Leveraging Political Change in a Context of Strategic Volatility
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
The EU and the South Caucasus 25 Years Since Independence Nov 25, 2016 by Amanda Paul
The EU and the South Caucasus 25 Years Since Independence Nov 25, 2016 by Amanda Paul Wedged between regional powers Russia, Iran and Turkey, the South Caucasus is an extraordinarily complex region; one of the most security-challenged and fragmented regions in the world with internal and external security threats working to reinforce each other. The three South Caucasus states – Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan – are complicated even in their internal configuration. Twenty-five years since the collapse of the Soviet Union the region remains plagued by conflict, its people living in insecurity. Moreover, the region has not been politically or economically integrated. Rather Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have integrated into a wide-range of different, sometimes opposing, organisations and alliances. The EU joined the mix of actors and organisations engaged in the South Caucasus in the early 1990‟s intensifying its engagement over the years with the three states becoming part of the EU‟s European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and Eastern Partnership (EaP). Despite hopes that the ENP/EaP could act as transformative tool to help strengthen stability, security, democracy and bring about a more cohesive region, the results have been rather patchy. The EU has failed to carve out a clear strategy or policy for the region and with the exception of Georgia there has been little genuine will to implement serious reform. Moreover, Russia‟s annexation of Crimea and war in the Donbas in 2014 and the increasingly polarised standoff between Moscow and the West has further exacerbated the fragile security situation, further exposing the inability of the EU to guarantee or even shore-up a partner‟s security. -
ECONOMY of AZERBAIJAN 25 Years of Independence
ECONOMY OF AZERBAIJAN 25 Years of Independence Prof. Dr. Osman Nuri Aras Fatih University, Istanbul, Turkey Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elchin Suleymanov Qafqaz University, Baku, Azerbaijan Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karim Mammadov Western University, Baku, Azerbaijan DESIGN Sahib Kazimov PRINTING AND BINDERING “Sharg-Garb” Publishing House A§iq aiesgar kiig., No: 17, Xatai rayonu, Baki, Azarbaycan; Tel: (+99412) 374 83 43 ISBN: 978-9952*468-57-1 © Prof. Dr. Osman Nuri Aras. Baki, 2016 © Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elchin Suleymanov. Baki. 2016 © Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karim Mammadov. Baki. 2016 Foreword During every work, whether it is academic or professional, we interact, get assistance and are guided by certain group of people who value and assist us to achieve our targets. We are sure that the people who support us and provide valuable contribution to the English version of this book will not be limited in a short list, but we would like to mention, and in certain ways, express our acknowledgement to the people who enabled us to get on a track and deliver the book in a few months. Thanks to Turan Agayeva, Ulker Gurbaneliyeva, Khayala Mahmudiu and especially to Tural Hasanov for their help in preparing and delivering this book to your valuable consideration. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT AZERBAIJAN The Establishment of the Republic of Azerbaijan 28 May 1918 The independence Day 18 October 1991 Joining to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 30 January 1992 Joining to the United Nations 2 March 1992 Joining to the Commonweaith of independent States 19 September 1995 Joining to the Council of Europe 17 January2001 Area (thousand km^) 86.6 Population, (thousand person) (According to the beginning of 2015) 9593.0 Density of population in Ikm^(person) 111 Capital Baku Official Language Azerbaijan Currency Manat The course of Manat to Dollar (07.02.2016) 0.6389 The Head of State President ___ ________________________ ____ ______ ' .L-L; r - j = r . -
Programme of the Youth, Peace and Security Conference
1 Wednesday, 23 May European Parliament – open to all participants – 12:00 – 13:00 Registration European Parliament Accreditation Centre (right-hand side of the Simone Veil Agora entrance to the Altiero Spinelli building) 13:00 – 14:00 Buffet lunch reception Members’ Restaurant, Altiero Spinelli building 14:00 – 15:00 Opening Session Room 5G-3, Altiero Spinelli building Keynote Address by Mr. Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament Chair Ms. Heidi Hautala, Vice-President of the European Parliament Speakers Ms. Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Ms. Ivana Tufegdzic, fYROM, EP Young Political Leaders Mr. Dereje Wordofa, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director Ms. Nour Kaabi, Tunisia, NET-MED Youth – UNESCO Mr. Oyewole Simon Oginni, Nigeria, Former AU-EU Youth Fellow 2 15:00 – 16:30 Parallel Thematic Panel Discussions Panel I Youth inclusion for conflict prevention and sustaining peace Library reading room, Altiero Spinelli building Discussants Ms. Soraya Post, Member of the European Parliament Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Mr. Christian Leffler, Deputy Secretary-General, European External Action Service Mr. Amnon Morag, Israel, EP Young Political Leaders Ms. Hela Slim, France, Former AU-EU Youth Fellow Mr. MacDonald K. Munyoro, Zimbabwe, EP Young Political Leaders Facilitator Ms. Gizem Kilinc, United Network of Young Peacebuilders Panel II Young people innovating for peace Library room 128, Altiero Spinelli building Discussants Ms. Barbara Pesce-Monteiro, Director, UN/UNDP Representation Office in Brussels Ms. Anna-Katharina Deininger, OSCE CiO Special Representative and OSG Focal Point on Youth and Security Ms. -
