Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SAM)
Baku - 2008
Introduction
The Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SAM) was established with the purpose of implementing the coordination of strategic studies carried out in the Republic of Azerbaijan and also providing scientific-analytical information to high-ranking public administration bodies within the Government of Azerbaijan. It was founded on November 12, 2007 by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev.
The adopted SAM Charter states general provisions, rights, responsibilities and objectives of the Center. The Center was registered at the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan Republic on November 16, 2007 under registration number 1107-Q19-2445.
In the context of globalization, the dynamic development and successful integration of Azerbaijan into the world economy requires implementation of strategic research for government institutions, preparation of forecasts to improve management processes, the analysis of the socio-political situation within the society, sociological surveys and the coordination of strategic research carried out by the relevant government structures. There is also a need to implement large-scale programs based on reliable scientific concepts, in order to bring international awareness to the realities of Azerbaijan related to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. All of the above have lead to the creation of SAM[1].
In its activities, the Center is guided by the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan, by international treaties, of which Azerbaijan is a strong supporter, decrees and orders of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic, regulations and orders of the Cabinet of Ministers and by its Charter[2]. SAM conducts comprehensive studies of various strategic aspects of international relations, defines and specifies the strategic interests of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the priority directions of domestic and foreign policy. It also searches for new directions and approaches in the development of relations with the countries that meet the strategic interests of Azerbaijan; paying special attention to the current political situation, it explores regional issues, conducts research in the sphere of development of bilateral relations with neighboring states, prepares forecasts, various programs, concepts and doctrines[3].
By the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated February 8, 2008, Dr. Elkhan Nuriyev was appointed to the position of Director of the Center for Strategic Studies. In the same month, the Center began its activities at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, where it was temporarily located.
SAM Research Directions
The main purpose of the Center is to monitor the situation and events in the country and the region, analyze these events and prepare proposals and recommendations on the basis of these studies for the administration of the Republic.
The activities of the Center for Strategic Studies are formed along several important directions. These are the geopolitical processes happening in the world; the analysis and forecast of world politics, research and study of significant factors that may influence these processes; the preparation of various programs and concepts on the basis of this work.
Implemented work
From the first days of its activities, within the framework of internal and external cooperation, the Center for Strategic Studies has implemented a number of projects: organized and conducted international conferences, forums, symposia, and established close partnerships with local and foreign media to prepare various articles and interviews. At the same time, SAM has been working on the first edition of “Azerbaijan Focus” journal and the Center’s website – www.sam.gov.az.
Staffing of the Center is still in progress. Following the goals of the organization, the Center for Strategic Studies is undertaking certain initiatives that would benefit its employees and the Center in general. For example, one of the staff members of the Center was sent on a two-week training course to Weimar, Germany and took part in the conference “Cultural Heritage of Europe - Results of Intercultural Dialogue and Ways Forward”. In January 2009, the Center is planning to send another researcher to pursue a Master’s degree at the US Naval Postgraduate School in California.
In the framework of international cooperation, the Center for Strategic Studies has held major conferences and symposia in Moscow, Baku, London and Berlin, and received invitations to participate in four international conferences in which the SAM director delivered presentations.
In addition to that, on the initiative of SAM, roundtables have been held in London, Washington, Almaty and Berlin. The head of the Center gave extensive interviews to foreign media, which were published in newspapers and magazines.
1. Work done in the framework of internal cooperation
As part of internal cooperation, the following work has been done:
Analytical Information
SAM has provided the leadership of the country with several analytical reports regarding Azerbaijan’s domestic and foreign policy.
Closed roundtables
On 12 May and 7 June 2008, the Center held two closed roundtables on the subject “Azerbaijan in the System of Regional Geopolitical and Geo-Economic Relations”, and “Azerbaijan and the Policies of the Great Powers”. The event was attended by prominent politicians and scholars who had an extensive exchange of views on the presented issues.
Cooperation with the media
From the first days of its activities, the Center for Strategic Studies has been in touch with the media in order to ensure rapid and effective coverage of events, and provided all necessary information about the visits, meetings, conferences and round tables organized by the Center.
“Azerbaijan Focus” – Journal of International Relations
SAM has completed its work on the first special issue of the journal “Azerbaijan Focus”, whose editorial board includes local and international experts. The publication will provide detailed coverage of the role and activities of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the international arena. The publication will serve as a means for informing the world about Azerbaijan. The first edition was published in early January 2009. The magazine will be published in two languages – Azerbaijani and English.
Recruitment of personnel
The Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan started its activities in February 2008. Since then, four departments have been formed:
1. Domestic Policy Analysis Department
2. Foreign Policy Analysis Department
3. Economic Analysis and Global Affairs Department
4. Financial-Administrative Department
The staff currently consists of 30 people. The Center is planning to work with freelance analysts as well.
Financial and Administrative work
The Financial-Administrative Department deals with registration, book-keeping, budget planning, financial control and other administrative tasks.
