Past Event

Please note that registration for this event is required. To register for the event, please complete the registration form on the EETN website here.

This will be a hybrid event with a limited number of in-person spaces. Please register using the form below to secure attendance either an in person or online. EETN will notify those who are able to attend in person prior to the event. Preferences for in person attendance will be taken into consideration but cannot be guaranteed due to limited capacity.

The South Caucasus have emerged as a geopolitical fulcrum since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, engaging emergent and existing global powers in this complex ethnic and political landscape. Security and defence issues remain paramount since Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008, Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, and the conflicts over Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in 2020 and 2023. Armenia and Georgia, the focus of this workshop, each balance efforts to maintain sovereignty with the realization that regional and global powers—including Turkey, Russia and China— retain significant interest in their territories, resources and populations. Armenia has turned towards the West for military assistance, even if its efforts to pivot from Russia are challenged by legacies of economic and military interdependence. Georgia’s government has made a hard turn from Europe and towards Russia, against the wishes of its population. This workshop will examine multiple facets of regional security and defence, from military capabilities and alliances to cybersecurity and domestic issues that include food security and climate change.

Schedule:

8:45-9:00: Registration and Coffee 

9:00-9:15: Introductory Remarks

• Andrew Turner, Canadian Ambassador to Yerevan
• Anahit Harutyunyan, Armenian Ambassador to Canada

9:15-10:15: Panel 1: Regional Security and Defence Issues 

• Jean-François Ratelle (University of Ottawa) – Conflict Resolution in Eurasia- Armenia/Azerbaijan in Regional Perspective
  • This presentation offers a comparative analysis of peace processes in former socialist states, drawing on historical case studies from the former Yugoslavia, Tajikistan, and Chechnya. By examining these cases, the study aims to extract lessons applicable to contemporary conflict resolution efforts in the South Caucasus and Ukraine. Particular attention is given to Armenia’s proposed “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, exploring its core principles and the challenges it faces. These challenges are analyzed in the context of Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s geopolitical objectives, highlighting the complex interplay of regional dynamics and competing interests that shape the prospects for sustainable peace.
• Nona Shahnazarian (Stanford) – Role of Russia in the region
• Natia Chankvatadze (Harvard) – “Peacebuilding:  Discourses and Practices in Georgia and the South Caucasus”

10:15-10:30- Break

10:30-11:30: Panel 2: Politics and Security 

• David Sichinava (Carleton) – Georgia/ internal security
• Ella Bennett (Carleton student) – Armenia and the Zangezur Corridor
• Margarita Tadevosyan (George Mason) – Nagorno-Karabakh (internal)

11:30-11:45: Break

11:45-12:45: Panel 3: Broader Security Issues and Canada’s Role  

• Samvel Minasyan (SecDev, Ottawa) – Exploring the Cyber Dimension of the Security Challenges in the Caucasus
  • The presentation will provide an overview of the digital profiles and cyber readiness of the three Caucasus Republics, focusing on the country profiles of Armenia and Georgia. It will illustrate existing cyber measures, gaps and the threats they have faced to date. Furthermore, it will discuss the global threat landscape and the importance of addressing these issues, not just for Armenia but also for international actors like the Government of Canada (GoC). Additionally, it will explore what actors like the GoC and SecDev can do to help.
• Elza Stepanyan – Food Security in Armenia
  • Armenia faces critical food security challenges exacerbated by climate change, including reduced agricultural productivity, water scarcity, and insufficient policy frameworks addressing climate resilience. Agriculture, a vital sector contributing to 12% of the GDP and employing over 30% of the population, is hindered by outdated practices, uneven irrigation access, and vulnerability to extreme weather events. The Food Security Strategy (2019-2023) emphasizes improving access to nutritious food and sustainable agricultural practices, yet lacks integration of climate adaptation measures. This paper highlights the urgent need to address these policy gaps by adopting climate-smart agricultural techniques, modernizing water resource management, and fostering international collaborations. Recommendations include strengthening public awareness campaigns, consolidating food security and climate adaptation policies under a unified framework, and aligning national policies with global agreements such as the Paris Agreement. Implementing these measures can mitigate risks, enhance resilience, and ensure sustainable development in Armenia’s agricultural sector. By proactively addressing these challenges, Armenia can secure its food systems against climate-induced pressures and set a precedent for sustainable agricultural practices in the region.
• Jeff Sahadeo (Carleton) – Why should Canada care about the South Caucasus?

12:45-2:00: Networking lunch