Azerbaijan in a Changing Caucasus: Developments in Foreign and Domestic Policies

Azerbaijan has recently embarked on a series of reforms to modernize the country’s economic and social policies. In foreign relations, Azerbaijan is in the final stages of negotiating an enhanced cooperation agreement with the European Union, and continues to work toward the realization of the Southern Gas Corridor. Increased diplomatic activity has intensified expectations surrounding the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, while U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton's visit to the South Caucasus in October also suggests growing U.S. engagement. The American Foreign Policy Council's Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and the Center for Strategic & International Studies held a discussion with three senior Azerbaijani parliamentarians, who provided an update on developments in Azerbaijan and the region.

Speakers: 

Mr. Samad Seyidov – Chairman of the Committee on Foreign and Interparliamentary Relations of Parliament, Head of Azerbaijan-USA working group on interparliamentary relations 
Ms. Sahiba Gafarova – Member of the Committee on Foreign and Interparliamentary Relations of Parliament
Mr. Asim Mollazada – Member of the Committee on Foreign and Interparliamentary Relations of Parliament

Introduction: Svante Cornell, Director, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute

Moderator: Jeff Mankoff, Deputy Director, Russia & Eurasia Program, CSIS

Where: Center for Strategic and Intenational Studies: 1616 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Concourse Level, Washington, DC 20036

When: Friday, March 29, 2019 from 12:00 - 1:30 pm

 Caucasus and Central Asia: Economic Outlook and Policy Challenges

The growth momentum in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) is expected to stabilize in 2018 and the medium term. Still, it will take almost two decades to raise CCA living standards to the current levels of their peers. What does it take for countries in the region to move to a private-sector-led growth model? How can they build buffers, address weaknesses in the financial sector, and tackle high public debt? And how can growth be made more inclusive—so that it benefits all through job creation, higher incomes, and more opportunities?

Speaker: Juha Kähkönen, Deputy Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF

Moderator: S. Frederick Starr, Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council

Where: American Foreign Policy Council: 509 C Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

When: Friday, December 14, 2018 from 12:30 - 2:00 pm, 

RSVP: Click HERE to register

 How Can CAMCA Countries Help Rebuild Afghanistan?

The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute presented the Fall's team of Rumsfeld Fellows, emerging leaders from the Caucasus, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Central Asia - which the alumni themselves have dubbed the 'CAMCA Region.' 

At this session, the fellows focused on the role of the regional neighbors and partners in the process of rebuilding Afghanistan. Stability and prosperity in Afghanistan are an important contributor to emerging regionalism in CAMCA and integration of the region in global economy.

Fellows: 

Ms. Hadeia Amiry, Special Adviser, National Security Council of Afghanistan

Ms. Anna Sarkisyan, Defense and Security Program, Transparency International Armenia

Mr. Rufat Abbasov, Founding Partner, Synergy Partnership, LLC, Azerbaijan

Ms. Natia Gvenetadze, Head of the Professional and Institutional Development Department,
Defense Institution Building School, Ministry of Defense of Georgia

Mr. Ruslan Kozhakhmetov, Vice-Rector for corporate development, Almaty Management University, Kazakhstan

Mr. Nurlan Kyshtobaev, Partner, GRATA Law Firm, Kyrgyzstan

Mr. Enerelt Batbold, CFO/Director of Finance Department, Mongolian Railways State Owned Shareholding Company

Mr. Munkhnaran Bayarlkhagva, Policy Analyst, National Security Council of Mongolia

Ms. Zarrina Abdulalieva, Country Officer, World Bank Office in Tajikistan

Mr. Malik Mukhitdinov, Program Officer, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Uzbekistan Representative Office

Ms. Hilola Muminova, Director, Business Development Group, Uzbekistan

Moderator: S. Frederick Starr, Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council

Where: Middle East Institute: 1319 18th Street NW, 20036

When: Tuesday, November 6, 2018 from 4:00 - 6 pm, 

Full Recording Available Below.

 Opening Up in the Caucasus and Central Asia: Policy Frameworks to Support Regional and Global Integration

The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute's (CACI) Forum continued its long-term partnership with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to present it's semi-annual Economic Outlook for the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) and a special paper on how to leverage regional and global integration to capitalize on the more favorable global environment. The subject of discussion is of particular significance in times of profound political and economic changes in the region. 

Speakers:

Juha Kähkönen, Deputy Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF 

Peter Kunzel, Assistant to Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF

Moderator: Mamuka Tsereteli, Senior Research Fellow, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute

Where: Middle East Institute: 1319 18th Street NW, 20036

When: Tuesday, June 5, 2018 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm

Video Below

 CACI Forum with the Rumsfeld Fellows - Impact of Digital Connectivity on Governance and Economies of CAMCA Countries

The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute presented this spring's team of Rumsfeld Fellows, emerging leaders from the Caucasus, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Central Asia (which the alumni themselves have dubbed the 'CAMCA Region.') At this session, they discussed how new platforms of digital connectivity between CAMCA countries can contribute to diversifying and strenthening of national economies, accelerate emerging regionalism in CAMCA and help to better integrate the region into the world economy.

Moderator:
S. Frederick Starr, Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute

For a list of the 2018 Spring Central Asia-Caucasus Fellows, a partnership between the Rumsfeld Foundation and American Foreign Policy Council's Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, click HERE.

 For a link to the Rumfeld Fellows' Presentation, click HERE.

Where: The Middle East Institute, 1319 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036

When: Wednesday, May 2, 2018 from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm