For thirty years, U.S.- Caspian engagement has proven a critical component of regional stability and goodwill. In 2021, the countries of the Caspian region celebrated their thirtieth year of independence, and the Caspian Policy Center, which has served as a bridge between the region and the United States celebrated its fifth anniversary. To celebrate what the countries of the Caspian region have achieved in their independence and to look towards future U.S.-Caspian prosperity in the next thirty years, the Caspian Policy Center is proud to host a panel of senior representatives to discuss the past, present, and future of U.S.-Caspian relations.    

9:00 – 9:05   Welcome & Opening Remarks 

• -  Efgan Nifti, Chief Executive Officer, Caspian Policy Center

9:05 – 9:35   Keynote Remarks  

• - Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu 
• - Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Karen Donfried 

9:35 am – 10:15 am Remarks by Senior Regional Representatives

• - Moderator: Ambassador (ret.) Richard Hoagland, Security and Politics Program Chair, Caspian Policy Center
• - Representative from Armenia
• - Mr. Hikmet Hajiyev, Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan
• - Mr. Lasha Darsalia, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
• - Ambassador Erzhan Kazykhan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Special Representative of the President for International Cooperation
• - Ambassador Baktybek Amanbaev, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States
• - Ambassador Farrukh Hamralizoda, Ambassador of Tajikistan to the United States
• - Representative from Turkmenistan
• - Ambassador Javlon Vakhabov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States

10:15 am – 10:30 am Moderated Discussion