South Caucasus Parliamentary Initiative (SCPI)

The South Caucasus Parliamentary Initiative (SCPI) is a framework for dialogue, exchange of views and joint analysis between the Parliaments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, established on the basis of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the three Parliaments in Tbilisi on 13 May 2003.

The Initiative has a formal structure that governs its work. It meets for half yearly Plenary Assemblies with the participation of ten parliamentarians from each side, and holds Presidium meetings of three MPs from each side. The Initiative has a rotating Chairmanship between the three countries and a Secretariat, as well as various other mechanisms that are there to ensure continuity and smooth working conditions. This year SCPI set up a working group to look into areas of mutual interest between the three countries that also meets regularly.

Parliamentary cooperation at regional level is usually quite common, but in the South Caucasus regional contacts of any sort are rare. Whilst everybody understands the obvious benefits of regional dialogue and contacts, few underestimate the difficulties involved in developing such processes. The South Caucasus Parliamentary Initiative has therefore been hailed as a significant positive step that could contribute towards the development of trust between the political communities of the three countries.