Note: All times are Central European Time (CET) + 1 hour // GMT + 3 hours
All speakers are confirmed if not stated otherwise
Friday, 16 September 2011 16:00 - 17:15Old Town, House of Blackheads, Rātslaukums 6
Opening discussion: What can we do with less for Economic Growth and Security in the EU and NATO?
On the record
Despite the signs of a recovery, overcoming the challenges of the financial crisis is still a number one priority at the core of the policy making agenda in the Baltic States, leaving governments to struggle with yet more austerity measures and the need to decrease public spending. Despite the crisis having brought a huge strain to social security, the crisis has, on the other hand, also worked as a catalyst for governments to accomplish long awaiting reforms. More so, it has become a compelling factor to bring our efforts together across the region, to deal with the new security challenges that both the EU and NATO face. It is time for bold and effective political decisions, and it is time to bring regional cooperation to a new level.
H.E. Mr. Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia
H.E. Mr. Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland
H.E. Mr. Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia
H.E. Mr. Andrius Kubilius, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania
H.E. Mr. Jyrki Katainen, Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland
Moderator: Mr. John Peet, Europe editor, the Economist
Discussion is supported by the European Commission Representation in Latvia
Friday, 16 September 2011 17:15 - 17:40
Coffee break
Friday, 16 September 2011 18:00 - 19:00Old Town, House of Blackheads, Rātslaukums 6
Discussion: Where will Western commitments in the Middle East and North Africa lead to?
On the record
There is a perception that Americans come from Mars and that Europeans come from Venus, of which exists due to the imbalance in military spending between Europe and the U.S. The financial turmoil has contributed to this perception, with European governments having announced new defence cuts. However, the active engagement of European Allies in a military operation in Libya might alter this perception. Arab uprisings – from the revolt in Tunisia, revolution in Egypt to civil war in Libya – seriously undermine the overall security and stability in the entire Greater Middle East. The departures of leaders of the Arab regimes do not necessarily signal an end to the revolutionary process. How willing are Western nations ready to engage, and what’s next?
Mr. Valdis Zatlers, former President of Latvia
Dr. Fraser Cameron, Director of EU-Russia Centre
Mr. Anas El-Gomati, Libyan Political Analyst
Amb. Kurt Volker, Managing Director, Center for Transatlantic Relations, J.Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Washington DC
Amb. Hüseyin Diriöz, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, NATO
Moderator: Mr. Craig Kennedy, President, the German Marshall Fund of the United States
Friday, 16 September 2011 19:30 - 21:25Small Guild, 3/5 Amatu str.
Opening dinner hosted by the Mayor of the Riga City
For participants only
Welcome by Mr. Nils Ušakovs, Mayor of the Riga City
Friday, 16 September 2011 21:30 - 23:00Riga Old Town, the Small Guild, Amatu 3/5
Night Owl Session I: National industry leaders affecting EU energy market liberalisation?
Off the record
Energy market liberalisation has been described as a quest for better prices, improved energy security and an option to diversify resources and suppliers if there are better deals available in the market. Market principles and changes in the existing “exclusive rights to deliver and produce” will lead to more flexible and convenient bargains for consumers. The key question here is whether “national champions” in the energy sector are interested in this liberalisation process? What are the relationships between governments, national champions and consumers when introducing market reforms?
Prof. Emeritus Rudolf Dolzer, Member of Steering Group of the German-Russian-Forum on Raw Materials, Germany
Mr. Edward C. Chow, Senior Fellow on Energy and National Security Program, Centre for Strategic and International Studies
Prof. Alan Riley, The City Law School, City University London
Mr. Uldis Bariss, Member of the Management Board, Latvenergo AS
Moderator: Mr. Mark C. Fischer, Director of Major Conferences, German Marshall Fund of the United States
Discussion is supported by Latvenergo AS
Friday, 16 September 2011 21:30 - 23:00Old Town, Small Guild, Amatu Str. 3/5
Night Owl Session II: Global Balance Shift: China, United States, Europe, and Russia
Off the record
The global power balance has been in constant flux, with the rise and fall of nations. Today we have a multi-polar world where no one can claim leadership, although this does not necessarily also mean the same for tomorrow. The growing economic wealth and military power of China may radically change this situation. While the U.S. is still the leading economy of the world, its dependence on China makes it vulnerable. Meanwhile the EU is lagging behind, and Russia as a resurgent power on the international stage currently partners with the West. The recent economic crisis, once again, has sparked a debate on the necessary reforms required by the existing world institutions to match the global economic power balance developing amongst the newly emerging great powers. With the rapidly growing economic and political clout of China, should we expect the imminent change of the “Westernized” political world order when the global power balance is to shift again?
Dr. Simon Serfaty, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geopolitics, Centre for Strategic & International Studies
Prof. Marek Dąbrowski, Professor of Economics, former President of the CASE – Center for Social and Economic Research in Warsaw
Prof. Jia Qingguo, Associate Dean of the School of International Studies, Beijing University (Beida)
Dr. Bruno Tertrais, Senior Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research, France
Moderator: Prof. Rob de Wijk, Director of the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
Friday, 16 September 2011 21:30 - 23:00Riga Old Town, the Large Guild, Amatu str. 6
Night Owl Session III: Quo Vadis Belarus?
