On September 10-11, 2010, Riga, the capital of Latvia, hosted one of the leading security forums in Northern Europe – the Rīga Conference. The conference has become the most significant in Northern Europe gathering of some of the most respected world thinkers, academics, commentators, journalists, and politicians, providing a platform for a broad intellectual exchange on the current Transatlantic agenda.

To engage broader audience across the Transatlantic, live broadcast of the discussions was made available on homepage of the Rīga Conference 2010 (http://www.rigaconference.lv/library/livestream). Broadcast was supplemented by online discussion where participants were able to discuss topics of the Rīga Conference and post questions to the panelists. Most interesting comments and challenging questions were forwarded to the moderator of discussion panel.

Online broadcast program also included discussion panels and additional exclusive interviews – Coffee Break conversations with some of the conference guests for our on-line audience only.

The very first Rīga Conference 2010 broadcast reached a  total number of 1438 unique users from 28 countries. Click here to watch the Rīga Conference 2010 discussions.

Friday, 10 September 2010 14:30 - 16:00

Registration

Friday, 10 September 2010 15:15 - 16:00

Coffee with Prime Minister Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis

Venue: Press Room, Small Guild

Friday, 10 September 2010 16:00 - 17:30

What Does the World Economic and Financial Crisis Mean for Security in the West?

On the record. Session is open for press coverage.

The economic crisis has become a turning point not only in European inter-relationships but also in activities and thinking at a Transatlantic level. Europe and U.S. have been the closest partners jointly addressing international challenges. What does the world expect from the EU? Will the expectations and capabilities on the both sides of the Atlantic meet the requirements of diverse international challenges in pressing economic conditions?

Prof. Dr. Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Vice-chair of the Reflection Group on the Future of Europe in 2020-2030 Time Horizon
Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia
Prof. Michel Foucher, Director of Studies at the Institute for Higher National Defence Studies
Mr. Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, Chairman of Baltic Development Forum
Dr. Simon Serfaty, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Senior Adviser, Europe Program

Moderator: Mr. Robert Cottrell, Editor of TheBrowser.com

SUPPORTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPRESENTATION IN LATVIA

Friday, 10 September 2010 17:30 - 18:00

Press availability - Panelists.

Venue: Press room, Small Guild

Friday, 10 September 2010 18:00 - 19:00

Baltic Sea Region after Crisis: What Next?

On the record. Session is open for press coverage

Returning stability and economic growth are the aspects that characterize Baltic countries and Poland while parts of the world are struggling to overcome the economic crisis. How to use the potential of growth to endorse further economic development? How to move on with cross-border energy projects and interact with vague Russia?

H.E. Mr. Valdis Zatlers, President of the Republic of Latvia
H.E. Mr. Bronisław Komorowski, President of the Republic of Poland
H.E. Mrs. Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania
H.E. Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of the Republic of Estonia

Moderator: Mr. Toms Baumanis, Chairman of the Board, Latvian Transatlantic Organisation

Friday, 10 September 2010 21:00 - 22:30

Night Owl Session I: The Renaissance of Geopolitics in the Search for Energy Resources

Off the record. Session is closed for press coverage.

The depletion of fossil fuels, out-dated transportation infrastructure, complicated relationships between the countries that transporting and those producing the energy, are driving the world towards a renaissance of geopolitics. Do the biggest consumers ignore common regional and the EU interests while struggling to meet their national needs?

Mr. Bruce Jackson, President of the Project on Transitional Democracies
Dr. Alan Riley, The City Law School, City University London
Dr. Vladimir Milov, Head of the Independent Institute of Energy Policy in Moscow
Mr. Vladimir Socor, Senior Fellow, The Jamestown Foundation

Moderator: Mr. Edward Lucas, Deputy Editor, Central and Eastern Europe Correspondent for the Economist

SUPPORTED BY THE FRIEDRICH EBERT STIFTUNG

Friday, 10 September 2010 21:00 - 22:30

Night Owl Session II: A new Strategic Concept: Green Light for Reforms

Saturday, 11 September 2010 09:30 - 11:00

A Strategy towards Europe’s Contested Neighborhood

On the record. Session is open for press coverage.

The inability of the EU member states to speak with a single voice and react in a coordinated manner towards their Eastern Partners has revealed the lack of consensus in the EU regarding the implementation of the joint strategy towards its contested neighborhood. Diverse interests and arising threats restates question to both sides of the EU and NATO common external border: what do we expect from the neighboring region and what will be the common action towards it?

H.E. Mr. Māris Riekstiņš, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Latvia
H.E. Mr. Grigol Vashadze, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Georgia
Mr. Henryk Litwin, Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
Dr. Dimitris Triantaphyllou, Director General of the International Centre for Black Sea Studies
Dr. Alexander Pivovarsky, Senior Economist, Office of the Chief Economist, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Moderator: Mr. Nils Muižnieks, Director of Advanced Social and Political Research Institute, University of Latvia

Saturday, 11 September 2010 11:00 - 11:30

Press availability - Panelists

Venue: Press room, Small Guild

Saturday, 11 September 2010 11:00 - 11:30

Coffee Break

Saturday, 11 September 2010 11:30 - 13:00

Russia: Has Reset Succeeded?

On the record. Session is open for press coverage.

New Transatlantic policy trends and President Obama’s administration in the U.S. call for extensive cooperation with Russia to jointly address challenges in Afghanistan, Iran and elsewhere. Do expectations meet the realities? Is Europe a third tango partner?

Mr. Mikhail Margelov, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation
Mr. Mark Leonard, Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations
Mr. Jeremy Shapiro, Special Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia Affairs at the Department of State
Mr. Konstantin von Eggert, Carnegie Moscow Center, Member of the Advisory Board of ,,Pro et Contra’’ Journal
Dr. Bobo Lo, Independent Scholar and Consultant

Moderator: Mr. Tomas Valasek, Director of Foreign Policy and Defense, Centre for European Reform

Saturday, 11 September 2010 13:00 - 13:30

Press availability - Panelists

Venue: Press room, Small Guild

Saturday, 11 September 2010 14:30 - 16:00

What is NATO’s Exit Strategy in Afghanistan?

On the record. Session is open for press coverage.

The mission in Afghanistan has been the top priority for NATO, displaying the solidarity and common action of the member states in the stabilization and state building process. The current situation however confirms that the military cannot be the only means for success in Afghanistan. Are regional cooperation, emphasis on the civilian missions, and engagement of the Taliban the key aspects of the success story in Afghanistan?

Mr. Imants Lieģis, Defense Minister of the Republic of Latvia
Dr. Edgar Buckley, Senior Vice-President for EU, NATO and European Cooperation, Thales Group
Mr. Paul H. Chapin, Conference of Defence Associations Institute, Member of the Board
Mr. Abubakar Siddique, Senior Correspondent covering Afghanistan and Pakistan for RFE/RL’s Central Newsroom TBC

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Michael Stürmer, Chief Correspondent, Welt-Gruppe, Berlin

Saturday, 11 September 2010 16:00 - 16:30

Press availability - Panelists

Venue: Press room, Small Guild