1. Interest-based Analysis of the Protocol-related Armenia-Diaspora Rift
Photo by Arsen Merabyan
Presented at the Second Annual PFA Forum
on Armenia-Diaspora Relations
By Tamar Palandjian
MS Candidate at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
George Mason University

2. What rift? -- President Serge Sargsyan
“And let no one ignore the fact that, contrary to any slogans, the Armenian nation is united in its goals and is strong with its sons and daughters. And let no one try to split Armenia and our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora in presenting their concern over the future of Armenia as an attempt to impose something on the Republic Armenia.”
-- President Serge Sargsyan
“Address to All Armenians” on October 10, 2009
Source:
“Diaspora and Armenia have never been so distant from each other.”
-- Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on Sept. 22, 2009
Source:
“Armenian government which was not freely and fairly elected is assuming the
responsibility to negotiate on behalf of our [Diasporan] lineage and legacy from
the Armenian Genocide. It’s not only an inherent threat to our identity and
interests. And I think this explains a lot of the backlash.”
-- HETQ Interview with Richard Giragosian, ACNIS Director on Jan 11, 2010
Source:

3. How does it appear?
Thousands protest in Diasporan communities and in Armenia since Oct 2009
$15.8 million USD in 2009 All-Armenian Fund Telethon held November 2009
compared to $35m raised in 2008
Individuals stereotyping the Diaspora and Armenia
“us vs. them”
Potential for escalation into conflict
Source:
At this stage, my hypothesis is that there is not enough evidence to point to a conflict between Armenia and Diaspora per se just yet. However, if this rift continues and tension rises between the communities, the relationship can further deteriorate and could escalate to conflict
Source:

4. Intro and Purpose
How can we begin to identify what is causing the rift in the relations between Armenia and its Diaspora?
Distinguish between Positions and underlying Interests
Brief overview of Positions vs. Interests in Armenia and Armenian-American Diaspora
What steps can be taken to increase mutual understanding amongst all parties involved?
Move toward Interest-based discussion between parties
Dialogue between Diaspora-Armenia
Further studies, research and projects on this topic

5. Dealing with disagreements and conflicts
Ways to deal with difference
Avoid
Force decision upon another
Compete
Yield to other’s demands
Come to a compromise solution
Parties’ needs are not satisfied
All are based on our Positions
Position is what we seek to achieve in a disagreement or conflict
What are some of the ways people deal with differing opinions, thoughts, issues? Disagreements and conflicts?
We usually insist on satisfying our positions, avoid the issue or yield to the other’s demands.
Sometimes, we come to a compromise agreement.
Very frequently, parties are dissatisfied with compromise solutions because the outcome does not fully satisfy our needs.
For example, consider this story: Lilit and Sarkis argue over the apricot and who’s going to get the last apricot. (1 minute max)

6. Interest-based approach
Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher, William Ury and Bruce Patton offer alternative Interest-based approach
What is the interest-based approach?
Distinguish between Interests and Positions
“Your position is something you have decided upon.
Your interests are what caused you to so decide.”*
Interest is the why question
Apricot Story
Position= Lilit wants the apricot.
Sarkis also wants the apricot.
Interest = Lilit wants the apricot because
she wants the seed inside the apricot.
Whereas, Sarkis wants to actually eat the apricot.
Fisher, Ury and Patton, based at Harvard Law School, offer what they call “principled negotiation” or is also known as “interest-based negotiation” or problem-solving/ integrative approach.
This approach takes into consideration peoples’ interests underlying their positions
In other words, it seeks to have people who are in a disagreement not only to think about their position and what they want to achieve but WHY they want to achieve.
What does this approach look like?
Continue with Lilit and Sarkis apricot story and tell how they could’ve come to a mutually satisfying agreement (30 seconds).
* Source: Getting to Yes p.42

7. Why interest-based approach?
Not all-or-nothing scenarios, potential for “win-win” solutions
There are shared interests
Moves away from disagreement and conflict in a relationship to establishing or strengthening relations between parties
Increase understanding of the interests underlying parties’ positions
Potential to decrease rift or tension in relations and disagreement
This is only a brief introduction to the framework and literature on interest-based negotiation. However, it all begins with understanding and identifying the difference between positions and interests.
By seeking to understand parties’ interests, we can dig beneath their explicitly stated positions to try to find commonality, points of agreement and that’s where there is potential for solutions.
These are some of the benefits of seeking the interest-based approach
Most importantly, parties begin to move closer to each other, to begin to understand the reasons why they believe in their positions.
How do these concepts apply to the relationship between Armenia and the Diaspora, especially after the Armenia-Turkey protocols?

