On 17 September 2016 the inauguration ceremony of YSPS 2016-2017 study year was held in Yerevan, Armenia. The event brought together YSPS participants, alumni and experts.

Opening remarks were made by Mr. Armen Zakaryan, YSPS Founding Director, Mr. Matjaž Gruden, Director of Policy Planning of the Council of Europe, Mr. Shavarsh Kocharyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and YSPS alumni - Mr. Artsvik Minasyan, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, YSPS alumnus-1^st generation, Mr. Shirak Torosyan, MP, National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, YSPS alumnus-1^st generation and Rev. Fr. Ruben Zargaryan, Clergyman, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, YSPS alumnus-6^th generation.

In the frameworks of Europe Day celebrations in Armenia on 20-22 May 2016 Yerevan School of Political Studies organized a seminar in Aghveran, Armenia.

During 3-day seminar Yerevan School of Political Studies hosted H.E. Mr. Piotr Świtalski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia and 6 Ambassadors of the EU member states, particularly H.E. Mr. Matthias Kiesler, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Armenia, H.E. Mr. Jean-Francois Charpentier, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France to Armenia, H.E. Mrs. Judith Margaret Farnworth, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Armenia, H.E. Mr. Jerzy Marek Nowakowski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Armenia, H.E. Mr. Petr Mikyska, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Armenia, H.E. Mr. Erikas Petrikas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to Armenia. The Ambassadors talked about current strategy of EU-Armenia relations, the next steps of the Eastern Partnership, current challenges of the EU and possible solutions and many other issues.

By the decree NH-203-A of 24 February 2016 of the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, Artsvik Minasyan was appointed Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia.

Yerevan School of Political Studies congratulates the newly appointed Minister and wishes him great success and new achievements in his new mission.