This is to express our deepest regret and concern regarding the announcement made by Yerevan State University through which the latter refused to take part and host the annual international workshop of the “Caucasus and Byzantium from late antiquity through the middle ages’’ project organized by the Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies of the Central European University (CEU).

Being based in Budapest, Hungary, Central European University is accredited in both the USA and Europe. It is an international (not a Hungarian!) education institution. What is more, the workshop is planned to be held in Yerevan, not in Budapest.

While we fully understand and share the feelings of our compatriots in relation to Hungarian government’s  indefensible decision, we do not feel that our withdrawal from international academic and cultural forums will either enforce that message or contribute to the resolution of the current situation. Moreover, we believe that irrespective of the politics involved and further diplomatic clarifications the academic and cultural dialogue and cooperation should not be jeopardized.

Taking into account the above written, we request Yerevan State University to reconsider its decision and participate in the workshop. It is our belief that in this situation the academic communities could help overcome this difficult moment and the partnership between the two higher education institutions will continue and grow.