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INFORMATION FOR PRESS
This year was also very usefull from the standpoint of the international realations for our organization. Thus, on June 6, 2007 was signed Agreement on Joint Cooperation between “Caspian Partnership for the Future International Movement” Public Union and famous ukranian Centre by name NOMOS (centre on assistance of geopolitic studies and euroatlantic cooperation in Black sea region) in CPF’s office. After that, the sides coordinate joint outlines of their future work.
The agreement was signed by the president of CPF Rustam Mammadov and the Head of the NOMOS organization Kulik Sergey Ivanovich.
Through neighborhood policy to new transit capacities in Caspian – Black Sea – Baltic space
 The appearance of EU and NATO in the Black Sea, broadening of international cooperation to oppose the asymmetric threats in the Black Sea – Caspian Region, stipulate geopolitical and geo-economic situation changes in the region. Under some conditions and circumstances this may promote the creation of a stability arc from the Caspian Sea to the Baltic Sea, as an alternative to so-called “non-stability arc” from the Balkans via the Black Sea to the Caucasus. In this process the important role would play the countries of the Caspian – Black Sea – Baltic space, because of considerable reserves of energy resources in some of them and transit importance and neighborhood with EU in other.
From the other side, to the eastern periphery of the broadened EU is actualized the themes of energy security and diversification of energy delivery, to overcome the traditional dependence from RF deliveries. The worked out by EU joint foreign energy policy is an adequate reaction of the Common wealth to the challenges and threats in energy sphere, which have appeared in Europe recently, because of the energy resources and infrastructure of their delivery usage as a weapon.
The circumstances demand to consider current situation in the context of determination of common interests of Ukraine, EU, the states of Southern Caucasus and Central Asia. Such a situation requires the formation of common with European Commission regional transit policy, which expects the regional cooperation intensification to realize the perspective projects of energy carriers transportation with creation of a new infrastructure, which doesn’t depend on monopoly policy of a traditional supplier.
 The problems of the Black Sea and Baltic space development via cooperation in the field of energy has become a key question of international conference “Through neighborhood policy to new transit capacities in Caspian – Black Sea – Baltic space”, which was held in Kyiv, May 18, 2007.
The conference organizers were: The Center of Assistance to the Geopolitical Problems and Euroatlantic Cooperation of the Black Sea Region Studies NOMOS (Sevastopol, Ukraine) in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine and F.Ebert Foundation under support of LOTOS Group (Poland).
The aim of the Conference was to discuss and evaluate the existing and perspective threats and challenges in the region, and at the same time, in the sphere of energy transit policy, to scrutinize the projects of the output and transportation the energy carriers, consolidation in support by NGOs perspective projects, firm relations with EU restoration, conditions of possible cooperation with EU on the formula “GUAM+” discussions.
 In the event, there took part the leading native and international experts from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, the diplomatic corpse, business structures and mass-media representatives. Welcoming words to the Conference participants were made by NOMOS Center Director S.KULYK, F.Ebert Foundation Head in Ukraine and Belarus S.CHROBOT, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland to Ukraine J. KLIUCHKOWSKY.
The participants of the Conference were offered the report of NOMOS Center energy programs head M.GONCHAR “Energy and infrastructure map of Europe in XXI century in the context of new EU and RF energy strategies”.
Current situation and perspectives evaluations were shared by the experts:
- from Azerbaijan – R.MAMEDOV (CPF – Caspian Partnership for the Future);
- from Georgia – N.CHITADZE (Center of Internal Security Problems Study) and G.VASHAKMADZE (GUEU Development Strategy Consortium);
 - from Poland – M.GOMBLIEWSKA (Institute of Energy Studies).
During the Conference the issues of practical filling of the program have been discussed – the effective usage of energy potential of the region states and the realization of the existing energy transit projects. There also were the report of E-ON RUHRGAS Ag. Head of Representative Office in Kyiv H.ENKE, LOTOS Group Kyiv Office Director T.KOGUTSYK, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to Ukraine A.VILCANS, Trade Adviser – Plenipotentiary Minister of Republic of Poland Embassy to Ukraine A.SKAVRONSKA-LUCHINSKA, Coordinator of Working Projects on Cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in Energy Sphere O.TODIYCHUK.
 The Conference participants achieved the agreement, that its result should be in the intensification of civil structures of countries – participants cooperation processes, the adjustment and development of the lines of communication and exchanges on NGOs of Caspian – Black Sea – Baltic space level, which strive for common mechanisms of stability formation and safety functioning of energy transport lines, ensuring region political and economic integration development in the context of EU energy and neighborhood policies.
On May 7-9, 2007 in intertaining centre Aqua Park (Baku, Azerbaijan) by joint efforts of “Caspian-Partnership for the Future” Public Union, International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis and “ Assoiation for Civil Society Devlopment in Azerbaijan” was held International Sientific Conference Caspilog2 (Caspian Dialogue2).