Russian Hybrid Tactics in Georgia
Russian Hybrid Tactics in Georgia Niklas Nilsson SILK ROAD PAPER January 2018 Russian Hybrid Tactics in Georgia Niklas Nilsson © Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program – A Joint Transatlantic Research and Policy Center American Foreign Policy Council, 509 C St NE, Washington D.C. Institute for Security and Development Policy, V. Finnbodavägen 2, Stockholm-Nacka, Sweden www.silkroadstudies.org “Russian Hybrid Tactics in Georgia” is a Silk Road Paper published by the Central Asia- Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program, Joint Center. The Silk Road Papers Series is the Occasional Paper series of the Joint Center, and addresses topical and timely subjects. The Joint Center is a transatlantic independent and non-profit research and policy center. It has offices in Washington and Stockholm and is affiliated with the American Foreign Policy Council and the Institute for Security and Development Policy. It is the first institution of its kind in Europe and North America, and is firmly established as a leading research and policy center, serving a large and diverse community of analysts, scholars, policy-watchers, business leaders, and journalists. The Joint Center is at the forefront of research on issues of conflict, security, and development in the region. Through its applied research, publications, research cooperation, public lectures, and seminars, it functions as a focal point for academic, policy, and public discussion regarding the region. The opinions and conclusions expressed in this study are those of -
Appeasement and Autonomy | Armenian
APPEASEMENT AND AUTONOMY BRIEF / 2 Jan 2021 Armenian-Russian relations from revolution to war by GEOPOLITICALSERIES Narek Sukiasyan PhD candidate and teaching associate at Yerevan State University, Armenia Summary › Armenia’s 2018 Velvet Revolution did not INTRODUCTION change the country’s foreign and secu- rity policy priorities: a close security al- Armenia’s foreign policy and its role in the post-Soviet liance with Russia has been used to bal- space are often characterised as ‘pro-Russian’. While ance its regional adversaries Turkey and such a description is partially true, it is overly sim- Azerbaijan; however, the revolutionary plistic. This Brief analyses the main trends and evolu- prime minister Nikol Pashinyan has also at- tions in Armenia’s Russia policy after the 2018 Velvet tempted to increase Armenia’s autonomy Revolution: how the changes have influenced Russia’s vis-à-vis Russia. approach towards Armenia, how these dynamics af- › Pashinyan’s attempts to address the for- fect Armenia’s autonomy and what the consequences mer presidents’ abuses of power and cur- of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war are for Armenia’s tail Russian influence in Armenia, coupled regional security and alliances. with moves that could have been interpret- ed as anti-Russian, have created tensions After the revolution and up until the 2020 with Moscow. Nagorno-Karabakh war, no substantial strategic changes were made to Armenian foreign policy. The › The need to sustain the strategic alliance leadership has avoided framing its external affairs in circumstances in which the Kremlin has in geopolitical ‘pro or against’ terms, promoting a been deeply mistrustful of Armenia’s new ‘pro-Armenian’ policy that aims to maintain good re- leadership has forced Pashinyan’s govern- lations in all directions and prioritises sovereignty as ment to appease Russia. -
Doing Business in Azerbaijan
Doing Business in Azerbaijan 2019 Tax and Legal kpmg.az Doing Business in Azerbaijan 2019 Tax and Legal www.kpmg.az 4 Doing Business in Azerbaijan 2019 Contents Contents 4 Foreign investment 21 Foreign investment 21 About KPMG 7 Investment promotion certificates 22 Introduction to Azerbaijan 9 Safeguards for foreign investors 22 Investment climate 9 Bilateral investment treaties 23 Living and working in Azerbaijan – useful tips 10 Licensing requirements 25 Starting a business 13 Land ownership and Overview of commercial legal entities 13 other related rights 29 Types of legal entities 13 Documents confirming rights over land 29 Representative offices and branches 13 Technology parks 31 Joint-stock company (“JSC”) 14 Foreign trade 31 - Open joint-stock companies 14 - Closed joint-stock companies 14 Banking 33 An Azerbaijani subsidiary 15 Secured transactions 35 Limited liability companies (“LLC”) 15 Litigation and arbitration 37 Additional liability companies (“ALC”) 15 Strategic road maps 41 Partnerships 15 State digital payments Cooperatives 15 expansion programme 43 - Membership of a cooperative 16 Special economic zones 45 Registration 16 Alat Free Economic Zone 46 - LLC 16 - JSC 16 Intellectual property 49 - Branches or representative offices 16 Introduction 49 De-registration of companies 17 - Stage 1 17 Legislation 49 - Stage 2 18 Trademarks 50 Registration of changes 19 Patent protection of inventions, industrial designs, and utility models 50 Copyright 51 © 2019 KPMG Azerbaijan Limited. All rights reserved. Doing Business in Azerbaijan -
