EGF convenes high level expert seminar on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution in Tbilisi

Published on EGF: 30.07.2015

by EGF Editorial

On 22 July 2015, EGF convened a further dialogue event between Armenian and Azerbaijani experts in its ongoing sequence on "What the South Caucasus Region Could Be: Exploring the Role of Economic Initiatives as Peace Building Tools in the Nagorno-Karabakh Context" in Tbilisi (Georgia). Similar to previous events of this nature held in 2014, the Tbilisi meeting unfolded in a constructive atmosphere and aimed to assess the role of economic initiatives in building peace in the Nagorno-Karabakh context. More than 25 experts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, NATO and EUMM participated in the meeting, which offered a unique opportunity to collect and discuss feedback on the conclusions of the Armenian-Azerbaijani economic dialogue held last year in Brussels and Berlin. Constructive recommendations on priority areas for expansion and deepening of the dialogue process were also put forward, with participants working towards the ‘end game’ of a post-conflict scenario where a comprehensive road map for regional economic development starts to emerge.

The concept of the road map was developed by participants during the afternoon session of the Tbilisi event. During this session, participants simulated futuristic negotiations on an enhanced roadmap for the implementation of the economic components of a fictitious peace agreement built upon the Madrid Principles. The exercise was intended to reflect a possible real life situation which may occur in the Nagorno-Karabakh context at a future date. Participants successfully advanced the negotiation of the roadmap in spite of an apparent political and security deadlock which stood in the way of implementing the peace agreement. Negotiations were conducted via the advent of a ‘post-conflict scenario’ set in the year 2020. Participants were provided with detailed instructions against which negotiations could be developed.

Please click here to see the agenda of the seminar, including the post-conflict scenario/background documents for the peace agreement and simulated negotiations.
Please click here to see the EGF presentation on the role of economic incentives.
Please click here to see Dr Anna Ohanyan’s detailed presentation.
Please click here to read the discussion paper distributed to participants in advance of the Tbilisi event.

 |  Security  |  The Caucasus and the Black Sea