Proposal for a Regional Emergency Action Partnership (REAP) for Peace in the South Caucasus
09 December 2024
A joint policy brief by experts from Armenia and Azerbaijan
Introduction
Armenia and Azerbaijan, together with Georgia, are facing unprecedented challenges that arise from unfolding climate change and seismic risk in the South Caucasus. Placing considerable strain on economies, livelihoods, and government resources, these hazards can significantly worsen the complex geopolitical landscape and exacerbate unresolved political issues. The absence of structured and coordinated disaster response mechanisms can increase vulnerability and hamper effective crisis management, leading to avoidable loss of life, widespread suffering, and significant economic damage.
We propose the establishment of a Regional Emergency Action Partnership (REAP) in the form of a coordinated binational disaster response system. This system could enable better preparation and facilitate effective responses to disasters that are likely to have an impact across borders, ultimately saving lives through joint efforts and resource mobilisation. Including Georgia would further
strengthen such a crisis management system and solidify regional cooperation.
Furthermore, this mechanism could help catalyse political rapprochement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Natural disasters and humanitarian crises can bring adversarial states together and unexpectedly foster collaboration. Greece and Türkiye have engaged in “earthquake diplomacy”, and despite the lack of diplomatic relations, Armenia and Türkiye briefly reopened their border to facilitate aid during the devastating 2023 Turkish earthquake (see Case Study 1 for more information). This rare example of earthquake diplomacy demonstrates how countries in seismically active regions can share common threats and opportunities for cooperation in their disaster responses. Similarly, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine have conducted joint disaster-response exercises involving 400 firefighters, medical personnel, and first responders, and the United States and Western states extended considerable support to the Soviet Union in the aftermath of the 1988 Armenian earthquake.
Disclaimer: The views, information and opinions expressed in this publication are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect those of the GCSP or the members of its Foundation Council. The GCSP is not responsible for the accuracy of the information.
Information
By
Anar Ahmadov, Vasif Huseynov, Rusif Huseynov, Tatul Manaseryan, Arman Martirosyan, Niko Orell
About the authors
Dr Anar Ahmadov (PhD, LSE) is Associate Professor of Political Economy, Leiden University; Netherlands. He has held research and teaching positions at Princeton University, Oxford University, London School of Economics (LSE), and Khazar University. For over twenty years, he has also worked as a consultant, analyst, and executive in international development. He has taught over thirty executive education and capacity building seminars for public sector executives and analysts from Central Eurasia on sustainable energy management, economic development, conflict resolution, and policy impact evaluation.
Dr Vasif Huseynov is Head of Western Studies Department, Center for Analysis of International Relations; Azerbaijan. Alongside his position at the AIR Center, Dr Huseynov teaches politics at Khazar University and ADA University in Baku. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the Academy of Public Administration in Azerbaijan, a Master of Arts in Global Political Economy from the University of Kassel, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Göttingen. He has authored op-eds, articles, and academic publications, including a book entitled “Geopolitical Rivalries in the ‘Common Neighborhood’: Russia’s Conflict with the West, Soft Power, and Neoclassical Realism”. Dr Huseynov’s research interests include EU-Azerbaijan relations and security in the South Caucasus.
Dr Rusif Huseynov is the Co-founder and Director of Topchubashov Center, a Baku-based think tank. His main interests are socio-political developments, frozen conflicts, and ethnic minorities in post-Soviet countries, while his focus areas mainly cover Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia. Dr Huseynov obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Baku State University and Master of Arts from the University of Tartu. He is a ReThink.CEE (2021) fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States and Local Focal Point within the EU4Dialogue project. Dr Huseynov also taught as an adjunct lecturer at ADA University. He pens articles for international media outlets such as The National Interest, The Jamestown Foundation, the New Eastern Europe.
Dr Tatul Manaseryan is Head of Research Center ALTERNATIVE; Armenia. He is a Doctor of Science and Professor who teaches World Economy and Economic Security at the Yerevan State University. He is also a former Member of Parliament of Armenia (2003-2007) and served as an Advisor to the Speaker of the Parliament (2009-2011). He has lived and worked in the USA, Canada, Thailand, Belgium, Italy, China, and other countries. Dr Manaseryan conferred “Excellence in Teaching” Award from the University of Redlands in California, USA. He has published extensively on global trends and developments, the new economic order, regional and trans-regional cooperation, economic security and economic diplomacy, and emerging market economies. Dr Manaseryan is the Editor-in-chief of the Quarterly Academic Journal ALTERNATIVE and the Head of Research Center ALTERNATIVE, headquartered in Yerevan, Armenia with branches in Northridge, California, Lecce, Italy and Antwerp, Belgium.
Dr Arman Martirosyan is Associate Professor, Doctor of Science and Economics; Armenia. He is an Associate Professor and lecturer with over 24 years of experience at various universities. He has delivered lectures, coached, and worked in numerous countries including Armenia, the USA, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, and others. In his more than 16 handbooks and monographs, he has analyzed the institutional aspects of microeconomics, macroeconomics, psychological management, and marketing processes in the economy. Additionally, he has published over 65 articles in Armenia, England, Poland, Germany, Austria, and other countries, focusing on issues related to economic security and economic development. In recent years, considering global warming and environmental (pollution) problems, he has especially emphasized these aspects of economic development and planetary security.
Mr Niko Orell is Head of Crisis Management at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and a leading expert in crisis management, defense policy, and security. With over 25 years of experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, he specializes in crisis management, resilience building, risk management, and decision-making under pressure. He collaborates with governments, international organisations, and private companies to design strategies for navigating complex challenges. An accomplished author and keynote speaker, Mr Orell has published articles and addressed global audiences on leadership, crisis response, and situational awareness. He has led EU-level working groups that shaped crisis management concepts, influencing CSDP operations in Europe, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific. Combining field expertise with policy acumen, Mr Orell advises on international crisis response strategies that foster security in high-stakes environments.