Sep 22, 2008

Hekmat Karzai the director of CAPS attended the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination (Princeton University) Afghanistan Review Conference from September 4thtill the 7th of 2008.  The event was the eighth in the LISD project on Afghanistan and the region and focused on the evolution and fostering of key sectors: security; law and order; elections; economics infrastructure and energy; education, culture and identity; and the region.

Among the dignitaries and the experts that participated in the various panels included Dr. Rangin Spanta, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, H.E. Asif Rahimi, Deputy Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, H.E. Ambassador Zahir Tanin, Permanent representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations,  Ambassador Francesc Vendrell, the former European Union Special Representative, Chris Alexander, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry, Deputy chairman of the NATO Military Committee and former commander of Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan.

The event was particularly interesting since it was held at the historic Petersburg Hotel where the Bonn Agreement was held in late 2001.

In addition to the LISD conference Mr. Karzai also attended the Regional Network of Strategic Studies Centers (RNSSC) conference in Geneva.

The Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, US National Defense University, Washington, DC, and the Institute of Strategic Studies, Research and Analyses, National Defense College, Pakistan, hosted a Counter Terrorism working group meeting in Geneva, Switzerland from 10th and 11th of September, 2008.  The event was part of the (RNSSC).  The objective of the meeting was to work on ‘Lesson Learned’ from various case studies. Mr. Karzai presented the study on Afghanistan.

Background of Regional Network of Strategic Studies Centers (RNSSC)

The RNSSC is intended to expand the strategic dialogue among institutions throughout the region, in response to regional suggestions for more avenues of cooperation in meeting security challenges.  It promotes strategic thinking at the regional level by disseminating collaboratively developed research, thinking and publications throughout the region.  These published analyses are intended to assist policymakers, national security educators, and interested experts in their professional endeavors.   The Network Initiative is formed as a partnership with the countries of the NESA region, and currently enjoys co-sponsorship from the Institute for Strategic Studies, Research, and Analysis, National Defense College, Pakistan; the National Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense College, Jordan; and the Center for Strategic Research (SAM), Ankara, Turkey.