Southwest Asia
Food-Water-Energy Nexus Event Focuses on the Amu Darya River Basin
A Milestone Meeting in Istanbul
In “Triggering Cooperation across the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Central Asia,” a first-of-its-kind meeting, 50 experts from the public and private sectors gathered in Istanbul on July 15-17, 2014. Participants exchanged best-practice ideas and collaboratively developed potential solutions appropriate for the Amu Darya River Basin, the largest river in Central Asia and part of the Aral Sea basin linking Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The EastWest Institute (EWI) in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Water Association (IWA) convened the event. It is a component of the Nexus Dialogues for Water Infrastructure Solutions, a global platform and call to action to those leading transformations in water infrastructure planning, financing and operation. “To make optimal use of increasingly scarce natural resources and avert conflict over them, cooperation must be strengthened not only across geographical boundaries but also across policy silos,” said Michele Ferenz, director of EWI’s Food-Water-Energy Nexus Program. “Convening stakeholders who don’t normally speak to each other to address sensitive issues is what EWI excels in,” she added.
The Amu Darya is a key lifeline for the peoples and economies of Central Asia, as well as a conflict flashpoint. Many of today’s challenges originate in the break-up of the former Soviet Union and its unified planning system. Particularly problematic are persistent winter energy shortages in upstream areas and crumbling irrigation infrastructure regionally, resulting in possibly the lowest water use efficiency in the world. The dramatic shrinking of the Aral Sea, in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya, has long stood as a symbol of the global ecological crisis.
At the same time, sustainably leveraging the region’s rich natural resource base is crucial to the economic and social renewal of the States of Central Asia and Afghanistan. The core workshop objective, therefore, was the identification of pragmatic steps in this direction, building on existing institutional frameworks as well as global best practice.
Considerations of financing and market development were prominent in the discussion. Gary Lawrence, chief sustainability officer of AECOM noted that “the river is probably the most important economic asset in this entire region, and we don’t treat it as an asset. We treat it as a resource that has no value assigned to it.”
Indeed, mechanisms for payment of ecosystem services across users in the basin emerged as a concrete solution. Other proposals addressed regional information exchange among riparians, capacity building, developing training centers to improve irrigation techniques and promoting regional economic integration.
Commenting on the future of the nexus in Central Asia, Iskandar Abdullaev, executive director of the Central Asian Regional Environmental Center (CAREC) said, “The nexus is still in early stages in the region. It is time to develop dynamic and concise, local level, solution oriented tools and instruments for the food-water-energy nexus.”
_
Beate Maeder-Metcalf Leads Panel on Pakistan and the EU in Brussels
EastWest Institute’s Vice President, Regional Security, Dr. Beate Maeder Metcalf moderated this panel, hosted by the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany, to engage senior members of Pakistan's Parliament (the Senate) in a dialogue with European institutions at a crucial point in time for Pakistan and the region. Dr. Maeder-Metcalf has lead EWI’s multi-year, multi-stakeholder meetings about the security and economic future of Afghanistan and the region, including Pakistan (The Abu Dhabi Process.)
The May 2013 election in Pakistan saw the first democratic handover of power in its history. Most countries in the region are scheduled to complete their electoral processes in 2014. At the same time, the drawdown of international forces from Afghanistan will be complete by the end of the year, creating uncertainty when the country also faces many challenges, such as energy shortages, sectarian and terrorist violence in the Western region, and radicalization in parts of society due to a youth bulge facing high unemployment.
The goal of the Brussels panel was to promote mutual understanding and to advance a common agenda, as the issues in the region have implications for Europe and the rest of the world. The panel addressed Pakistan's current politics, economy, security issues, and relations with EU and NATO.
The Pakistani delegation was led by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Adeel (Awami National Party), and by Senator Mushahid Sayed, Chairman of the Defense Committee (Pakistan Muslim League, PML-Q). The European Parliament was represented by Mr. Michael Gahler (Member of the EP's Committee on Foreign Affairs, member of EastWest Institute’s Parliamentarian’s Network). NATO was represented by Dr. Stefanie Babst, Head of Strategic Analysis Capability for the NATO Secretary General and Chairman of NATO Military Committee.
