NATIONAL SECURITY, FOREIGN POLICY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF POST-SOVIET AZERBAIJAN

Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (CERES) at the Munk Centre for International Relations at the University of Toronto and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Canada will organize a scholarly conference exploring Azerbaijan on March 28, 2008. The event will be held at Father Madden Hall, University of St Michael's College (100 St Joseph Street) and is scheduled to start at 12:00 PM.

Azerbaijan has become a country of interest for many scholars, statesmen and businessmen around the globe. In the years to come, this interest is expected only to grow due to Azerbaijan's geostrategic location and energy resources. This event brings together scholars and practitioners so as to review the developments in Azerbaijan, its role
in the region and its policy objectives. The conference will shed light on an array of topics from regional cooperation to the economic boom of the past few years, from national security to issues of international strategic partnership, and more.

The speakers will place Azerbaijan in the historical and modern context of the region and will explore the roles that the country has started to play or is likely to play in the near future. Commentaries by Dr. Robert Austin and Dr. Edward Schatz will follow the presentations.

Professor Thomas Goltz, author of Azerbaijan Diary, a much-acclaimed account of Azerbaijan's immediate post-Soviet years, will deliver a lecture titled: "Seventeen Years of Association With The Land of Fire: Prof. Thomas Goltz reflects on nearly two decades of change in Azerbaijan, from the 'failed state' of the early 1990s to the regional
powerhouse of the early 21st century."

Mr. Yashar Aliyev, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States, will speak about Azerbaijan-US relationship in the fields of security and energy cooperation. Mr. Tofiq Musayev, director of the Strategic Analysis Department at the Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will elaborate on the "Foreign Policy Priorities of Azerbaijan".

Dr Taras Kuzio will expound on regional cooperation and integration into the Transatlantic structures. Aslan Amani will speak about the political and civic-culture implications of the regional and national developments. The speeches and commentaries will be followed by an academic debate and a luncheon/reception that will allow Canadian students of international relations and Eurasian politics to converse
with the experts on a more personal basis.

For further information about the conference and registration please
contact Aslan Amani at aslan.amani@utoronto.ca

In order to register please send an email with a subject line
"AZERBAIJAN CONFERENCE" and in the message body include your full name
and institutional affiliation.