A meeting was held at the STEM Center with Urs Unkauf — an expert in diplomacy, energy policy, geopolitics, and security issues. Mr. Unkauf serves as the Federal Managing Director of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) and is actively engaged on the international stage, with a particular focus on regions such as Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus.

During the meeting, participants discussed pressing issues in international politics and energy security, including the recent visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Baku. Urs Unkauf highlighted the strategic importance of Azerbaijan in ensuring Europe’s energy security.

He stressed that Germany, like several other EU countries, lacks significant oil reserves, which makes the diversification of energy sources critically important. In this context, energy supplies from Azerbaijan play a key role in reducing Europe’s dependence on a limited number of providers.

A separate part of the discussion focused on the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Mr. Unkauf remarked that for many years, international mediators failed to bring about meaningful progress in resolving the conflict. “The OSCE Minsk Group was ineffective both in the Karabakh conflict and in Ukraine,” the expert noted. Nonetheless, he expressed cautious optimism regarding the current stage of negotiations. “I am very optimistic now about the prospects for peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. I believe that direct, one-on-one negotiations are the most effective way to achieve a sustainable resolution,” he added.

The meeting also addressed the future of Azerbaijani-German relations. According to Mr. Unkauf, in order to foster closer ties, Azerbaijan should further develop its public diplomacy — including cultural initiatives, academic exchanges, and expert-level dialogues.

The event took place in an open-dialogue format, allowing students and young professionals to ask questions and engage in discussions with the expert on key challenges and opportunities facing the region. The meeting concluded with a group photo to commemorate the occasion.