On the political front, Pakistani participants stressed that Pakistan is a vibrant democracy, perhaps the freest Muslim democracy in the world, with an independent media and judiciary. Mr. Gahler, who led the European Parliament’s election monitoring mission to Pakistan in 2013, recognized Pakistan’s democratic achievements and emphasized the EU’s continued interest.
Economically, to ensure a prosperous future, Pakistani participants said the country will need to invest more in education. Senator Sayed stressed that the country had the potential to become an economic hub in "Greater South Asia," including India and linking to China.
Addressing the security transition in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, Pakistani participants expressed concern about the effects of what could be perceived as a Western "cut and run.” Dr. Babst of NATO reiterated NATO's continued security commitment to the region, and reminded participants that Pakistan still needs to sign the NATO-Pakistan "Joint Declaration," pending in Islamabad since 2013.
June 11 Roundtable Discussion: Future Prospects
Afghanistan in Transition: Great Opportunities and Challenges
Brussels Center Holds Panel Discussion and Releases In-depth Report
The EastWest Institute’s Brussels Center convened a roundtable discussion on “Afghanistan in Transition” on June 11. EWI organized the event to assess the county’s current political and security transitions prior to the final round of presidential elections on June 14 and to launch the institute’s latest report, Afghanistan Reconnected: Regional Economic Security Beyond 2014, which focuses on the great economic opportunities and regional challenges the transition offers.
“EWI will move the Afghanistan reconnected process forward by giving a major role to the private sector in 2014 and beyond,” said EWI’s COO James Creighton. “We will make sure that projects and recommendations mentioned in the report are endorsed by the business community and members of parliament. We will undertake regional advocacy in order to sustain the momentum we have created in 2013.”
The ambassadors of Afghanistan and Tajikistan; senior diplomats of permanent missions of foreign states to the European Union; and representatives of the European Union, science-policy research centers and non-governmental organizations attended the roundtable. Panelists, including the Economic Minister of the Pakistan Embassy Dr. Safdar A. Sohil. applauded the report and EWI’s effort to stimulate regional economic cooperation.
Ambassador of Afghanistan to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg, H.E. Mr. Homayoun Tandar, tackled the issues first, stressing that Afghanistan’s security situation has improved, and that the country offers great opportunity for investment and regional cooperation.
Tandar emphasized that the Afghan security forces are capable of ensuring security for future investment in Afghanistan’s untapped natural resources, notably gas and mining. The security provided by the Afghan security forces in the first round of elections was a good sign of their capabilities according to Ambassador Tandar.
“In a relaxed atmosphere, roughly 7 million of Afghani have cast their votes on the April 4 first round of elections; at least the same number of people took part in last Saturday’s, June 14 second round,” said Tandar. He noted, however, the challenge will be to financially support the security forces, as they will take full responsibility from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on December 31, 2014. Tandar also stressed that the cooperation with Pakistan is crucial for regional economic development and stability.
H.E. Mr. Rustamjon Abdulloevich Soliev, ambassador of Tajikistan to Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the European Union, NATO and UNESCO then proceeded to express the position of Tajikistan, a neighbor to Afghanistan with 1400 kilometers of common borders.
There are number of initiatives and projects where Tajikistan can help Afghanistan navigate through economic transitions. In the energy sector, Tajikistan can be a reliable energy supplier to both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The CASA-1000 regional project allows Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to sell surplus hydropower to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan’s infrastructures and transport systems are essential to boost its trade and to take full advantage of its key location as a landbridge between South and Central Asia.
Dr. Safdar A. Sohail, economic minister, Embassy of Pakistan to Belgium, underlined that Afghanistan’s position should allow it to become a transit road from Europe to China. No country should be excluded. Solving common issues by dialogue is still a challenge, with zero-sum game thinking still prevailing. These roadblocks need to be overcome. It will be otherwise impossible to move common projects forward in any meaningful way.
At the conclusion of the event, a Russian delegate affirmed that the stability and security of Afghanistan is in the national interest of the Russian Federation. The delegation said that their country is ready to share the burden of participation in regional projects aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan and the countries around it. Final remarks highlighted agreements among participants on the need for trust and confidence building in order to secure foreign long-terms investments. All agreed that a tremendous potential for energy and trade is possible, but the lack of local funds and resources could hamper full economic development, both internally and regionally, with negative consequences for all players involved.
_
Click here to read Afghanistan Reconnected: Regional Economic Security Beyond 2014.