2. Work done in the framework of international cooperation
Within the framework of international cooperation, beginning from the month of April 2008, the Center has held international conferences and roundtables in various countries. In cooperation with influential organizations, the Center has organized four major international conferences, seven roundtables, and has been invited to several international symposia.
Conferences
On April 4, 2008, the Center for Strategic Studies held an international symposium at Moscow’s Carnegie Center entitled “Azerbaijan 2008: Breakthrough to Development”. It was attended by leading experts and specialists of the Russian Federation, the United States and Great Britain. The symposium discussed the issues of socio-economic and political development of Azerbaijan, its role in the stability and conflict resolution in the South Caucasus, as well as the actions of Russia and the United States to create security in the Caucasus. There was also an exchange of views on the strengthening and deepening of Russia-Azerbaijan relations.
On May 23, 2008 in Baku, with the assistance of the British International Institute for Strategic Studies on State-Building and Conflict Resolution, an international conference was held on the theme “Azerbaijan 2008: On the Way to Modernization”, which was attended by representatives of the Azerbaijani government, NGOs, foreign embassies, foreign guests and media representatives. The conference discussed issues related to the modernization of Azerbaijan’s strategic course and the country's integration into European and international structures. Speakers stressed the need for further efforts to develop these processes.
On June 20, 2008 in London an international conference was held on “The Way of Azerbaijan to Prosperity: Economic, Political and Foreign Policy Challenges”, organized by the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the British International Institute for Strategic Studies and the London Information Network on State Building and Conflict Resolution. During the symposium, presentations were made by representatives of the British International Institute for Strategic Studies on State-Building and Conflict Resolution, the London School of Economics, the Research Center of the European Union, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the British Government, business organizations, financial and banking structures, experts and political scientists.
The conference consisted of four panels: “Azerbaijan as the Main Energy Producer and Major Energy Transit Country: Implications, Potential and Threats”, “Stable Economic Reforms: Diversification, Development and Realization of the Economic Potential of Azerbaijan in the Oil and Gas Sector”, “Modern State-Building and Governance in Azerbaijan: Challenges in Building Democratic Institutions”, “The Main Foreign Policy Priorities of Azerbaijan: Karabakh Conflict and Other Challenges “, followed by an extensive exchange of views on the topics.
On September 22, 2008 in Berlin an international conference was held on “Azerbaijan and the EU: New Directions for Strategic Partnership”, which was attended by the Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany on the Caucasus, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, members of the Bundestag and representatives of the Government of Azerbaijan. At the symposium, about 100 presentations were made by experts, journalists and diplomats of foreign embassies accredited to Germany. Representatives of the European Union expressed strong interest in developing relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan and made proposals and recommendations on deepening bilateral relations.
Roundtables
With organizational support provided to SAM abroad, particularly in the Russian Federation, Great Britain, the United States, Germany and Kazakhstan, seven roundtables have been held.
On September 24, 2008 in the capital of Russia – Moscow – a round table was held on “Azerbaijan 2008: The Presidential Elections and Foreign Policy Strategy”, organized by the Unity for Russia Foundation and “Strategy of the Russian Federation” magazine. At the forum, a presentation was made by the Director of SAM as well. The roundtable was attended by over 50 leading Russian political scientists, experts and representatives of foreign embassies in Russia.
On October 7, 2008 in London, with the assistance of the British International Institute for Strategic Studies, a roundtable was held on “Azerbaijan and the EU: Energy Security and Foreign Policy Strategy”. It was attended by leading British politicians, economists and experts in the field of international relations. In addition, the symposium was attended by senior representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited to the United Kingdom.
On October 10, 2008 in Washington D.C., at the Johns Hopkins Central Asia-Caucasus Institute a roundtable was held on “Azerbaijan 2008: The Presidential Elections and Foreign Policy Strategy”, which was attended by prominent American scientists, political experts, experts in the field of international relations and diplomats of foreign embassies in the United States. Presentations were made by the Director of Johns Hopkins Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, the Director of SAM of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elkhan Nuriyev, Azerbaijan's Consul General in Los Angeles Elin Suleymanov and the Director of Central Asia and Caucasus Department at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.
On October 14, 2008, a roundtable was held at the Woodrow Wilson International Research Center in Washington D.C. on the theme “The New Geopolitics of Eurasia and Azerbaijan – Foreign Policy Strategy, Energy Security of the Caspian Region and the Politics of the Great Powers”. At the conference, a presentation was made by the Director of the Center for Strategic Studies of Azerbaijan as well. The event was attended by prominent American political scientists, economists, academics and members of foreign embassies in the United States.
