Twenty Years of Independence in the South Caucasus
We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming conference –"Twenty Years of Independence in the South Caucasus: Achievements and Challenges" – hosted by the New European Democracies Project at CSIS. The event will take place on Thursday, September 15, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the B1 conference level of CSIS. Please refer to the agenda below for further details.
The event 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 U.S. foreign policy in the South Caucasus region as it comes under increasing scrutiny in the wake of military withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan.
To RSVP for this event please send your confirmation to NEDP@csis.org
CSIS Conference, Thursday September 15, 2011
20 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS:
ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES
Conference Agenda:
9.00am: Introductions
Janusz Bugajski, Lavrentiadis Chair Holder and Director, CSIS
Ariel Cohen, Senior Fellow, Heritage Foundation
9.10-9.30am: Opening Remarks
Jennifer Walsh, Principal Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, Department of Defense
9.30-11.00am: Panel One: Tumultuous Independence -- Lessons Learned
Chair: Ariel Cohen, Heritage Foundation
Andy Kuchins, Senior Fellow and Director, CSIS
Georgia's experience: Mamuka Tsereteli, Director, Center for Blac Sea-Caspian Studies, American University
Azerbaijan's experience: Reshad Karimov, Foreign Policy Analyst, Center for Strategic Studies of Azerbaijan
Armenia's experience: Dr. Rouben Shougarian, Tufts University
Justin Friedman, Director, The Office of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts, Department of State Commentator: Col. Jon Chicky, NDU
11.40-1.00pm: Panel Two: Uncertain Futures - What is to be done?
Chair: Janusz Bugajski, CSIS
Security: Col. Robert Hamilton, U.S. Army War College
Energy: Ariel Cohen, Heritage Foundation
Rule of Law: Catherine Newcombe, Regional Director for Eurasia, Department of Justice
Civil Society and Governance: Alex Sokolowski, Acting Team Leader, Democracy & Governance office, USAID
Future Geopolitical Scenarios: Angela Stent, Director, Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, Georgetown University
1.15-1.45pm Luncheon Keynote: Building Partnerships with the West
Svante Cornell, Research Director SAIS/Central Asia-Caucasus Institute
2.00pm: Concluding Comments
Janusz Bugajski, CSIS
Ariel Cohen, Heritage Foundation
