An expert conference, “Russia’s Interests in Central Asia and Mapping out Measures to Promote them”, was convened at the RIAC on 29 October 2012.
The conference was opened by RIAC General Director Andrei Kortunov and Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, RAS Corresponding Member Vitaliy Naumkin.
An expert conference, “Russia’s Interests in Central Asia and Mapping out Measures to Promote them”, was convened at the RIAC on 29 October 2012.
The conference was opened by RIAC General Director Andrei Kortunov and Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, RAS Corresponding Member Vitaliy Naumkin.
The moderators were Chief Research Fellow, Institute of Oriental Studies, Irina Zvyagelskaya and research fellow of the Institute Stanislav Pritchin.
The participants included experts from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Institute of Oriental Studies, Institute of the World Economy and International Relations, RAS, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), and the Russian Government’s Financial Institute.
The agenda covered the following issues:
- Russia’s political interests in the Central Asian region. Risks and challenges for Russia.
- Russia’s military interests in the Central Asian region.
- The problem of drug trafficking from Afghanistan: the Russian bulge.
- Russia’s economic interests in Central Asia. Labor migration issues.
- The problem of radicalization of Islam in the region: challenges for Russia.
An analytical report will be prepared to sum up the conference results. The aim is to formulate substantiated recommendations for Russia’s policies vis-à-vis Central Asian countries.
Expert conference, “Russia’s Interests in Central Asia and Mapping out Measures to Promote them”