China's growing interest and involvement in the Greater Middle East also has an impact on the geopolitical processes in the South Caucasus. Initially, after the collapse of the USSR, the main struggle for influence and dominance in the region was between the West and the Russian Federation. However, in recent years, on the one hand, the strengthening of the positions of regional actors, such as Turkey and Iran, on the other hand, the growing interest of China in the region have made the struggle of major powers for supremacy in the South Caucasus more dynamic and variegated. Within the framework of this analysis, we studied the impact of China's regional policy on the South Caucasus countries, in this context, presenting our vision of the Armenian-Chinese relations.

This article is part of a comprehensive analysis published by the “Luys” Foundation entitled "China's policy in the Middle East and South Caucasus on the example of relations with Turkey and Iran" which you can read at the following link: https://www.luys.am/index.php?m=publicationsOne&pid=246&lang=eng

What is the economic development strategy of the government of the Republic of Armenia after the change of power in April-May 2018, and what are its benchmarks? Why and how did the RA executive power fail the state economic policy and what are the main reasons for the failures? How does the current government see the future of the Armenian economy in the next 5 years? Are these ideas realistic and what can actually be predicted? The objective of this study is to provide answers to the questions posed by analyzing the key goals specified in the programs of the government for 2019 and 2021: from economic growth to structural economic reforms, from promises to improve the quality of life of the population and ensure social protection to effective management of public finances and ensuring macroeconomic stability. Full material is only available in Armenian․

The OSCE Minsk Group remains the only internationally recognized structure for a final and long-term settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, at least as long as neither side officially announced its rejection of this format. The cornerstone of the conflict has always been the fight of the Artsakh Armenians for the realization of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, which, after long negotiations, was fixed by the parties to the conflict and the co-chairs in the form of basic principles and elements. Shortly after the end of the 44-day war, on December 3, 2020, the statement of the MFAs of the Co-chair countries raised some hopes for the resumption of the comprehensive settlement process. However, in the following months, the Minsk Group statements underwent significant substantive changes; the reference to the basic principles of the conflict settlement was gradually removed from the public texts. In the framework of this article, we have tried to understand why the basic principles disappeared from the official statements of the Minsk Group, why the references to them are much more important than the fluid statements made by Armenian officials about the status of Artsakh.

From the point of view of correct understanding of China's policy in the Middle East, it is impossible to ignore the latter's relations with Turkey, which has a huge influence in the region and plays an important economic, communication, military-political role. Turkey is involved in almost all geopolitical processes and conflicts in the region, and is an important geographical hub within the framework of China's "Belt and Road" initiative. Ankara's influence and pan-Turkic aspirations from the Caucasus to Central Asia are at least a matter of long-term concern for China. In the framework of this analysis, we have studied the peculiarities of Turkey-China relations.

This article is part of a comprehensive analysis published by the “Luys” Foundation entitled "China's policy in the Middle East and South Caucasus on the example of relations with Turkey and Iran" which you can read at the following link:https://www.luys.am/index.php?m=publicationsOne&pid=246&lang=eng

Any superpower, if it pursues the goal of dominance or at least a decisive role in the Middle East, can not ignore the interests of the major regional powers. Iran is perhaps one of the most important regional actors in the Greater Middle East, and China has key interests in that country. In order to properly analyze Beijing's regional policy, we have tried to understand the peculiarities and prospects of its relations with Tehran.

This article is part of a comprehensive analysis published by the “Luys” Foundation entitled "China's policy in the Middle East and South Caucasus on the example of relations with Turkey and Iran" which you can read at the following link:

https://www.luys.am/index.php?m=publicationsOne&pid=246&lang=eng

In the present analysis, given the data published by the Statistical Committee of the RA, we study the recent social-economic developments in the economy of the RA. In particular, we consider the cumulative indicator of economic activity of the given month, its sectoral distribution, as well as the dynamics of individual sectors of the economy. We also analyze economic developments in the foreign trade, labour market and fiscal system of the RA. In addition, some aspects of the financial system (inflation, deposits and loans), as well as the behaviour of the exchange rate, are touched upon. Full material is only available in Armenian.

After the political changes in 2018, the new Government of the Republic of Armenia announced about the need of creating a free, dignified, happy citizen, the key factors of which are improving the living standards of the population, more equal and fair distribution of incomes, poverty alleviation, eradication of extreme poverty and strengthening of social security. What has been done by the government to fulfill its promises and what results have been achieved? How the income of the population has changed in 2017-2021? Has the standard of living of the society improved?

This study examines these and a number of similar issues by comparative analysis of indicators for 2017-2020 as well as by analyzing the feasibility of implementing the relevant provisions the program of the newly formed government for 2021-2026. The full material is available only in Armenian.

Washington has been involved in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the format of the OSCE Minsk Group since the beginning. Even in 2001, the US-mediated negotiations seemed to offer a solution to the conflict. However, Washington's involvement gradually waned as a result of important but not vital US interests in the region, Trump's promotion of "America First" diplomacy, and the strong influence of the Russian factor in the region. In the early stages of the Artsakh war, unleashed by Azerbaijan in September 2020, the Trump administration took a significantly more passive stance than the leaders of the other two Minsk Group co-chairing countries. However, high-level involvement gradually increased, not limited to the institutional level. The war also coincided with the US pre-election campaign, which somehow affected the stance of Trump’s administration. Unlike the previous administration, the Biden administration attempts to increase the US influence in the region. Against the background of recent statements made by official Washington, it can be concluded that this has a direct reflection in the conflict settlement process. Full material is only available in Armenian.

In the present analysis, given the data published by the Statistical Committee of the RA, we study the recent social-economic developments in the economy of the RA. In particular, we consider the cumulative indicator of economic activity of the given month, its sectoral distribution, as well as the dynamics of individual sectors of the economy. We also analyze economic developments in the foreign trade, labour market and fiscal system of the RA. In addition, some aspects of the financial system (inflation, deposits and loans), as well as the behaviour of the exchange rate, are touched upon. Full material is only available in Armenian.

China, which has been growing at an unprecedented rate in recent decades, strengthening its position in various parts of the world, intends to change the existing world order and to become a key player in the new world order. In terms of world order and the geopolitical race of superpowers, the Greater Middle East is by far the most important region in the world, where superpowers are always competing for hegemony. To get a clear idea of the race for influence in the region, in this analysis we tried to understand what influence and interests China and its main competitors, first of all the United States and Russia, have in the region.

This article is part of a comprehensive analysis published by the “Luys” Foundation entitled "China's policy in the Middle East and South Caucasus on the example of relations with Turkey and Iran" which you can read at the following link:

https://www.luys.am/index.php?m=publicationsOne&pid=246&lang=eng