On November 25, 2008 in Almaty an international forum was held on “Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan: Prospects for Cooperation and Interaction” organized by the Institute of Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan, the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan’s First President Fund. The Forum focused on issues of mutual cooperation between the Republics of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. During the conference, which was attended by representatives of think tanks from both countries, several issues were discussed, such as strengthening economic, trade and energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. In addition, the parties held discussions on the current state of cooperation between the two states on the status of the Caspian Sea. The head of SAM made an extensive report.
On December 9, 2008 in Berlin’s German Konrad Adenauer Foundation an international conference on “Models of the Settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict” was held. At the forum, presentations were made by the Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, senior representatives of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Germany, leading German experts and political scientists. The conference was attended by representatives of foreign embassies in Germany as well.
On December 10, 2008 in Berlin, a round table on “Strategic choice of Azerbaijan: Working Toward Modernization and Foreign Policy Strategy” was held. During the event a presentation was made by the director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The round table discussed the integration of Azerbaijan into the European Union, the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the current state of relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Commission of European Communities. The presentations were met with great interest and published in local newspapers.
Invitations to international conferences, roundtables and forums
From 24 to 25 April, 2008 Almaty hosted the 7th Eurasian Media Forum. It was attended by over 500 representatives from 50 countries. The event was opened by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, followed by presentations by the President of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly Srdjan Kerim, the chairman of the forum’s organizing committee Dariga Nazarbayeva, OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, former advisor to the U.S. President for National Security Affairs Zbigniew Brzezinski and other influential politicians and experts.
The forum discussed the problems caused by biased media coverage of conflicts, the policies pursued by the Great Powers in different regions of the world and the issues arising from the conflict of interests of leading powers of the world, the escalation of global crises among others. Options for compromise in the settlement of conflicts in the Middle East, Balkans, South Caucasus and Central Asia were also discussed. The focus was on the question of the Kosovo conflict and its influence on international politics. The head of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan addressed the Conference with a presentation on how to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
From 12 to 14 September, 2008 in Geneva under the auspices of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), an international global forum of think tanks in Europe and the United States entitled “Changes in Global Politics and Conflict Resolution” was held. At the Forum, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the IISS, global issues of geopolitics, security issues and ways to resolve conflict situations were discussed. The forum, which was divided into 14 panels on international and regional policy, was attended by leading world experts, scientists, political analysts and heads of research centers. The head of SAM made a presentation on “Central Asia and Energy”.
On September 30, 2008 in Paris a roundtable was held on: “Azerbaijan – Geostrategic Space before the Presidential Elections of 15 October 2008”. It was organized by the Association of Alumni of the Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies (ACEDS), the Institute for Perspectives and Security in Europe (IPSE), the Union of Associations of the National Institute for Defense and Security Studies (UNION-IHEDN), students of the Research Institute for National Security (ANA-INHES), the Atlantic-Ural College and Revolution Observatory.
At the event, the Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elkhan Nuriyev made a presentation.
Topics of presentations and discussions at the roundtable were as follows:
Azerbaijan – yesterday and today
Azerbaijan within geo-strategic space
Democratic development in Azerbaijan
Viewpoint of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
The event was concluded with a speech by Jean-Philippe Bérillon, deputy chairman of the Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies.
From 15 to 17 October, 2008 in Madrid, Spain a forum entitled “For Future Democracy” was held, where Azerbaijan was represented by the head of SAM Dr. Elkhan Nuriyev. Several issues were discussed in the context of democratic governance, such as the introduction of information and communication technologies in the electoral process.
Opening speeches at the forum were made by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis, PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig and President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Yavuz Mildon.
Collaboration with foreign media
In the framework of cooperation with foreign media, the head of SAM was asked to publish articles in several magazines and newspapers and give interviews to a number of television channels. Accepting these proposals, the Director of SAM gave an interview about the Khojaly genocide to Turkish “Today’s Zaman”, about the Nabucco project to Austrian “Die Furche”, about Azerbaijan’s foreign policy strategy and the course for modernization to German “Wostok” magazine, and to British “Eurasia Critic” magazine about the new geo-strategy of Azerbaijan.
Recommendations and conclusion
In order to increase the productivity of the Center and develop the established international relations, we consider it necessary to implement the following:
In connection with President Ilham Aliyev’s declaration of the policy of modernization and democratization, Azerbaijan should implement reforms, promote the relevant aspects of its domestic and foreign policies, work toward progress in the international community, attract reputable foreign experts and scholars to create a positive image for Azerbaijan, establish a Heydar Aliyev scholarship for local and foreign specialists, scholars and experts in the field of international political relations, political science, history and sociology.
In the recent past, SAM faced a number of difficulties and challenges in the realization of some of its projects. However, thanks to the support from the Government of Azerbaijan, these problems have been resolved. The Center has moved into a newly renovated building, where employees have all the necessary conditions to work and achieve the goals set before them.
[1] Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan about the formation of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
[2] Charter of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
[3] “Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Has Transformed into a Think Tank at the Regional and Global Level,” Azerbaijan Newspaper, July 3, 2008
