development, APRI Armenia 15:30 Understanding Europe’s Outlook on the South Caucasus Trade and security tensions between Europe and the United States are heightening as European leaders look to develop their strategic autonomy. The European Union
