Tamar Cohen

Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Republic of Azerbaijan (SAM)

Mission SAM's main purpose is to provide the highest state bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan with a scientific research, forecasting and policy advice in the areas of geopolitics, security, state-building, regional development and others. SAM, in pursuit of its main goals and in accordance with the present Charter, shall perform the following duties: - to provide strategic policy advice on international issues, to identify strategic interests in domestic and foreign policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan - to develop new approaches in building and expanding relations with foreign countries in accordance with strategic interests of the Republic of Azerbaijan - to provide analysis on development strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in line with the contemporary global challenges (new technologies, energy security, terrorism, international financial and economic systems, demography, health, etc.) - to create and maintain a positive image of the Republic of Azerbaijan abroad, including distribution of mass media materials - to monitor current political and socio-economic developments inside and outside the country, to conduct a scientific analysis in the field of culture, religion and spirituality, to forecast potential changes and risks associated with them in the neighbouring countries - to examine regional issues, to conduct a research on the state of bilateral relations with the border states - to analyze the state of democratic institutions and civil society and the process of political elite formation in the Republic of Azerbaijan - to examine developments in the relations between the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the society - to conduct public opinion polls on domestic and foreign policies of the Republic of Azerbaijan to learn about the views of different population groups in the country