Firestein Speaks on U.S.-Iran Relations at Michigan State University
David Firestein, EWI's Perot fellow and vice president for the Strategic Trust-Building Initiative and Track 2 Diplomacy, delivered a talk on "U.S.-Iran Relations: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects" at Michigan State University on April 7, 2014.
In his talk, Firestein addressed shifting dynamics in U.S.-Iran relations and the effect of recent developments such as the election of Hassan Rouhani to Iran's presidency and the ongoing nuclear negotiations. He also set forth a number of proposals for improving U.S.-Iran relations and easing longstanding tensions between the two countries. Firestein's talk was co-sponsored by the Muslim Studies Program, the Asian Studies Center and the Center for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, all at Michigan State University.
Listen to Firestein's presentation here. Read the transcript here.
Afghanistan Reconnected: Regional Economic Security Beyond 2014
EWI's latest report—a culmination of two years work—illustrates how regional collaboration would strengthen economic, political and social ties between Central Asia and South Asia and contribute to a more stable Afghanistan in 2014 and beyond.
Afghanistan’s economic development is at a critical and exciting juncture as international troops withdraw at the end of this year, and the country elects a new president. The EastWest Institute Brussels Center proudly presents Afghanistan Reconnected: Regional Economic Security Beyond 2014, which focuses on the economic opportunities of the country’s transition from a security and aid-dependent economy to one reconnected to the region. This report’s findings are the culmination of four meetings organized by EWI, which occurred in Istanbul, Islamabad, New Delhi and Berlin, over the last two years, on cross-border economic challenges and opportunities. These engagements enabled leaders from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Turkmenistan, Iran, China, the European Union, the United States and other nations to exchange ideas, identify opportunities and clarify obstacles to growth.
Afghanistan’s considerable prospects exist in agriculture, in mining and as an energy transit hub at the crossroads of Asia, through which resources can pass to the fast-growing markets of East and South Asia.
“Afghanistan has billions of dollars of mineral resources, such as iron, copper, gold, rare earths, lithium, which can be an important foundation for economic development,” EWI’s Chief Operating Officer James Creighton said. “The prospects for hydrocarbon industry development, mining sector growth and trade and transport expansion are recognized as sources of tremendous potential,” Creighton added.
He also stressed that the prospects for business development in these sectors combined with an energetic, increasingly educated and young population offer a climate for positive change.
“We wanted to generate knowledge and interest in the region in Afghanistan’s economic potential and highlight the win-win potential,” Ambassador Dr. Beate Maeder-Metcalf, EWI vice president and director for Regional Security, said.
EWI engaged high-level stakeholders—decision-makers from the government and the business sectors—to revitalize economic cooperation within the region. The World Bank and the European External Action Service participated at these meetings, stressing the transformative potential of this opportunity, including access to new markets, enhanced energy security and greatly increased job opportunities for the entire region.
Afghanistan Reconnected illustrates how this regional cooperation and collaboration would strengthen economic, political and social ties between Central Asia and South Asia and contribute to a more stable Afghanistan for years to come.
2014 - Afghanistan in Transition
EWI Releases 2013 Annual Report
Our 2013 Annual Report highlights EastWest Institute’s accomplishments of last year. The institute’s goal of building cooperation and forging real solutions to daunting international problems continues to be as relevant as it was at its founding more than 33 years ago.
President and CEO John Mroz states in his President’s Report, “It is clear that the East and West must work more closely with one another to address issues that affect us all, and establish a new world order that reflects current economic, military and political realities. We have recently seen the dangers when this does not happen.” He emphasizes EWI’s continued key role as a bridge between major powers.
This report summarizes, among other key efforts, the expanded scope of EWI’s Global Cooperation in Cyberspace program, a cornerstone of the institute’s work. Our Regional Security Initiative continues to push for private and public sector collaboration in Afghanistan and the surrounding region, securing a peaceful, prosperous transition post-2014 troop withdrawal. Our ongoing U.S.- China high-level dialogues continue to explore ways to manage critical differences over Taiwan, cybersecurity and regional tensions, and we released a well-received Taiwan arms sales policy recommendation that presents a creative way forward to reduce cross-Strait military tension.
In 2014, EWI is forging ahead with these and other conflict reduction initiatives. We are deeply grateful for the continued support of our board, advisors and donors.
Pages
