The Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH) has held a presentation of a book called “Concept basics for restoration of post-conflict territories of Azerbaijan”.
Yefim Iosifovich Pivovar, head of the university, Ismail Agakishiyev, head of the university’s Center for Caucasus Studies, Nazim Muzaffarli, the author of the book, Farkhad Mamedov, head of the sector for political analysis and forecasts of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Rasim Musabekov, an Azerbaijani MP, Rovshan Ibragimov, expert for conflictology and head of the “Caucasus” University will attend the presentation. Alexey Vlasov and Eldar Ismaylov will host the meeting.
Alexey Vlasov, Editor-in-Chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, was moderating the talks.
Yefim Pivovar opened the talks, noting that Azerbaijan is marking the 20th anniversary of independence. The theme of the book is topical because conflicts end up in peace sooner or later and require solution of economic issues.
Eldar Ismaylov, an author of the book, noted that the work had earlier been presented in the USA, London, Brussels and the European Parliament. His Institute for Strategic Studies of the Caucasus studies economic issues. The Caucasus can be separated into Central (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan), Northern (Russian parts) and Southern (south-eastern with Iranian parts and Turkish parts).
Nazim Muzaffarli, an economist and co-author of the book, noted that Azerbaijan suffered damage worth $60 billion from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Abkhaz conflict had damage of $10.7 billion, South Ossetia - $2.9 billion, for comparison.
He denied high military expenses of Azerbaijan, noting that they only cover 2.9% of the GDP, comparing with Armenia’s 4.3% and Georgia’s 5%.
450,000-520,000 people live on the 7 territories. Researchers expect high inflation.
US Professor Frederic Star, who wrote the book’s foreword, said that return of the territories is inevitable and the economic restoration program will be in demand.
Stanislav Chernyavsky, Director of the Center for Post-Soviet Studies of the Institute for Political Studies of MGIMO of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the book is important because it contains clear, real proposals to settle the conflict. The work can be called constructive.
