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First Annual Symposium of International Relations Scholars starts in Azerbaijanâ€™s capital - PHOTOSESSION

First Annual Symposium of International Relations Scholars starts in Azerbaijanâ€™s capital - <font color=red>PHOTOSESSION</font>

22 October 2010 08:49 (UTC +04:00)

The symposium has been organized by Azerbaijanâ€™s Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Centre of Strategic Research of the Azerbaijani President, the Azerbaijan University of Languages, Caucasus University, Khazar University, Londonâ€™s Conflict and State Regulation Information Network, the German Association for Technical Cooperation and Ireli public union.

Making a keynote speech at the conference former Austrian President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Peter Schieder said the proper theme had been chosen for the event.
â€œThis is an important theme meeting common interests. The South Caucasus is an important region for Europe, Asia and the entire world in terms of energy, transit and security. Although Nagorno Karabakh problem has not been solved completely, Azerbaijan has achieved high social and economic development,â€ he said.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov spoke about the success achieved by Azerbaijan after having gained independence. Minister underlined the importance of energy projects, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

Elmar Mammadyarov said large investments had been involved in Azerbaijan after the energy agreements were signed, it offered great opportunities for the country, Azerbaijan had developed much recently.
â€œThe GDP has increased by 3-4 times at the cost of energy resources. Such a development also paves the way for the development of non-oil sector,â€ he said.
Minister noted that the construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway would be completed by 2012.
â€œThis is a very useful project, this road will unite Europe and Asia,â€ he said.

The objective of the symposium is to enhance regional cooperation and networking, contribute to the growing community of scholars in Azerbaijan and the region who are interested in regional politics, economics and international relationships. Over 150 foreign and local scholars will attend the symposium. The articles of the scholars attending the symposium on the themes â€œGlobal Challenges in a Regional Contextâ€, â€œRegional Security Challenges - Conflicts and post-conflict developments, â€œEmerging Economic trends in the South Caucasus - the future of IT and energy in the region, â€œReligion and Identity in the South Caucasusâ€, â€œForeign Policy in the South Caucasus: Visions, Strategies and Choicesâ€ will be published and sent to all scientific and think-tanks of the world. The symposium participants will be able to continue discussions on the online forum established by the organizers of the conference.
Chief of the Political Analyses and Information Support Department at the Presidential Administration Elnur Aslanov told journalists that Baku declaration would be adopted at the end of the symposium.

The symposium will continue tomorrow.