Kirsti Narinen, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to the South Caucasus, visited the Faculty of Journalism at Yerevan State University.
During her visit, Naghash Martirosyan, the Dean of the Faculty of Journalism, provided the ambassador with an overview of the faculty’s educational programs, its priorities in the labor market, and its collaborations with international partners.
The meeting focused on exploring potential avenues for cooperation. As a gesture of goodwill and commitment to dialogue, Ambassador Kirsti Narinen presented the dean with a book.
Following this, the ambassador met with students and delivered a lecture on one of today’s most pressing issues—hybrid threats. She emphasized the challenges posed by the information age and praised the democratic processes in Armenia.
The lecture centered on the importance of freedom of speech, media independence, strengthening democracy, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights. The ambassador underlined that hybrid threats are not only external but also internal challenges for states, disrupting public opinion, the functioning of democratic institutions, and public trust.
The meeting took an interactive format, with a Q&A session allowing students to actively participate. In addition to listening attentively, students engaged in meaningful discussions, responding to the ambassador’s inquiries and raising concerns regarding media responsibility, national vulnerabilities, and information security.
Ambassador Kirsti Narinen’s visit further highlighted the critical role of journalists in the information age. As states face complex challenges across political, social, security, and other sectors, journalists play a pivotal role in safeguarding democracy, strengthening legal systems, raising public awareness, and earning public trust.
