Why war won and negotiations lost? Is the absence of war the same as peace?

The article comparatively analyzes the systemic dependence of military victory and negotiation defeat, which is manifested in a situation of absence of war and still unsettled peace. The article examines the negotiations on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, along with cooperation and struggle, which constitute the main form of expression of world and regional politics in the modern world. Taking into account the genesis and changing nature of the Karabakh conflict, the author analyzes the main reasons why the negotiations on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict were not successful. In this context, the purpose of this article is to study the process of conducting international negotiations of the Karabakh conflict, its structural and functional components, to analyze the negotiation activity as a means of settling and resolving conflict situations in Nagorno-Karabakh, the implementation of international cooperation, as well as to study the main characteristics of the negotiation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The author focuses on the military, political and diplomatic dimensions of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from 1988 to its last phase in 2020. The negotiation process to resolve the conflict in this article is considered, both in terms of their content, results and positions of their participants, as well as in terms of the procedural side of the negotiation

The experience of Armenian family medicine residents with participatory learning methods in rural health centres

Introduction: The Family Medicine residency program in Armenia relies on traditional teacher- centred and didactic learning methods. The program is largely classroom based. Learning through contact with patients is limited. The Children of Armenia Fund has been active in medical education since 2010. It has provided educational support for family doctors and nurses in medical centres and hosted family medicine residents. In July 2016, family physician partners of COAF worked alongside the COAF educational supervisor to provide residents more active methods of learning combined with practical teaching in clinics, a combination which was called participatory learning. Method: A two-day seminar for the family medicine residents was designed to include structured patient contact and active classroom learning methods. The program had three components: structured clinical teaching in family medicine clinics, group case presentations, and problem based learning. Participants’ experience was evaluated through a focus group discussion led by an independent researcher. Results: Five main themes emerged from the focus group: a feeling of responsibility; the opportunity to practice and receive feedback; the merger of theory and practice; the benefits of small group and problem-based learning; and evidence-based medicine. The findings concord with existing research on the benefits of active learning and resident-patient contact: increase in motivation and engagement of residents during their training. The unexpected finding was the ease and enthusiasm with which residents adapted and valued the novel approach. Discussion: Active learning methods have been shown to improve performance in assessments. Although unaccustomed to participatory learning methods, this group of family medicine residents in Armenia were immediately appreciative of the approach. This has implications for family medicine training in Armenia. More student-centred, active learning methods and practical teaching with patients is likely to be acceptable to residents

Diasporas and secessionist conflicts : the mobilization of the Armenian, Albanian and Chechen diasporas

This article examines the impact of diasporas on secessionist conflicts, focusing on the Albanian, Armenian and Chechen diasporas and the conflicts in Kosovo, Karabakh and Chechnya during the 1990s. How do diasporas radicalize these conflicts? I argue that despite differences in diaspora communal characteristics and the types of the secessionist conflicts, a common pattern of mobilization develops. Large-scale diasporic support for secessionism emerges only after independence is proclaimed by the local elites. From that point onwards diasporas become engaged in a conflict spiral, and transnational coalitions are formed between local secessionist and diaspora groups. Depending on the organizational strength of the local strategic centre and the diasporic institutions, these coalitions endure or dissipate. Diasporas exert radicalization influences on the conflict spiral on two specific junctures – when grave violations of human rights occur in the homeland and when local moderate elites start losing credibility that they can achieve the secessionist goal

Diasporas and democratization in the post-communist world

If diaspora communities are socialized with democratic values in Western societies, they could be expected to be sympathetic to the democratization of their home countries. However, there is a high degree of variation in their behavior. Contrary to the predominant understanding in the literature that diasporas act in exclusively nationalist ways, this article argues that they do engage with the democratization of their home countries. Various challenges to the sovereignty of their homelands explain whether diasporas involve with procedural or liberal aspects of democratization. Drawing evidence from the activities of the Ukrainian, Serbian, Albanian and Armenian diasporas after the end of communism, I argue that unless diasporas are linked to home countries that enjoy both international legal and domestic sovereignty, they will involve only with procedural aspects of democratization. Diasporas filter international pressure to democratize post-communist societies by utilizing democratic procedures to advance unresolved nationalist goals

Impact of COVID-19 on essential healthcare services at the primary healthcare level in Armenia: a qualitative study

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant global healthcare challenges, particularly impacting the continuity of essential health services in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization and provision of essential health services in Armenia. Methods We employed a conventional qualitative study design, conducting semi-structured in-depth interviews (n = 17) within public and private primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in Armenia in 2021. Our study participants encompassed physicians providing specialty services in PHC facilities (e.g. endocrinologists, gynecologists/obstetricians, and pediatricians), regular visitors to PHC facilities (e.g. adults with chronic diseases, parents of children), and policymakers. Thematic analysis was conducted, yielding five emergent categories: mobilization and organization of PHC services during COVID-19; PHC visits during COVID-19; worsening of chronic conditions due to the decline in PHC visits; problems with routine childhood vaccinations; and patient-provider communication challenges. Results The number of in-person visits to PHC facilities declined due to adaptations in service delivery, imposed lockdown measures, and the public’s fear of visiting healthcare facilities. Maternal and child health services continued with no major disruptions. PHC providers deliberately limited the number of maternal and child visits to essential antenatal care, newborn screenings, and routine childhood immunizations. Still, children experienced some delays in vaccination administration. The pandemic resulted in a notable reduction in follow-up visits and monitoring of patients with chronic conditions, thereby exacerbating their chronic conditions. Phone calls were the primary method of patient-provider communication during the pandemic. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the delivery and utilization of essential healthcare services at PHC facilities, especially for those with chronic conditions who needed continuous care. Unified national-level guidance and technical capacity are needed to direct the provision of essential services at the PHC level, promote effective health communication, and implement digital platforms for the uninterrupted provision of essential care during public health emergencies