OHCHR) Under Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/43/37
Submission for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) under Human Rights Council resolution A/HRC/43/37 June 2020 This is the second written submission for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to providing information on the human rights situation in occupied Abkhazia, Georgia, and the occupied Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia under the HRC resolution A/HRC/43/37. The submission is provided by the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC), a human rights organization, that works to support the creation of a free, equal society based on solidarity. EMC covers existing challenges and works on structural violence and repression in an interdisciplinary manner. Furthermore, EMC’s Equality Policy Program is engaged in assessing and advocacy of human rights challenges in the occupied territories of Georgia, Due to the lack of a political and legal solution to the prolonged conflict in the mentioned two regions, the protection of human rights is challenged and undermined. For decades this situation is deteriorating and unfortunately, the resolution is frequently politicized and is used by the political powers to gain additional leverage over each other. In particular, de facto authorities and the Russian Federation are often using their de facto and effective control over the region to gain further political power via their discriminatory policies towards ethnic Georgians living in these territories. Furthermore, their policies are infringing social, political and civil rights of Abkhazians and Ossetians as self-isolation and restrictive approaches affect their fundamental rights, including freedom of movement, education, right to adequate healthcare, etc. Bearing in mind the limited space of the submission we would like to highlight several problems applicable to the reporting period only. -
£AZERBAIJAN @Hostages in the Context of the Karabakh Conflict - an Update
£AZERBAIJAN @Hostages in the context of the Karabakh conflict - an update Introduction Hostage-taking has been an intractable problem since the beginning of the conflict over Karabakh - an area of Azerbaijan populated mainly by ethnic Armenians. Over 20,000 people are estimated to have died in this conflict which has spread beyond Karabakh, now under the overall control of ethnic Armenian forces, to other areas of Azerbaijan which they have occupied. Hundreds of people, many unarmed civilians, have been held as hostages by all sides to the conflict. These hostages have been held by private individuals, with the knowledge and/or complicity of the authorities. They have also been held by the authorities themselves, who in some cases are reported to have detained people and then distributed them as hostages to private families who have members held as hostages by the other side. There have been many reports of torture and ill-treatment in detention. The self-perpetuating cycle of taking hostages to exchange for those held by the other side has been exacerbated by the activity of intermediaries, who have brokered hostage distribution to families, or their exchange, for money. Even corpses are traded. Humanitarian law forbids hostage-taking under any circumstances. Amnesty International has persistently appealed to all parties to the conflict to ensure that no one is detained as a hostage, or otherwise held solely on the grounds of their ethnic origin. The organization strongly believes that all human rights violations are to be deplored and that in no circumstances can abuses perpetrated by one party be used as justification for abuses carried out by another. -
PROTOCOL No of the SITTING of the ANTI-CORRUPTION
PROTOCOL No OF THE SITTING OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION COUNCIL HELD ON 17 FEBRUARY 2017, AT 12:00 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- city of Yerevan With the participation of: Members of the Council: K. Karapetyan Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Chairperson of the Council V. Gabrielyan Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms of the Republic of Armenia D. Harutyunyan Minister-Chief of Staff of the Government of the Republic of Armenia A. Hovhannisyan Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia V. Aramyan Minister of Finance of the Republic of Armenia S. Karayan Minister of Economic Development and Investments of the Republic of Armenia A. Tatoyan Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia S. Sahakyan Chairperson of the Commission on Ethics of High-Ranking Officials H. Aslanyan Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia V. Manukyan President of the Public Council of the Republic of Armenia (upon consent) K. Zadoyan Representative of the Anti -Corruption Coalition of Civil Society Organisations of Armenia, "Armenian Lawyers' Association" NGO Invitees: A. Shaboyan Chairp erson of the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition of the Republic of Armenia A. Khudaverdyan Deputy Chairperson of the Commission on Ethics of High-Ranking Officials V. Terteryan First Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Development of the Republic of Armenia K. Areyan First Deputy Mayor of Yerevan A. Sargsyan Deputy Minister -Chief of Staff of the Government of the Republic of Armenia A. Nazaryan Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia Kh. Hakobyan Deputy Minister of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia K. -
