. AZERBAIJAN AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD IN 2003-2013: REFORMS, DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES. BAKU , , 2014.

The Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azer- baijan (www.sam.az) is Azerbaijan's first government-funded, non-profit and academically independent think tank, known as SAM (Strateji Araşdırmalar Markazi in Azerbaijani). The mission of SAM is to promote collaborative re- search and enhance the strategic debate as well as provide decision-makers with high-quality analysis and innovative proposals for action. Through publications, brainstorming meetings, conferences and policy recommendations, SAM con- ducts rigorous research guided by a forward-looking policy orientation, thus bringing new perspectives to academic research in international level. SAM was ranked 123th in the top 150 global think tanks according to 2013 Global Go To Think Tanks Rankings Report by Pennsylvania University.