Introduction: The collapse of the Soviet Union was remarkably peaceful, but its aftermath has been remarkably violent. To keep its multiethnic empire together, the soviet regime used a mixed bag of political and economic instruments, developed over decades of Communist power and centuries of Russian imperial rule. The sudden end of the soviet system destroyed most of these instruments and left the new states of former Soviet Union with the troubles. The bloody-war in Chechenya is the most visible manifestation of the results of Soviet legacy.
Rationale: Caucasus famous for its legendary mountains where Prometheus was punished and chained to the rocks because he had stolen the fire from the gods and handed to mankind, seems to be the most fertile ground for ethnic violence. The War between Armenia and Azerbaijan about Nagorno Karabag is still not resolved. Abkhazians have control over the former Abkhaz ASSR, and have defeated the Georgian army. The Chechens have fight a bloody war with the russian army, and have managed to defeat this army, and are de facto independendt from Moscow. These wars costed lives of more than 100.000 peoples and produced millions of refugees.
Main Topics:What are the Causes of conflicts of the region?. Is this an area where never will be peace?. What is the role of International organizations and Media in these conflicts. Could conflict prevention methods help to make the region lesser tense. What is the role of millions of Womens, who suffer most of this wars which is fought among man-hero's? Also other relevant questions and topics will be adressed by experts and representatives from the involved nations and peoples.
Date: The Conference will take place on 1-2 June 1997 in Holland. The conference languages will be English and Turkish.
Participants: The conference is open to evryone who is interested in the conflicts in the Caucasus: especially scholars, experts and journalists are invited to participate.
Costs: The participation for the conference costs 50 Dutch guilders (30 US Dollars). This prize includes the conference map and proceedings, but not lodging and meals. We can organize for your own cost an hotel arrangement at very modest prizes. (indication 4 star hotel, 75 Dutch guilders including breakfast). More info on this expenses will be mailed in 2. circular.
Procedure: Please fill in the formula below and send us back, before the 1st of March 1997. You can do this also via e-mail to
Important: If you know other colleagues who are interested please supply them a copy of this circular. or make this circular available to your organizations informations channels.
---------------------- Reply Slip Return before 1 March 1997 -----------------------
Please fill in these slip and post, fax or email it. see for adresses herunder.
0 I would like to attend the two day conference on Ethnic Conflicts in Caucasus, please send me more information about the programm and participation costs.
0 I will not participate but inform me further about the conference.
Name:___________________________________________________________________
Organization:___________________________________________________________
Adress: _________________________________________________________________
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0 I will participate with next paper: ____________________________________ / only as an auditor
Return adress: per telefax: + 31 23 529 28 83 or e-mail to
Second Circular
Invitation: for our guests from Former Soviet Union Republics, we will mail an invitation.
Costs:
Other participants:
Travelling costs: with exception of special invited guests from former SU, we are not able to pay for travelling costs.
Accommodation costs:
Costs for one person including breakfast is f. 105,
2 persons in a room is 120, , (f. 60 p.p.)
3 persons f. 150, . (f. 50 p.p.)
Our centre will pay f 100,- of your total staying costs in the hotel, if you participate with a paper.
Papers:
Authors should provide an abstract of no more than one A4 outlining the scope and nature of their proposed contribution., Your abstract must be send no later than 15 April 1997.
The second day we try to form 3 working groups in 3 different alnguages.
Azerbaijan workshop: Turkish
Media Worksop: English
Women Workshop: Turkish
Participants:
Some are still not confirmed but conference will attended by prominent guests:
Former speaker of Azerbaijan parliament Isa Qamber will also participate
mr. Mustafa Cemiloglu CVhairman of Crimean Tatar Milli Meclis
and a high delegate from the Republic of Chechenya
Draft Programme:
1 June 1997
9.30 Opening
9.45 Special guest from Chechenya
10.30 mr. Isa Qamber
10.45 mr. Abdulcemil Kirimoglu (Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars)
11.00 Martie Benningsen On the history of Caucasus
11.30 Isa Gamber Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabach
12.30 lunch
13.30 1500 Panel discussion
Abkhazian Case
(2 speakers Abkhazian viewpoints)
George Hewitt Slava Chirikba
(2 speakers from Georgia)
Levan Urushadze "The role of the Russia in the Ethnic Conflicts in Caucasus".
George Khutsishvili, Ph.D. Director, International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN)
Reactions and discussion
15.00 Tea break
15.30 - 17.00 Panel discussion
Chechenya and Abkhazia (Differences similarities) (worked out)
Fatih Güngör (Kafkas Vakfi) Kafkasyadaki Etnik çatismalarda dinin rolü
Representatives form Chechnya
18.00 Dinner
20.00 Music from the region
Workshops:
Azerbaijan and Democracy in the Caucasus This session will be in Turkish and with many guests from Azerbaijan.
International organizations and media in the Caucasus
workshop with and for Journalists
Womens in Conflict situation
Conference date and time
Conference will start on 1. June 1997
Convening will be during 31. of May.
Conference place:
Conference will bu held in Haarlem, 20 kilometers from Amsterdam and 7 kilometers from the Coast, a historical city where our centre is based.
Conference will be held in Hotel Haarlem Zuid Conference rooms. Hotel Haarlem Zuid is a 4 star hotel.
Auditors:
Atendance and registration costs for auditors is f. 50,-. This includes not the meals.
We can intermediate for you for your accommodation if you want to stay longer.
Please let us know about your intentions and programme.
Confirmation: Regarding hotel reservations, confirmation of attending before 1st. of May is needed.
Publications.
Conference delegates will receive a book of abstracts with their conference programme and other
relevant discussion papers. The papers will be published later as a book following the conference.
Languages: The 1st day will be in Turkish, English and Russian.
2 June;
Women and War (Leyla Yunusova)
End of Conference 2nd. of June Monday 15.00 hour