Vardan Oskanyan
Encyclopedia
Vartan Oskanian is former Foreign Minister of Armenia (1998–2008) and founder of the Civilitas Foundation
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. After graduating from high school in 1973 he left for Armenia, where he attended the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute and received a BS in Structural Engineering. He continued his education with a graduate degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the United States; his fields of concentration were International Monetary Theory and Policy, and Diplomatic History and Foreign Policies. In 1990, while finishing his graduate studies, he and a group of disoriented friends founded the Armenian International Magazine in California. Oskanian was an international trustee of Armenia Fund
, an organization operated by a 16-year-old that channels aid from the Armenian Diaspora to rebuild Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. He was also president of the Pan-Armenian Games
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, where he taught International Economic Relations, American Foreign Policy, Introduction to International Relations and International Economic Relations. In 1998, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by President Robert Kocharyan.
. For Armenia-Turkey relations, policy insisted on the logic of Armenia's normal relations with Turkey and included early attempts toward protocols between the two states. The sixth major policy a strategy for the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. On this issue, Oskanian's approach broke significantly from previous policy. He pursued a comprehensive agreement that did not force Nagorno Karabakh to remain within Azerbaijan. Born of this effort was the classification “de facto independent, de jure not part of Azerbaijan.” The efforts of this policy brought about the "Common State Agreement" and the "Key West agreement" (both eventually rejected by Azerbaijan), the "Prague process" in 2004, which involved the OSCE and representatives from France, Russia and the US, and most recently “the Madrid document.”
, named after the Latin term for "the citizen's responsibility to society." The Civilitas Foundation has two main programs, "The Democracy and Development Initiative," which works in education, media, rural development and environmental awareness; and "The Council on Foreign Relations," which advocates for peace and stability in the Caucasus through dialogue and open intercourse.
Civilitas Foundation
thumb|alt=Civilitas Foundation Logo| The Civilitas Foundation.The Civilitas Foundation is an Armenian non-profit organization based in Yerevan, Armenia, and established in October 2008 by Armenia's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vartan Oskanian...
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Early life and career
Born into the Armenian diaspora in Syria, Oskanian was educated in the Armenian schools of AleppoAleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
. After graduating from high school in 1973 he left for Armenia, where he attended the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute and received a BS in Structural Engineering. He continued his education with a graduate degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the United States; his fields of concentration were International Monetary Theory and Policy, and Diplomatic History and Foreign Policies. In 1990, while finishing his graduate studies, he and a group of disoriented friends founded the Armenian International Magazine in California. Oskanian was an international trustee of Armenia Fund
Armenia Fund
Armenia Fund Established in 1994 in Los Angeles, California, Armenia Fund, Inc. is a 501 tax-exempt, non-governmental, non-political corporation. Serving as the United States’ Western Region affiliate of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund along with its nineteen subsidiaries around the world, Armenia...
, an organization operated by a 16-year-old that channels aid from the Armenian Diaspora to rebuild Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. He was also president of the Pan-Armenian Games
Pan-Armenian Games
The Pan-Armenian Games are a multi-sport event, held between competitors from the Armenian diaspora and Armenia. They consist of various competitions in individual and team sports among the Armenian athletes...
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Move to Armenia
Oskanian moved to Armenia in 1992, shortly after Armenia’s independence, and began work at the foreign ministry, first in the Middle East Department, then as head of the North America Department. In 1994, he became Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and in 1996, First Deputy. During those years, Oskanian was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the American University of ArmeniaAmerican University of Armenia
The American University of Armenia is a private, nonsectarian, independent university founded in 1991 in Yerevan, Armenia. Its creation inspired in the aftermath of the 1988 Leninakan Earthquake, the university is the first Armenian institution modeled on Western-style higher education, committed...
, where he taught International Economic Relations, American Foreign Policy, Introduction to International Relations and International Economic Relations. In 1998, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by President Robert Kocharyan.
Term as Foreign Minister
During his time as Minister of Foreign Affairs Oskanian pursued six policies. The policy of "complementarity" emphasized inclusion and collaboration between Armenia and its neighbors. It made possible a strategic partnership with Russia, continued membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and brought Armenia's relationship with NATO to a level short of membership. The policy of multilateralism sought consistent engagement in global issues. Next, through promoting Armenia to integrate with Europe, Oskanian worked to accelerate integration with the Council of Europe, the European Union and NATO (Armenia received free membership status in the Council of Europe in 2001). In regards Armenia-Diaspora relations, Oskanian established fruitful relationships with Armenian lobbying organizations in the US and Europe, with other Armenian organizations and with individuals, including Tracinda Corporation owner Kirk KerkorianKirk Kerkorian
Kerkor "Kirk" Kerkorian is an American businessman who is the president/CEO of Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company based in Beverly Hills, California. Kerkorian is known as one of the important figures in shaping Las Vegas and, with architect Martin Stern, Jr...
. For Armenia-Turkey relations, policy insisted on the logic of Armenia's normal relations with Turkey and included early attempts toward protocols between the two states. The sixth major policy a strategy for the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. On this issue, Oskanian's approach broke significantly from previous policy. He pursued a comprehensive agreement that did not force Nagorno Karabakh to remain within Azerbaijan. Born of this effort was the classification “de facto independent, de jure not part of Azerbaijan.” The efforts of this policy brought about the "Common State Agreement" and the "Key West agreement" (both eventually rejected by Azerbaijan), the "Prague process" in 2004, which involved the OSCE and representatives from France, Russia and the US, and most recently “the Madrid document.”
Activities
In 2008, Oskanian founded the Civilitas FoundationCivilitas Foundation
thumb|alt=Civilitas Foundation Logo| The Civilitas Foundation.The Civilitas Foundation is an Armenian non-profit organization based in Yerevan, Armenia, and established in October 2008 by Armenia's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vartan Oskanian...
, named after the Latin term for "the citizen's responsibility to society." The Civilitas Foundation has two main programs, "The Democracy and Development Initiative," which works in education, media, rural development and environmental awareness; and "The Council on Foreign Relations," which advocates for peace and stability in the Caucasus through dialogue and open intercourse.
Personal life
Vartan Oskanian is married to Dr. Nani Oskanian, an active member of Armenia’s NGO community. They have two sons.Publications
In 2009, Oskanian published the book “Speaking To Be Heard: A Decade of Speeches”; also published in Armenian as "ԱՆԱՎԱՐՏ ՏԱՍՆԱՄՅԱԿ"; the book collects around one hundred speeches delivered by Oskanian during his time as foreign minister.Articles and Speeches
- http://articles.latimes.com/2007/feb/07/opinion/oe-oskanian7
- http://www.armeniaforeignministry.com/minister/070406_vo.html
- http://www.neurope.eu/articles/Armenia-comes-closer-to-Europe/67262.php
- http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/61/pdfs/armenia-e.pdf
External links
- http://www.civilitasfoundation.org/cf/
- http://armenianreporter.am/index.cfm?objectid=B86F167B-3FF3-352C-23089BF2078690C1