| NISA Summer Session 2010 |
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NISA held a Summer Session on Financial Security on July 4-11, 2010 in Baku. 20 local and 20 foreign participants joined the Session to increase their awareness on the related issues and broaden their understanding about the financial security problems. Concept of the event and the objectives Foreign exchange transactions now amount to more than a trillion dollars a day, and this movement of funds not only yields profits to those who move them, but also helps to finance international transactions, and provides capital to those who require it for investment. Despite doubts regarding the benefits of free capital mobility, the world has increasingly liberalized capital flows among countries, which is a defining characteristic of the globalization of the world economy. The current structure of the global financial system is in part a reflection of the desire of financial actors to keep regulations at a minimum (or avoid them altogether), thus allowing the market to allocate resources in the most efficient way. Furthermore, a number of studies have also confirmed a positive relationship between the level of financial sector development and economic growth. However, focusing attention on what happens to the financial system as a result of new developments, challenges and risks and correcting its vulnerabilities, is also important. There are number of risks associated with the financial system in general. Those are especially pertinent after the current global financial crisis. Given that, financial security is not something just related to finances. It has multiple implications for security. Security of banks, financial institutions, outlook of the current economic world order and problems like money laundering, criminal funds, financing of terrorism are the issues in consideration when discussing the topic of financial security. Different countries have different problems regarding financial security. However, in modern days it is almost impossible to deal with the new challenges related to financial security on one’s own. Globalisation and current scope of international financial transactions make it inevitable for the states to cooperate. It is also important to consider this issue in the light of new security challenges, such as the terrorism and organized crime. All these illegal activities cannot be carried out without the financing. Thus, an essential element of fighting these menaces would be to provide for prevention of their financing. Against this background, NATO International School of Azerbaijan in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, is organizing a Summer School on the topic of “Financial Security”, in order to contribute to raising awareness on the relevant issues and broaden the understanding of the participants about the financial security problems. Opening of the event Opening of NISA Summer Session 2010 was attended by the ambassadors of Norway and Romania who also delivered the opening speeches. Besides, the representatives of 12 diplomatic missions and mass media attended the opening ceremony. Press release of the event was distributed among the journalists. NISA acting director gave an interview to Public TV where he gave brief information on the goals and objectives of the event. Panel sessions NISA Summer Session 2010 consisted of eight panel sessions. Each session had at least 2-3 lecturers and a moderator. Each session started with a brief introduction of the topic and speakers by the moderator and followed by presentations and Q&A sessions. After each session the moderators, lecturers and participants came together to wrap up. Depending on the number of the lecturers, the sessions lasted 1.5 and 2.5 hours. Each lecturer had 35-40 minutes for presentation and 15-20 minutes for Q&A at their disposal. Participants of NISA Summer Session 2010 The NISA Summer Session has hosted 40 young professionals coming from Azerbaijan and 15 other countries, as well as speakers (13 foreign and 6 local) representing 19 different institutions. Local Participants Foreing Participants NISA Summer Session 2010 Speakers NISA Summer Session 2010 Programme Social Programme NISA Summer Session isn’t just about the classroom experience. It’s also about meeting new people and having fun! NISA arranged a wide range of social events to help students get to know both each other and Azerbaijan. Below you can see some events organized by NISA to make the time of participants interesting. Intercultural night It is rare to find a mixture of cultures represented at one cultural night, but NISA has managed to do just that with Intercultural Night conducted within the NISA Summer Session 2010 on July 7. The event was started with country presentations conducted by the representatives of each country. 40 participants from 16 nations showcased the culture of their native lands, presenting traditional dancing and music, national food and drinks as well as various customs and traditions. The aim was to bring together international and local participants to provide cultural exchange among them. The night is not only about celebration, but also about awareness and integration. During the event it was offered national food from other cultures, more informal performances and a chance for people to engage in conversations about culture. Programme continued with traditional Azeri dance “Jianji” performed by Azerbaijani participants. Chess tournament Chess tournament took place during the NISA Summer Session 2010. NISA invited Azerbaijani grandmaster Shahriyar Mammadyarov to share his experience, successful games against world’s top grandmasters with the participants of NISA summer session. A chess séance of Mammadyarov where he played six games simultaneously with amateur chess players was remarkably interesting for the participants. After the game, the participants had a great opportunity to talk to Mammadyarov and take a photo with him. Visit to Gobustan On July 8, a visit of participants to Gobustan – ancient caves and rock inscriptions site was organized. During the visit the participants had opportunity to see ancient cave drawings on the limestone walls done during the Paleolithic period. The site has been designated as a national historical landmark so that the paintings would be preserved. City tour: the Old City Visit in Baku This guided walking tour was a great way to get to know Baku, its architecture and history. It covered the most important and interesting sights in Baku, including the Old City – “Içəri Şəhər”, Fortress Walls, Shirvanshahlar Palace (the most striking example of the medieval palace structures in Azerbaijan, dating to the middle of 15th century), the Maiden Tower, Karvansarays (Inns), City Hall, etc. classified as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The participants had also a walk along Baku Boulevard, the second largest one in the Europe. Simulation Game Moderator: Brian Sturgess, a managing editor of the UK-based World Economics Journal On the last day of Summer Session, NISA organized a simulation game. The game was about financial security problems in “The Federated Republic of Dystopia” The participants were divided in groups and given a task to elaborate a joint position on further steps of the organizations they represent. Eight groups were identified: IMF, Central Bank of Dystopia, Hedge Fund Manager, Queensbury Representatives, Football Federation, Payus Limited, EUROTERROR, President’s Cabinet. Information was distributed to them about the current state of affairs as assumed for the purposes of the game. They also received instructions about their aims, limits and maneuverability. Their first aim was to get all parties to resume negotiations, the second aim was to achieve a basic agreement among parties and the final aim was to find a basic consensus among parties about a rough outline for the future. In the course of the following hours the participants tried to start the negotiations while adhering to the rules of the game. The value of the simulation consisted in giving the participants the opportunity to test and develop their diplomatic skills. The difficulties and challenges encountered by the group closely resembled those that arise in real-life negotiations. Thus, this practical exercise was greatly appreciated by the participants, as a useful preparation for professional activities and a way to further explore the financial security problems. Award ceremony An official ceremony of certificate awarding for Summer Session participants was held on 10 July 2010. The Summer Session participants, Jean Fournet, Former NATO Assistance Secretary General and Huseyin Huseyinov, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affaires of Azerbaijan attended the ceremony. Jean Fournet and Huseyin Huseyinov awarded the participants. Photos from the event          |
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