Washington DC to host conference “20 Years of Independence in the South Caucasus: Achievements and Challenges”

The issue of Nagorno-Karabakh and other regional conflicts will be discussed at the conference of “Twenty Years of Independence in the South Caucasus: Achievements and Challenges” in Washington DC September 15, by the participation of top US officials and analysts, the organizers informed.

The conference hosted by the New European Democracies Project at CSIS, Washington DC-based think-tank, is particularly timely for several reasons: Russia’s muscle-flexing in anticipation of presidential elections in 2012; Iranian truculence; and recent parliamentary elections in Turkey.

“Moreover, the conference will highlight US foreign policy in the South Caucasus region as it comes under increasing scrutiny in the wake of military withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan”, said the organizers.

Jennifer Walsh, Pentagon’s Principal Director for Eurasia, as well as Eric Rubin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia will be represent the US Government in the discussions.

Besides that, Department of Justice and USAID representative will e participate at the conference

Some prominent analysts on the region, such as Janusz Bugajski from CSIS, Ariel Cohen from Heritage Foundation, Svante Cornell from CACI, Jon Chicky from the Defense University, and also Col. Robert Hamilton from the Army War College will make special speeches over the topics.

Azerbaijan will be represented at the panel by Heydar Mirza, analyst from the Council for International Relations of Azerbaijan, Georgia - by Mamuka Tsereteli from American University and Armenia - by Rouben Shougarian from Tufts University.


/APA/