Experts discuss Visegrad Four experience in scientific and environmental cooperation (watch or read)

19.02.2026 (Caucasian Journal). Last month, the Caucasian Journal convened our second Visegrad Four + Georgia webinar, “Academic and Scientific Cooperation; Environmental Challenges: Joint Responses,” organized in cooperation with our project partners: Arnika (Czechia), EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy (Czechia), Visegrad Insight (Poland), and the Central European Forum (Slovakia).

This webinar marked the second event within the project “Visegrad Lessons for Georgia – Overcoming Political Divides through Practical Cooperation.” To read about the first webinar in the series, click here. 
Further expert discussions will follow. 

▶ ქართულად: The Georgian version is here.

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ACADEMIC AND SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION; ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES: JOINT RESPONSES

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of Caucasian Journal: Good morning and good afternoon. I am Alexander Kaffka, and I will be moderating our second webinar. It's my pleasure to thank the International Visegrad Fund for supporting this project.

As we have already observed, the Visegrad Group has experienced serious political disagreements among the member states, yet cooperation has often been preserved in areas that are less politically sensitive, but still strategically vital, such as academic exchange, scientific research, and environmental policy. Georgia and the South Caucasus in general face a different political and institutional context, but similar risks – deepening polarization, fragile institutions, and shared environmental and scientific challenges. 

Samvel MELIKSETYAN: “The present era is a test of maturity for the elites of Armenia and Azerbaijan”

04.02.2026 (Caucasian Journal) Today’s guest is Samvel MELIKSETYAN, a political analyst and expert at the Armenian Council (formerly Research Center on Security Policy, RCSP) in Yerevan, specializing in South Caucasus affairs. His work focuses on regional connectivity and the historical, demographic, and ethnic dimensions of the Armenian–Azerbaijani conflict.

 

Samvel has been directly involved in recent Peace Bridge Initiative roundtables held in both Baku and Yerevan, giving him a rare, firsthand perspective on current civil dialogue efforts at a time of profound uncertainty in the region.  (For the Azerbaijani perspective, please see our recent interview here)

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of Caucasian Journal: Dear Samvel, welcome to Caucasian Journal! You recently took part in Peace Bridge Initiative roundtables in both Baku and Yerevan. How did these meetings feel—both as an expert, and on a personal level?

Samvel MELIKSETYAN:  Hello, and thank you for the invitation! Over the past three decades, Armenian–Azerbaijani meetings at the level of experts, media representatives, and other civil society sectors, supported by various international peace initiatives and organizations, have taken place mainly in Georgia or European countries. Therefore, the format itself was not unfamiliar, and almost everyone in the groups already knew some participants from previous initiatives.