Resisting Foreign State Propaganda in the New Information Environment: the Case of the EU, Russia, and the Eastern Partnership Countries ISBN 978-9934-8536-9-2
RESISTING FOREIGN STATE PROPAGANDA IN THE NEW INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT: THE CASE OF THE EU, RUSSIA, AND THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES ISBN 978-9934-8536-9-2 UDK 32.019.5 Re708 This publication is a part of the project “Resisting state propaganda in the new information environment: The case of EU member states and EU Eastern Partnership states vis-à-vis the Russian Federation publication/re- search” organised by the Foundation for European Pro- gressive Studies (FEPS) with the support of Brīvības un Solidaritātes Fonds (BSF). RESISTING FOREIGN STATE PROPAGANDA IN THE NEW INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT: THE CASE OF THE EU, RUSSIA, AND THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES Table of contents Foreword Dr. Ernst Stetter 11 Foreword Ervins Labanovskis 17 PART I: INCREASING RESISTANCE TO PROPAGANDA WITHIN THE EU Countering propaganda in Europe: Responses and options Ben Nimmo 23 The role of national strategic narrative in raising resilience to hostile foreign propaganda in European societies Māris Cepurītis 39 Increasing the resistance of democratic states to hostile foreign propaganda— what is the right recipe? Elīna Lange-Ionatamišvili 52 The Audiovisual Media Services Directive and propaganda Andris Mellakauls 71 7 Key findings of the EED’s Feasibility PART III: THE VIEW FROM Study on independent Russian- THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES language media initiatives in the Eastern Partnership and beyond Farther from Russky Mir, Jerzy Pomianowski 89 Closer to the West Tamar Kintsurashvili 173 PART II: THE VIEW FROM THE BALTIC STATES Russian propaganda -
Serzh Sargsyan
Poll: A Snapshot ahead of Armenia’s Presidential Elections Main findings 25 January 2013 CONTENT 1. Methodology and quality control of the survey 2. Interest and awareness in politics 3. The situation in Armenia 4. Voting intentions in the presidential elections 5. Voter characteristics and motivations 2 1. Methodology and quality control of the survey 3 Methodology • A multi-stage, random (probability) sampling design was used. In the first stage, primary sampling units (PSU) were selected from each of the administrative regional units. This was agreed as best methodology between TNS opinion and IPSC . • 1,607 interviews conducted face to face between 15 January – 20 January 2013. • Interviews were conducted in all 10 regions (marzes) of Armenia and in all Yerevan communities. The sample was distributed proportionally to reflect the population distribution in Armenia, with 34.1% of interviews conducted in Yerevan and 65.9 % in the marzes. • Interviewers selected households using the random walking method to ensure that there is no selection bias. To ensure a random selection, the person interviewed in each household was the adult whose birthday was closest to the day of the interview. • If a respondent was not immediately available, 1 to 2 call-back visits were done to conduct the interview later. If a call-back visit was not successful or if a respondent could not take part for other reasons, the interviewer approached the next randomly selected household according to the random walking method. • The sampling procedure was monitored by using a detailed contact sheet for each interviewer. The data base was analysed by TNS opinion in order to ensure that interviewers followed the instructions. -
Turkey Into the Abyss? Suna Erdem on Whether Turkey’S Politicians Can Prevent a Catastrophe from Unfolding
Inside this issue: Out of Africa for Russian banking exile Jennings Mattoni puts the fizz into Central European waters Slovakia’s Fico told to take November 2015 www.bne.eu his trousers down GBP 4.50/USD 6.75/EUR 5.90 Turkey into the abyss? Suna Erdem on whether Turkey’s politicians can prevent a catastrophe from unfolding Special Report: Ben Aris looks at Georgian PM CEE/CIS Bank Moscow Exchange’s Garibashvili Survey 2015 revival p. 12 talks China, p. 28 Russia and trade p. 60 ISSN 2059-2736 ISSN bne November 2015 Contents I 3 Senior editorial board Ben Aris (Moscow) +7 9162903400 editor-in-chief [email protected] 20 10 James R Hammond (Boston) +1 6178525441 publisher [email protected] Nicholas Watson (Prague) +42 0731582719 managing editor [email protected] Robert Anderson (Prague) +42 0603517867 news editor [email protected] Liam Halligan (London) +44 7801799279 editor-at-large [email protected] Central Asia 15 Naubet Bisenov (Almaty) +7 7015933810 bureau chief [email protected] Eastern Europe 6 THE MONTH THAT WAS 28 SPECIAL REPORT – Nicholas Allen (Berlin) +49 15730395872 CEE/CIS Bank Survey 2015 bureau chief [email protected] Central Europe COMPANIES & MARKETS Tim Gosling (Prague) +42 0720180811 36 COVER FEATURE bureau chief [email protected] 10 Out of Africa for Russia Southeast Europe banking exile Jennings Turkey into the abyss? Clare Nuttall (Bucharest) +7 7073011495 bureau chief [email protected] 11 Russia’s central bank limits foreign shareholder voting Advertising & subscription CENTRAL EUROPE Elena Arbuzova (Moscow) +7 9160015510 business