**CASPIAN BASIN FORUM -**

**Political and Economic Risk in Azerbaijan**

 

 

This event is broadcast byBISNIS purely as a service to the U.S. business community, and is not to beconstrued as BISNIS recommendation or sponsorship.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ONTHIS EVENT IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM BISNIS.

For more information contactcontact Arrun Kapoor ([email protected]) at tel: 212.366.9560; orfax your registration forms to Kirsten Brodsky at 212.366.9699, or see thefollowing website:  www.eurasiagroup.net. 

 

CASPIAN BASIN FORUM - 

Political and Economic Risk in Azerbaijan

 

Sponsored by: Unocal, Vinson & Elkins

 

Co-Organized by: TBD 

 

8:00am               Breakfast

                                                                                                                                                      

8:15am  Panel 1 -Political 

 

Keynote - Vafa Guluzada

former Senior Foreign Affairs Advisor and State Counselor toAzeri President, Heidar Aliev

 

Tadeusz Swietochowski 

Department of History, Monmouth University

 

What is the general political landscape in Azerbaijan?  What steps has the government taken toinsure political stability within its borders and the region?  What stance has the Azeri governmenttaken toward the region's supranational organizations (e.g. GUUAM, NATO, BSEC,CIS, etc.)?  How has theAzerbaijan's pipeline politics and foreign policy impacted one another?  What has been their policy stancetoward the region's major issues (e.g. Chechnya, Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey'sKurd policy, etc.)?  How serious ofa threat is Aliev's heath to his staying power?  What succession procedures are in place should he leaveoffice?  Are there other viablepolitical parties established in Azerbaijan?  

 

9:30am  Break

 

9:45am Panel 2 -Energy, Privatization and the Economy

 

Eldar Namazov - Privatization/Economy

Independent Political Analyst

What has been the government's position toward privatizationof the energy sector?  Whatopportunities are in place for foreign investors?  What measures have been implemented to ensure shareholderrights?  What moves has thegovernment taken to develop other sectors of the economy?  Is there a danger of Dutch disease?

 

Laurent Ruseckas - Energy Market

Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Associate Director forCaspian Research and Columbia University

What is the current climate of Azerbaijan's energysector?  What are the nation's currentand expected energy reserves?  Whatare the implications of Azerbaijan's recent findings of large gasreserves?  Which pipeline routes isAzerbaijan promoting and what moves have they taken to realize thesegoals?  What opportunities existfor western investors?  Whatfurther steps could be taken to increase the investment climate of their energysector?

 

11:00am                ConferenceConcludes

 

CASPIAN BASIN FORUM -- Political and Economic Risk inAzerbaijan

 

Sponsored by: Unocal, Vinson & Elkins

 

Co-Organized by: TBD

 

               Date:               Monday,14 February 1999

               Time:               8:00am- 11:00am                                                         

               Place:               FourSeasons Hotel

1300 Lamar Lane

                               Houston,Texas   

 

 

 

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**This event is an informal business discussion with seniorlevel executives from US companies active or interested in the CaspianBasin.  If you have any questionsplease contact Arrun Kapoor ([email protected]) at tel: 212.366.9560; orfax your registration forms to Kirsten Brodsky at 212.366.9699.  Participation fee: $300.  Non-Profit rate: $150, Members:Free.  To ensure properregistration, please R.S.V.P. by Thursday, February 10th.  A full refund will be made available ifcancellation notice is made by the same date.