The International Conference on “Arab Countries after Recent Transformations: Social, Economic and Political Changes” has been held in Baku organized by the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Azerbaijan (SAM).
The conference started with the opening speech of the Presidential Administration’s Head of Department of Political Analysis and Information Provision Elnur Aslanov and was followed by the welcoming speeches of the Director of SAM Dr. Farhad Mammadov and the Head of Mission of League of Arab States in Republic of Turkey Amb. Mohamed El Fatah Nasiri.
Session 1 of the conference was dedicated to “Current political processes in the ‘Arab Spring’ countries” and was moderated by the Deputy Director of SAM Dr. Gulshan Pashayeva. The session started with the presentation of Amb. Mohamed Hatem Ben Salem on “Current political process in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt: Similarities and Challenges” and was followed by the President of the Moroccan Center for Strategic Studies and the African Federation for Strategic Studies Dr. Mohammed Benhammou’s “Security Issues in the Region”. Director of the Iraqi Group for Strategic Studies Dr. Watheq Salim Abdulqader Al Hashimi presented a report called “The Outcome of ‘Arab Spring' between the reality and the ambitions”. Chairman of the Algomhoria Center for Political and Security Studies Dr. Sameh Mahmoud Seifelyazal Khalifa presented with “The transitional period in Egypt after the revolution of June 30 at various levels”.
Session 1 continued with the participation of the Head of Foreign Policy Analysis Department at SAM Dr. Rovshan Ibrahimov. Three other speakers included the Head of Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House Dr. Claire Catherine Spencer, who was talking about Europe and how it was affected by the Arab Spring, Ambassador Richard William Murthy, whose topic was “American Perceptions of the Arab Spring”, and the Research Fellow in the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies Mr. Oytun Orhan, who shed some light on “Prospects for the Future of Syria and Implications for Turkey”.
The attention during the first session was paid to changes occurred in both domestic and foreign policies of the Arab states. The current political processes and developments were discussed. The attitude toward Syrian crisis in the Arab League, Turkey, Iran, European Union, United States and also, in the context of Russia’s policies was presented. The speakers touched on the newly formed governments, changing relations in the Arab world, regional security, economic and political developments. The geopolitical implications of the Arab Spring were assessed during the session.
Session 2 was devoted to “Economies of the ‘Arab Spring’ countries: Current Situation and Challenges Ahead” and was moderated by the Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy Mr. Taleh Ziyadov. Senior Fellow at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University Dr. Paul Rivlin presented with “Middle East economy after Arab Spring”. Professor of International Economics and Econometrics at the Department of Business Economics at the University of Jordan Dr. Taleb Mohammed Musa Warrad presented with “Arab Spring: Causes and Consequences”. Professor of Economics at Istanbul Commerce University Dr. Murat Ali Yulek tried to answer a question of whether Arab Spring could be an opportunity of economic transformation for Arab nations. The session continued with the participation of the Research Fellow at SAM Mr. Mahir Humbatov. Advisor for the Middle East and Central Asia Department at IMF Mission and Chief for Azerbaijan Dr. Raja Munahi Almarzoqi Albqami’s topic was “Arab Countries in Transition: Taking Stock of the Economic Environment”. Dr. Albqami’s presentation was followed by Dr. Mete Durdag’s analysis of economic implications of recent transformations in Arab countries, by Dr. Petr Havlik’s discussion on economic transitions in the Arab countries where he drew a comparative analysis with the CESEE countries. Dr. Riham Ragab Rizk from Durham University completed the session with his “Post-revolutionary Arab Economies: Opportunities and Challenges for Corporate Social Responsibility”.
The second session was mostly about the ongoing peaceful struggle for economic development in the states affected by the Arab Spring. The role and concept of finances in the Muslim world were among topics discussed. The conference proved to have been a good platform for discussing a wide range of issues, including the challenges, which came to light as a result of the Arab Spring. The speakers tried to come up with predictions as to what the future for the Arab states could be.

AzerTAc