Issue No 2(14), 2014

• PREFACE
  DE LA TERRE CENTRALE GÉOPOLITIQUE DES 19^ÈME ET 20^ÈME SIÈCLE À LA CENTRALITÉ LOGISTIQUE AU 21^ÈME SIÈCLE : L’AFGHANISTAN APPARTIENT-IL À L’ASIE DU SUD OU À LA ‘NOUVELLE ASIE’ ?
  
  ChabalPierre
  Abstract

  
  
  Article pdf
• REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
  
  FloroiuMihaiSchinGeorge
  Abstract

  As OECD considers, regional development is a broad term that can be seen as a general effort to reduce regional disparities by supporting, through employment and wealth-generating resources, social and economic activities in less developped regions. Although this concept started as merely an economical one, towards the end of the 20th century, regional development became rather multi-disciplinary in its approach, as law, political science, public policy and sociology became critical disciplines alongside economics focusing more on the notion of what a region might be and how a range of factors (not just economical ones) could shape the idea of a region. Alongisde these basic considerations, one should pay more attention to how these concepts could interfere with the specifities of the State and the Statehood, considering that new derived (sui-generis) concepts of international law and international relations emerged with the scope of erasing disparities between nations and peoples, creating the premises for both real value development, and potential conflict management in international relations.
  
  Keywords: regional development, integration processes, paradiplomacy
  Article pdf
• PROJECTS, POLICIES AND NETWORKS FOR THE DANUBE REGION. CASE STUDY: ROMANIA - MOLDOVA-UKRAINE (LOWER DANUBE EUROREGION)
  
  TudorFlorin
  Abstract

  The new strategic approach regarding the regional cooperation in the Danube basin, proposed as structural reform through the Treaty of Lisbon, is seen as an example for the application of regional policy. However, the partnership in the region must act more firmly in the domain such as - transport, environment, economy and culture for greater socio-economic cohesion in the Danube region. The regional institutions have the duty to select and coordinate projects financed with priority. Also, the states concerned by the EU Strategy for the Danube should fully exploit the opportunities of this river and focus on reducing economic imbalances, but also on ensuring social cohesion in the Danube basin. This study aims to identify how the Danube Strategy can contribute to the development and prosperity of the EU's internal development and regional partners in the "Lower Danube" Euroregion.
  
  Keywords: strategy, cooperation, public policy, finance, infrastructure, development, Euroregion
  Article pdf
• THE PORTS ON THE LOWER DANUBE – SOME TECHNICAL ASPECTS
  
  PuşcaşuVioleta
  Abstract

  The geographic water routes have always played an important role in the geostrategic decisions of the great powers. Today, this aspect is actively integrated in a variety of policies, from those on cross-border cooperation and good neighbourhood to the sectoral ones for the development of transport, tourism and trade. In this respect, the Danube is one of the most obvious examples, its role being promoted by the riparian states, as well as outside Europe, due to the connections it opens. In terms of flow and navigation, the most important part is on the Romanian territory, in the so-called Lower Danube sector, while Romanian ports are key points in the implementation of development strategies. Accordingly, the article reviews their technical potential, so as to underline the differences, as well as the possibilities for future capitalization.
  
  Keywords: harbours, Danube, potential, river
  Article pdf
• ASIE CENTRALE: ENJEUX LOGISTIQUES DE DÉSENCLAVEMENT LE CAS DU CORRIDOR PORTUAIRE ET LOGISTIQUE DE GWADAR
  
  AlixYann
  Abstract

  Whatever you are in South America, Africa or Central Asia, landlocked economies are dramatically impacted by the highest transportation & logistics costs. From raw material to high value products in containers, landlocked countries remain strategically dependent on networks and services to import and export cargo up to their landlocked consumers. Transit policy, regulatory framework, trade facilitation, inland infrastructure and multimodal services are amongst the key factors to combine in order to encourage smoothness and efficient logistics systems. The paper proposes to analyze how Central Asia becomes one of the most prominent markets, appealing Europe, Chinese and even US interests in order to guarantee better integration into global value chain networks. Logistics, geopolitics and strategy are deployed by the big players like Russia, India, China or Pakistan to promote some new corridors as shown with the initiative at Gwadar in Baluchistan. The paper concludes on challenges in stake, bearing in mind regional geopolitical instability which includes a large part of the Central Asia Countries.
  
  Keywords: Landlock countries, Central Asia, Logistics, Transportation Corridors, Geopolitics
  Article pdf
• THE ROLE OF KAZAKHSTAN IN THE NEW GEOGRAPHY OF PRODUCTION AND TRADE BETWEEN THE ASIAN AND EUROPEAN MARKETS
  
  VernyJeromeChazeMilhan
  Abstract

  For over a decade, the global economic order has been undergoing major macro-economic and geographic changes. International relations evolve with the emergence of countries that face new economic superpowers like China. Federated around this new economic Sino-pole, Asian countries are increasingly attractive to major international investors in particular due to the reduced labor costs and a consumer market of several hundred million people. These events are accompanied by a new geography of the value chain. Indeed, a new transcontinental organization of production of goods generates new trade routes using mainly sea transport to link production areas to consumer markets.
  
  Article pdf
• TRANSIT POTENTIAL OF IRAN AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR CENTRAL ASIA
  
  GubaidullinaMara
  Abstract

  The transit potential of Iran’s territory is very important for Central Asian countries. The confined space of Central Asia has no access to the world ocean, restricts its trade and export opportunities. Iran, being situated between three continents, has geo-strategic advantages in the Middle East and is called a “connecting bridge between East and West”. Land and air routes which pass through Iran can make Central Asia closer to the West and the countries of the Persian Gulf by a short route. The transit potential of Iran can only be used in conjunction with regional partnership, be a prerequisite for a closer interregional cooperation.
  
  Keywords: Central Asia; Iran's strategic interests; trade and energy relations; transit potential of Iran; the corridor "North-South" and "East - West"
  Article pdf
• CONNECT CENTRAL ASIA: ROLE OF AFGHANISTAN
  
  BaizakovaKuralayBaizakovaZhulduz
  Abstract

  The economic potential of the Central Asian countries can be considered as the basis for a new model of cooperation and economic integration. The region of Central Asia can be the bridge between the European, Asian and Middle Eastern countries. In this article are considered the role and the place of Afghanistan in transit opportunities of Central Asian countries. The armed opposition in Afghanistan is a major obstacle for the development of regional economic cooperation and realization of wide transit potential of the Central Asia. Nowadays, Afghanistan is actively involved in the integration processes of Central Asia within the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other organizations. This fact will certainly help to promote fast reconstruction of Afghanistan in partnership with the Afghan authorities and other members of the international community. However, there is not a common point of view among specialists, analysts, representatives of the expert community and the intelligence services as far as the future development of situation.
  
  Keywords: New Silk Road; Northern Distribution Network; Central Asia; Afghanistan
  Article pdf