Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) and The Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) organized a joint conference on April 21st, in Brussels called "Caucasian Future: Transformation and Integration for Caucasian Stability and Development"
BRUSSELS - Caucasian Future: Transformation and Integration for Stability and Development conference was held on 21st of April 2008 in Brussels by Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (EPRI) and The Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).
During the opening session EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby; TEPAV's Managing Director Güven Sak, and CEPS' representative Michael Emerson addressed their remarks on the importance of regional integration.
In the first session, political transition for regional stability in the Southern Caucasus was discussed by the experts from the region. While David Darchiashvili from Open Society Georgia Foundation analyzed Georgia's transformation since late Shavarnadze period, Alexander Iskandaryan a political analyst based in Yerevan who is also the Director of Caucasus Media Institute highlighted Russia's role in Armenian politics. With the cancellation of Azeri expert, Mitat Çelikpala from TOBB University of Economics and Technology addressed a speech on the influential regional actors.
Second session of the conference focused on the challenges of economic transformation and emerging market relations. Vladimer Papava, former Minister of Economy of the Republic of Georgia (1994-2000) who is also the current Member of Parliament, pointed out challenges and improved areas that have a direct effect on Georgian economy. From Armenian International Policy Research Group, Mher Baghramyan evaluated Armenia's economy and put emphasis on eight policy challenges such as jobless growth, low productivity, under developed financial sector, monopolies etc... Nazım İmanov, former Deputy of the Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijan, explained the economic transformation of his country and highlighted the role of oil and gas resources in economic growth.
State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration of Georgia, Giorgi Baramidze, participated to the third session on "International Challenges and Conflict Resolution" and described Georgia's approach to resolve crises as committed and calm. During the same session Gayane Novikova representative of Center for Strategic Analysis from Armenia and Tabib Huseynov an analyst at the International Crisis Group in Baku evaluated the topic from their perspectives for Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Last panel discussion of the conference was on the prospects for regional cooperation and integration. Rasim Musabeyov from Azerbaijan and David Shahnazaryan from Armenia, rate the role of the third parties for regional cooperation. Tedo Japaridze from Georgia called attention to the need of a global perspective and importance of educating the third parties who could involve in resolution. Representatives of think-tanks, academics, both bureaucrats of EU and diplomats from the permanent representatives of the regional countries as well as the media correspondents attended to the all day long conference.