The South Caucasus, a crossroads between East and West, is a region where various cultures merge. It is also a region of constant ethnic friction and conflict. The aim of this project, a sequel to the fiscal 2003-4 project Capacity Building in Strategic Decision Making: Lessons from the Development Experience in the Asia-Pacific Region, is to contribute to the development of young leaders in the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia) by providing government officials both within and outside the region with opportunities to consider the region's security policies and stability.
This year, five people selected from each of the three South Caucasus countries--personnel of government organs, the media, NPOs, and other sectors--took part in a two-week training seminar in Georgia. As well as lectures on security policies in the South Caucasus, they attended lectures on East Asian development by five lecturers sent from China, Japan, and Singapore. The topics included Japan's monetary policy, China's economic development, and Southeast Asian regional cooperation. In addition, 30 trainees from the earlier project and this year's 15 trainees held a follow-up seminar, contributing to the creation of a network among the participants.