IISS Activities in the Caucasus Programme
In June 2001, IISS collaborated with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)'s Office of the High Commissioner for National Minorities, and the European Union on developing a strategy for addressing the socio-economic implications of the planned Russian base closure at Akhalkalaki in Georgia.IISS, OSCE experts, Russia's Partner Foundation and the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development conducted three training workshops in Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe exploring economic and social projects to mitigate the impact of the Akhalkalaki base closure. The workshops were attended by over 80 delegates from regional government, the business community, NGOs and representatives of international organisations working in Georgia. They were the first activities of their kind to be held in this part of Georgia, which is attracting increasing attention from the international community as an area of potential regional instability. It borders Turkey and Armenia, has a long history of conflict, is primarily populated by Armenians with a growing demand for regional autonomy and is heavily dependent economically upon the Russian base. IISS activities will contribute towards developing an international programme involving leading aid organisations that is to be presented at the OSCE meeting in Vienna in spring 2002.
