Option

In the winter of that year, tens of thousands of people died of starvation and disease, and dozens of factories were opened months later, with a number of vital infrastructures, cultural institutions, universities and the State Museum. Even the national currency was established. Inside the country, non-Armenian population constantly incited new provocations against the state. The Armenian army was able to stop these provocations.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the first Republic of Armenia. How was the first republic proclaimed? Researcher journalist Tatul Hakobyan and historian Hamo Sukiasyan talk about it.

 

According to the National Statistical Service, every third child in Armenia is poor. Non-governmental organizations surveying the sector report that child poverty is growing faster than overall poverty, and poverty in the early years hinders the development of the child's potential. Social and educational centers have been set up in our country for the social support of children and the development of their potential. Knarik Garanfilian, the founder of the Family and Community charitable NGO and Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the Primate of Tavush Diocese talk about these processes.

 

From the very start of the proclamation of the first Republic of Armenia, Armenia had serious problems with its neighbors, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Months after the proclamation of the Republic of Armenia, in December of 1918, a number of political and economic disagreements and border recoils ultimately led to a military conflict between Armenia and Georgia. Armenians in Tiflis and elsewhere were massively arrested and subjected to violence. Diplomatic mission officers were exiled from Tiflis. The two-week war unmasked the deep contradictions of the Armenian-Georgian relations. Historians Hamo Sukiasyan and Hovik Grigoryan talk about the causes of the Georgian-Armenian conflict of the beginning of the 20th century.

 

Arayik Harutyunyan, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee established to investigate cases of illegal fund raising in primary schools, revealing physical and psychological violence against children and elimination of vicious practices in pre-school institutions, presents the results of the studies and points out the steps to be taken for the upcoming years. Psychologist Armine Vanyan analyzes the impact of these practices on psychology of pre-school children.

The Gevorkian Theological Seminary is transitioning to a three-level education system. Is the Seminary ready to provide quality postgraduate education? How shall it ensure the standards of postgraduate education? Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, Inspector of the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary, and Deacon Hrach Sargsyan, Head of the Department of Biblical and Confessional Studies, talk about this in the pavilion of the "Option" TV series. 

 

Psychologist Hrachya Amiryan and Aida Muradyan from World Vision Armenia, Child Protection Program Director, discuss the implications of the statutory provisions on the protection and immunity of children’s privacy; violation of children’s dignity and its impact on emotional life; public discourse of family life.  

With the partnership between the Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation, Armenian-Russian University of Armenia and "Foundation against the Violation of Law" NGO, the subject “Conflict Transformation through Negotiations” was introduced in the University. The subject is taught for three years now. The objective is to develop students’ negotiation and communication skills, critical thinking, objective argument perception and building. How efficient was the study of the subject, how did the the students’ understanding on transforming or solving regional conflicts change? The topic is discussed by Larisa Alaverdyan, the Director of Law and Politics Institute of the Armenian-Russian University, Lilit Haroyan –postgraduate student of the Chair of International Relations and Global Politics and graduate student Ruben Zakharyan. 

 

Another discussion of the program "Armenia and Neighbors: In Search of Peace” of the Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation of the World Council of Churches is dedicated to Armenia-Georgia-Iran-Turkey axis. What new perspectives of cooperation in the South Caucasus are there in view of rapid changes in the world, how can they serve to maintain the peace in the region? Interview with Alexander Rusetsky, Director of the South Caucasian Regional Security Institute of Georgia, Turkish journalist Serdar Corjun and Imam Ali Mohammad Shajanan of the Blue Mosque in Yerevan.

Who is Narekatsi for the world? How did he win the spiritual treasury of different nations? What makes them keep turning to Narekatsi, his heritage, what new studies come forth over the recent years? How did the heritage of Universal teacher get to be proclaimed and what is the investment of Armenian Studies Centers of the world in all these? 

Experts in Armenian Studies Jean-Pierre Mahé and Abraham Teryan have a conversation.