Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict Panel

Recently, the Poly community was lucky enough to listen to a panel of distinguished speakers discuss the very complicated conflict happening right now between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The speakers ranged from many backgrounds, and provided very unique insights that complimented each other, each giving the previous one a new and more complete meaning.

Saira Mohamed was among the speakers, and as a Professor of International Law and expert in the fields of laws of armed force, law governing secession and self-determination of peoples in internal circumstances, and human rights law, she brought her knowledge and applied it to the situation in Armenia and Azerbaijan. She also was able to use this knowledge to help guide the conversation and keep it in the context of legality.

Alternatively, Salpi Ghazarian, the granddaughter of a genocide survivor, spoke at length about her efforts and knowledge on the subject of establishing peace. After analyzing the international factors such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran, impacted the ever-shifting borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan during the war, Ms. Ghazarian highlighted that there is primarily a responsibility for concerned parties' government protect its population.

Also examining the history of the conflict was Steve Swerdlow, Associate Professor of the practic of Human Rights in the department of Political and International Relations at USC. Professor Swerdlow pointed to the origins of the crisis by identifying Russia's border creation as the seed of the issue. Moreover, Professor Swerdlow put the conflict in a modern context noting that the ex-President of the United States did not do enough to spread awareness or support the solution to this crisis considering that there are actively war crimes being committed such as bombing maternity wards or hospitals with wounded soldiers.

While the speakers had different takes on some aspects of the conflict, ultimately the consensus was that both countries need to find a way to multiculturally coexist. I felt both a sense of concern when hearing to our guests talk about the crisis as well as a sense of relief, because conversation and awareness are the start of change. Overall, it was a privilege to listen to such educated and knowledgeable people talk about such a pressing issue.