Proposed legal structure for the silksat satellite consortium: A regional intergovernmental...

I. INTRODUCTION:

The Trans-Caucasus and Central Asian region is an often-overlooked area of the developing world. These states of the former Soviet Union, which include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, have made great strides toward capitalism and democracy in the decade since their independence. Yet, these countries still lag far behind the political and economic achievements of Western nations. Per capita GNP in the region is a meager US$490,(1) with its continually deteriorating infrastructure partially to blame for a slow rate of development.

To solve these problems, nations of the region have initiated the Great Silk Road Project, named for the ancient silk trade routes that extended through the region from Europe to China. The Great Silk Road Project aims to enhance the economy and security of these nations through developmental cooperation.2 Programs in progress include the installation of regional oil pipelines,3 a unified front against religious extremism, terrorism, and narcotics trafficking,4 the promotion of partnerships between local and foreign investors,5 and the construction of a transcontinental railway and highway.6