Trade Beats Aid? Senator Brownback And Panelist Discuss The Future Of Continental Transport And Trade In Afghanistan And Central Asia 10/15/2002
From: Carla Sims, 202-828.9739 for the W.P. Carey Forum Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, SAIS News Advisory: WHAT: In September 2002, President Bush announced a $180 million fund formed by the United States, Japan and Saudi Arabia to rebuild the Kabul-Kandahar-Herat-Kabul roads in Afghanistan. Is this kind of initiative, rather than more traditional forms of aid, the key to achieving the "Marshall Plan for Afghanistan" that the president proposed in his speech at the Virginia Military Academy? A distinguished panel, to include Senator Sam Brownback, ranking member on the Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Subcommittee will explore the potential for transcontinental trade through Afghanistan and Central Asia, i.e., of trade linking China, the Middle East, India, Russia, and Europe. What is the potential scale of such trade? Is this a key to stabilization and peace in the area? How does this directly impact the US? What must be done in the area of security, infrastructure, and tariffs if it is to be achieved? What role should the United States and other members of the world community play in bringing about this "reopening of the Silk Roads"? WHEN: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. (A reception will precede the lecture at 4 p.m.) WHERE: John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies The Nitze Building, W. John Kenney Auditorium 1740 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC WHO: Moderator: Frederick Starr, Chairman, Central Asian-Caucasus Institute Panelists include: -- Senator Sam Brownback, Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- Dr. Ravshan Alimov, Director, Institute of Interregional and Strategic Studies, Tashkent, Uzbekistan -- Dr. Martha Blaxall, Economist, Yale University -- Ms. Eva Molnar, Manager for the Transport Sector, Eastern Europe, The World Bank -- Emin Sazak, Vice Chairman of Yuksel Construction Company, Ankara Turkey BACKGROUND: The WP Carey Forum was established by W.P. Carey, the chairman and chief executive office of W.P. Cary & Co. LLC, one the world's preeminent real estate investment banking firms. The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI) is an independent research and policy institution, affiliated to the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at The John Hopkins University, and was the first institute in Washington, DC., devoted to the study and analysis of the Central Asian, the Caspian Basin and the Caucasus. CACI has held conferences on topics such as Islamic extremism, the Taliban and drug trafficking, and democracy in Kazakhstan. The Institute has four objectives: to conduct impartial research; to act as a forum for policymakers in Washington, DC and abroad; to act as a "switchboard" of resources and information concerning the Central Asia-Caucasus region; and to provide access for its sponsors in business to relevant expertise on the region. The event is open to the public. Seating is limited and attendees and media must RSVP with name and affiliation to simsc@fleishman.com, or call 202-828-8739. For more information, visit: http://sais- jhu.edu/events/index.html SOURCE: John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) | |