8. How to determine interests
Determining interests
How to go about it:
When you come across a position, ask “why”
Also, ask “why not?” Think about their interests, their choice, what impact it might have on them and their relations with others
Recognize there are many interests involved
Make a list of your Position and Interests
Look at the interests underneath
explicitly made statements
- How to go about determining interests is quite difficult and not so clear.
- Positions are more explicit, whereas interests underlying it are less explicit
- How to go about it…
Source: Getting to Yes, page 44

9. Armenia-Diaspora: Looking at the interests (vs. positions)
Distinguish between the parties’ interests and positions for Armenia and Diaspora
Shift away from focus on Positions
Discussions and dialogue around our Interests between Armenia and Diaspora
Looking ahead, what steps could we take to continue the dialogue and keep lines of communication open?
The reasons why and how we should apply these concepts to the Armenia-Diaspora relationship
Thus, in the Armenia-Diaspora relationship -- for both parties involved to communicate with each other and understand the interests underlying each other’s
positions. Those who support the protocols explain the “why” and vice versa. Those who are against the protocols, communicate the “why”.

10. Defining the Parties involved
Complex nature of both
parties, Armenia and Diaspora
Focus analysis on
Armenia-US Diaspora relations
Next question, who represents Armenian-American Diaspora? And, who represents Armenia?
Perhaps in the future, more actions and projects focusing on an in-depth and inclusive interest-based analysis with all involved parties
Complex nature: Prior to delving into the analysis, there’s a need to recognize the complex nature of the parties involved in both Armenia and Diaspora. Numerous constituencies and organizations comprise each of the parties involved
This analysis will be limited to 1 dimension of the Armenia Diaspora relationship – Armenia and US Diaspora relations. Armenian American community is one of the most active groups in the Diaspora
Yet another issue emerges when discussing the context of the relationship between Armenia and US Diaspora: Who represents the Armenian-American Diaspora? Who represents Armenia? Rather contentious questions that emerged, especially since October This won’t be an issue to take up in this analysis, however, recognition that there are debates on this topic right now.
Recognizing the monumental task of incorporating ALL viewpoints of ALL parties involved, this analysis will be limited to focusing on few key stakeholders or parties both in Armenian-American Diaspora and Armenia.
- Looking to the future, have more in-depth and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders…

11. What are organizations/groups saying?
Based on public statements, press and news releases, this table was put together to extract the positions of the stakeholders/parties identified
Distinguish between the Positions and Interests
This table could be further complete with input by Parties themselves. It would be good to utilize such a framework in the context of a dialogue between the parties and for them to incorporate fill in more interests within that column.
*** Interests –Some of these interests can also be seen as “positions” and would thus need to be collapsed further. Need for engagement / involvement of the groups to provide further contribution toward underlying interests.
*** Also IMPORTANT: Table does not include those who have a position of “undecided.” For future, this is where research can be done in surveying population in general about their positions and underlying interests.
Based on preliminary analysis – it seems that interests of Diasporan organizations are more focused on Genocide recognition, whereas in Armenia it’s more about Armenian development, security and the NK issue

12. Where do we go from here?
Convening sessions to be inclusive of all parties and stakeholders on the topic of Armenia-Turkey protocols
Engage in Dialogue based on interests
Parties distinguish their Positions and Interests
Introduction to Interest-based negotiation and conflict management skills
Propose and implement joint projects
All Armenian Conference(s)
Academic, policymakers, young professionals, politicians and etc.
Research projects focus on Interests-based analysis
The reasons why and how we should apply these concepts to the Armenia-Diaspora relationship
Thus, in the Armenia-Diaspora relationship -- for both parties involved to communicate with each other and understand the interests underlying each other’s
positions. Those who support the protocols explain the “why” and vice versa. Those who are against the protocols, communicate the “why”.

13. Recognizing shared common interests
What goals do we envision for Armenia?
Both in the Diaspora and Armenia there is a desire to ensure:
Nagorno Karabakh issue, security, peace and prosperity
International recognition of Genocide
Trade and economic development of Armenia
Future of Armenian nation
other…
Photo by Arsen Merabyan
With all of this being said, it seems that we all have common interests and goals for Armenia. Perhaps there are differences over HOW to achieve them.
Question is how do we get there? How can we move towards these goals and engage with each other more actively to pursue them and help each other.