Camden, Maine (January 29, 2010) — Some of the world’s leading experts on Central Asia will gather at the Camden Opera House next month to discuss the future of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India – three conflict-torn countries of vital national interest to the United States.

The 23rd Annual Camden Conference includes panelists who have worked at senior levels in the U.S. State Department, CIA and academia, as well as individuals focused on creating positive change in this troubled region. The conference comes at a time when the United States is increasing its troop presence in Afghanistan, and concern remains high about relations between the nuclear-armed nations of Pakistan and India.

The conference, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India – Crossroads of Conflict, will take place Feb. 19-21. Speakers will travel from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mexico, Washington, D.C., and other locales to participate in the conference. More information is available at www.camdenconference.org.

“The subject could not be more timely than it is right now,” said John Snow, president of the Camden Conference Board of Directors. “This conference will help us to learn about the culture and history of this important and little-understood part of the world.”

The keynote address will be made by Ahmed Rashid, a Pakistani journalist, scholar, and best-selling author of books about Central Asia. Rashid’s work on the Taliban was used extensively by U.S. State Department after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Other presenters include:

• R. Nicholas Burns, a former Under Secretary of State, described by the Washington Post as “one of the most high-profile diplomats at the State Department” and currently Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard University’s Kennedy School.
• Paul R. Pillar, who worked as the chief of analytics units within the CIA, prior to becoming Director of Graduate Studies at the Center for Peace and Security Studies at Georgetown.
• Athanasios Moulakis, Chief Academic Officer at the American University of Afghanistan.
• Teresita Schaffer, director of the South Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Camden Conference was founded in 1987, in part, as an outgrowth of the large group of retired Foreign Service and CIA officials who live in and around Camden. The nonprofit, non-partisan educational organization works to foster informed discourse on world affairs, and has a history of bringing leading statesmen and thinkers to the Camden Opera House.

“We make sure there is ample time for questions, and because our audience is so informed and engaged, there’s always a great exchange of ideas,” Snow said. “Many of our presenters say that the interaction here is as good as any they have anywhere, even though many of these speakers participate in events around the world.”

A substantial portion of the audience travels to Camden each year for the conference from other parts of the United States and, at times, international locations.

Camden itself has a long and continuing intellectual heritage that includes literary figures such as Edna St. Vincent Millay and continues today with events such as the national Pop!Tech technology conference and annual events focused on literature, creativity and the arts. Artists have historically flocked to the Midcoast because of its unique quality of light and dramatic, rocky coastline.

The Town of Camden remains a vibrant, authentic New England village of unique beauty, where the mountains meet the sea. Down East magazine labeled Camden Harbor the prettiest in Maine, and Boston magazine named Camden One of New England’s Best Small Towns.

“We’re quite proud of our artistic and intellectual heritage here in the Camden area, and always enjoy it when people from other communities visit to share in that tradition,” said Daniel Bookham, Executive Director of the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce.

The Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership association that serves businesses and organizations from 54 towns and seven states who actively seek to support business and community in the Camden Hills region of Maine.

Founded in 1987, the Camden Conference is a nonprofit, non-partisan educational organization whose mission is to foster informed discourse on world affairs.

###