On 30 September 2017 the Opening Ceremony of YSPS 2017-2018 study year was held in Yerevan, Armenia.

Opening remarks were made by Mr. Armen Zakaryan, YSPS Founding Director; Mr. Vache Gabrielyan, Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms of the Republic of Armenia; Mr. Shavarsh Kocharyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and YSPS alumni – Mr. Artak Zakaryan, First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, YSPS alumnus-2^nd generation; Mr. Artem Yerkanyan, Political Analyst, YSPS alumnus-4^th generation and Rev. Fr. Ruben Zargaryan, Clergyman, Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, YSPS alumnus-6^th generation.

Mr. Vache Gabrielyan, Mr. Shavarsh Kocharyan and Mr. Artak Zakaryan called on the new generation to actively engage in the school activities and take advantage of the exclusive opportunity to learn, exchange ideas and debate with lecturers.

“The meaning of existence and vision of the Yerevan School of Political Studies is modern Armenia. Modern Armenia that has democratic essence. And to make this idea a reality we should pass through self-cognition and world-cognition. As well as we should have a conscious and responsible citizen on one hand and a rule of law state on the other. These are the main ideas that crystallized during 12 years of existence of the Yerevan School. All these ideas should be treated positively with the aim to make our country the most comfortable place for us to live”, said Mr. Armen Zakaryan in his welcoming speech.

The launching ceremony was followed by the presentations and lectures. Topics like “Armenia in a Region at Risk” and “Armenia – Council of Europe” were debated and discussed.

The Opening Ceremony of YSPS new study year and one-day seminar will be followed by a 3-day outgoing seminar scheduled in October.