Today the Members of Senior Course 117 at the NATO Defense College had the opportunity to listen to the remarkable Lecture of Opportunity given by H.E. Mr. Araz AZIMOV, the Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Our distinguished guest was accompanied by H.E. Ambassador Vagif SADIQOV and Mr. Erkin HEYDARLI. The Azerbaijani delegation was warmly welcomed by the Commandant, Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter LOESER, who provided a brief introduction to the College’s main activities and explained the three pillars they are based on – education, research and outreach.
The Lecture of Opportunity, “Security in the South Caucasus region in the Euro-Atlantic Context”, afforded the audience a unique opportunity to acquire an in-depth view on the region and its current security situation. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the South Caucasus region has gained importance in the international scenario, especially as strategic, economic, and energy interests in the area have increased. The region’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Central Asia makes it of vital importance for security interests, including energy security.
The meeting was also an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the divergences concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh region by examining the development of the conflict and the roles of regional and international actors.
The final part of the session was reserved for course members’ questions, providing an opportunity to exchange points of view and focus more closely on a number of points examined in the lecture.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Valerie Kasseckert, DEU C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 
