Conference delayed to Spring 2012

Initiative on holding an international scientific and practical conference:

“Peaceful Caucasus –
Important Premises of a Peaceful Europe”

June 7th – 10th 2011 in Tbilisi, Georgia

We believe that the present world needs as many peaceful initiatives as possible. Therefore, it is necessary to consolidate the efforts for further activities. To this end we find useful to hold peace Conference in Georgia on the topic: “Peaceful Caucasus –important premises of peaceful Europe”. The results of such Conference will have the positive impact on peace-processes not only in Georgia and in the countries of South Caucasus, but also outside of the borders of the region.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union the Caucasus has been found in the center of attention of the most powerful countries. The major intentions of the West to the Caucasus are as follows: to exert influence on the Caspian energy resources; to exercise control over the pipelines securing the hydrocarbon supply to Europe from the Caspian Sea and Central Asia.

As a matter of fact, during two decades the Caucasus has become rather unstable area. For this short period the Caucasus witnessed the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, conflicts on the territories of autonomous entities of Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia; military confrontation in Chechnya; serious ethnic clash between Ossetians and Ingushetians; various terrorist acts on the territory of the Caucasus and etc. That’s why that the peoples of the Caucasus are well aware in the value of peace, as well as in the misfortune of the war.

Military confrontation of August 2008 between Russia and Georgia clearly demonstrated to the world community the strong interests of the USA and of Russia in the Caucasus. The conflict between Russia and Georgia has gone beyond the borders of opposing sides and tends to provoke broader destabilization in the entire region.

Currently the peace in Georgia is fragile. One may not claim the country as stable after civil confrontation in early 1990s, ethnic conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and secession of these separatist regions. Caucasus is one of the most militarized regions of the world. Accordingly the demilitarization of this region is on of the most important a precondition to achieve stable peace in this region.
Proceeding from the aforementioned we firmly believe that the Peace Conference in Georgia: “Peaceful Caucasus – important premises of peaceful Europe” will serve to the peoples of the Caucasus as an appropriate forum for discussing the means and possibilities of peaceful and stable development of the region.

Two-day Conference in Georgia will host the delegations from European countries, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, including representatives of political and academic circles, international organizations, diplomatic missions accredited in Georgia and media.
Participants of the Conference will discuss the role of peace in the Caucasus and its possible neutrality, as one of the precondition to secure the geopolitical balance in the wider region. At the end of the Conference participants will adopt the Declaration.

Tbilisi, October 2009

Ucha Nanaushvili
Temur Pipia
Hannelore Tölke

Contact: orgelus[at]gmx.de