CaspiLog 2 (Caspian Dialog) was held on 7-9 May 2007 at Aqua Park, Novkhani. CaspiLog2 was organized by the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN) Program of the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), in cooperation with the Caspian Partnership for the Future Public Union (CPF) and Association for Civil Society Development in Azerbaijan (ACSDA). Diplomats, politicians and scientists from Europe, United States and Canada, Post-soviet area attended the conference. Important issues related to Caspian Sea such as status of Caspian Sea, security and environmental issues were discussed during the conference. This included the problems of cooperation (political and economic) of European countries, United States and Canada with Caspian littoral countries. In total about 20 foreign participants joined the conference. Azerbaijan was represented by 20 people – mostly professors, NGO members and students. During three days the upper mentioned issues were discussed in the form of dialogue. UNDP Caspian Environment Project representative Mr. Hamid Ghaffarzadeh talked about Caspian Environment Convention and presented his point of view. Professor of Johns Hopkins University Mr. William Zartman talked about sea/lake regimes in the world. Also during the conference national plans on Caspian issues were discussed. Mr. David Wiberg presented Land Use Change Program. Professor of Cape Bretton University Mr. David Griffits talked about emergency management issues. Energy security issues were presented by Mr. Yaroslav Minullin and Mr. Adrian Gheorge. From local professors Mr. Parvin Darabadi, Mr. Kamil Salimov, Mr. Chingiz Ismayilov, Mr. Muslum Mammadov contributed to the conference. Guests were also taken to sightseeing, mainly the coastal lines of Caspian Sea. They visited Ateshgah, downtown Baku, Yanar dag and other places.
We have to mention that last year CaspiLog1 was held in Istanbul and president of Caspian-Partnership for the Future Public Union Dr. Rustam Mammadov attended this conference. He took the initiative of holding the next CaspiLog in Baku. Finally this idea was realized on 7-9 May 2007 in Baku.
Following guests participated in the conference: Amb. Dr. Franz Cede (PIN/Austrian MFA), Prof. I William Zartman (Johns Hopkins University), Dr. Rustam Mammadov (President of CPF), Vali Alibekov (Vice-president of ACSDA), Hamid Ghaffarzadeh (UNDP Caspian Environment Project), Prof. Chingiz Ismayilov (Center of Regional Development in Azerbaijan), Paul Meerts (PIN/Clingendael), Mahmoud Dibaei (MFA Iran), Prof Rudolf Avenhaus (PIN/ University of Armed Forces Munich, Germany), Dr. David Wiberg (Land Use Change Program, IIASA), David Griffiths (International Centre for Emergency Management Studies, Cape Breton University), Maria Belova (Institute for Energy and Finance Foundation, Russia), Yaroslav Minullin (Energy Program, IIASA), Prof. Parvin Darabadi (Baku State University), Prof. Kamil Salimov (Prison Watch Public Association), Gunnar Sjoestedt (PIN/Sweedish Institute of International Affairs), Tanja Huber (IIASA), Rebecca Whitlock (Evolution and Ecology Program), Guy Olivier Faure (PIN/Sorbonne), Mikhail Troitskiy (Russian Academy of Sciences), Adrian Gheorghe (Old Dominion University, Virginia, USA).
Politico-economic situation in Caspian region and Iran Islamic Republic
 As its known, Caspian region plays an important role in the world because of its geostrategic position. Discovery of huge oil deposits in Caspian Sea, preparation of new projects on the development of fuel-energy resources and creation of new routes for the delivery of those resources to world markets also creation of new transportation routes that allow to connect Europe and Asia – all those facts have increased the value of Caspian region in the world. The importance and differentiating feature of Caspian region is that this region has turned into a transit zone that connects East with West (Great Silk Road) and is somehow a bridge between North and South. Notwithstanding the fact that the West is interested in Caspian sea more and more, there doesn’t exist any special organization that could setlle all the problems around Caspian region. Political and economic problems of Caspian region can be systemized as following:
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Determination of legal status of Caspian Sea and reaching an agreement between five coastal states (Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran),
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Preparation and realization of activities directed towards the protection of Caspian bioresources,
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Iran nuclear problem and its affect on geostrategic situation in the region,
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Unanimity in regional security issues,
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Construction of new oil-gas transit routes and etc.
Caspian region has a specific feature, thus the processes going on in this geopolitical region are close to what’s going on in other regions – regional integration, democratization of inner and foreign policy, transnational cooperation and etc. At the same time negative activities have been strenghtened in the region – terrorism threat, religious extremism, national separatism, illegal transition of weapon and drugs and etc. 
Recently there appeared the new threat, capable to lead to infringement of stability in region. So, intensity in attitudes between the USA and the Iranian Islamic Republic directly renders the influence on the Caspian littoral states and, in particular, to Azerbaijan. It is connected by that Azerbaijan has water and overland borders with Iran, besides nearby 30 million ethnic Azerbaijanians live in territory of the Iranian Republic. That is why stabilization, strengthening and development of relations with Iran represents great importance for foreign policy of Azerbaijan. However some aspects of foreign policy of Iran generate the certain problems.
Apparently, still there are problems peculiar to Caspian region. The organization of multilateral and bilateral cooperation, carrying out of discussions and acceptance of the joint agreement is necessary for studying the given problems, the analysis of a situation and for an establishment of perspective attitudes.
“Caspian-Partnership for the Future” Public Union has made a decision on carrying out of the round tables, devoted to a theme " the Political-economical situation in Caspian Region ". On April, 13th, 2007 in International Press Center the next round table on which the theme "the Political-economical situation in Caspian region and the Iranian Islamic Republic " was discussed has been lead.
The basic purposes of carrying out of a round table were finding-out and the analysis of valuable opinions of known political scientists and analysts and preservation of stability in region, even greater expansion of regional cooperation, and also work above the offers stated by independent experts concerning development and strengthening of attitudes between Azerbaijan and other Caspian littoral states. During discussions the President of Public Union Dr. Rustam Mamedov has presented to attention two books, devoted to the Caspian problem. Also professor Fikret Sadiqov, professor Chingiz Ismaylov, professor Kamil Salimov and professor Hasan Alibeyli attended the round table.
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