Off the record
Recent developments in Belarus, in the context of the economic crisis have caused a foreign policy struggle. This test to foreign policy has the potential to become “the never ending story” of conflicting rationale, wishful-thinking and a challenge to the values that stand at the core of the Transatlantic community. The effectiveness of economic sanctions imposed against Belarus has been subjected to a debate discussing whether these measures have the potential to forcefully lead Belarus down the route of European democratic norms and economic growth, or not. While very few doubted that the West was obliged to react to the events of December 19, the calls for justice from political prisoners of the regime could not be ignored. With the economic crisis shaking Minsk what is the right way out of the “business-as-usual” in Belarus?
Dr. Alexei Pikulik, Analyst of the Belarus Institute of Strategic Studies
Dr. Peter Doran, Senior Policy Analyst of the Center for European Policy Analyses (CEPA)
Dr. Andrew Wilson, Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations
Amb. Karel Kovanda, Deputy Director-General (ret.), External Relations, European Commission
Moderator: Ms. Nathalie Vogel, Eastern Europe Editor, World Security Network Foundation
Saturday, 17 September 2011 09:30 - 11:00Old Town, House of Blackheads, Rātslaukums 6
Morning discussion: Can Turkey Bridge a gap between Asia and Europe?
On the record
Turkey has been knocking on the EU’s door, to no avail, for too long. Have recent events in North Africa and the Middle East forced Europeans to take a different look atTurkey? The country has become an important regional player and with its model of development – also a potential trendsetter for other Muslim countries. The West now faces a window of opportunity forTurkeyto become an agent of change and a stabilising force in the region. But is the EU really ready to embraceTurkeyand use its potential to bridge the Islamic world with the West?
Dr. Artis Pabriks, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Presidency, Defense Minister of Latvia
H.E. Mr. Yasar Yakis, former Foreign Minister of Turkey
Mr. Christian Schmidt, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Defence, Germany
H.E. Mr. Grigol Vashadze, Foreign Minister of Georgia
Moderator: Dr. Dimitris Triantaphyllou, Kadir Has University, Istanbul
Saturday, 17 September 2011 11:00 - 11:25
Coffee break
Saturday, 17 September 2011 11:30 - 13:00Old Town, House of Blackheads, Rātslaukums 6
Discussion: Russian modernization: Is society ready and will it bring Russia closer to the West?
On the record
During its history Russiahas faced several attempts to modernise its economy and political structure. The recent announcement by the Government to start a new modernisation project has been hailed by the West and has also raised the interest of potential investors. Still, Russia’s political system is unable to create the conditions so necessary for the modernisation of economics without increased political competition. A dilemma amongst the Russian political, business and social groups over the means and aims of modernisation is present. Western businesses are invited to invest capital and know-how to modernise Russia’s economy. However, will they buy the story without the evidence of political reforms and, thus, are we going to see another “Potemkin” village?
Mr. Andris Teikmanis, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
Prof. Dr. Horst Teltschik, former Foreign Policy Adviser to the German Chancellor Helmut Kohl
Dr. James Sherr, Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs
Amb. Kurt Volker, Managing Director, Center for Transatlantic Relations, J.Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Washington DC
Mr. Arkady Moshes, Programme Director, Finland Institute of International Affairs
Moderator: Mr. Konstantin von Eggert, International Affairs Commentator, Kommersant FM Radio, Moscow
Saturday, 17 September 2011 13:30 - 14:30Museum of Foreign Art, historical building of the Riga Stock Exchange at Dome Square 6
Buffet lunch hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia H.E. Mr. Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis
For participants only
Saturday, 17 September 2011 15:00 - 16:30Old Town, House of Blackheads, Rātslaukums 6
Discussion: Power Politics in Central Asia and Afghanistan
On the record
For several decades Afghanistan has been cut off from the outside world, being labeled as the “end of the Earth”. The fall of the Taliban regime returned Afghanistan to the world’s map, and once again has brought to light the ancient trade routes on the Eurasian continent. However, it has been long debated, exclusively through the military exit strategy that there is a necessity to develop a regional economic strategy to enhance the region further. Gradual transition of security responsibility from ISAF to Afghan leadership is a step forward to introduce long-lasting peace and stability, but there is also an acute need to come up with an overarching economic strategy to deal with the security problem in Afghanistan. However, in order to avoid another round of the Great Game to occur, the real challenge, now, is to make this strategy truly regional in its scope.
H.E. Mr. Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Foreign Minister of Latvia
Mrs. Madina Jarbussynova, Ambassador at Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Mr. Vygaudas Ušackas, EU Special Representative and the Head of EU mission to Afghanistan
Amb. Manizha Bakhtari, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Nordic Countries
Moderator: Dr. Žaneta Ozoliņa, Professor of the University of Latvia
Saturday, 17 September 2011 16:30 - 16:55
Coffee break
Saturday, 17 September 2011 17:00 - 18:30Old Town, House of Blackheads, Rātslaukums 6
Afternoon discussion: Impact of Social Media and Social Networking on Political Regimes
On the record
Since the early 1990s the world’s Internet population has grown from a few millions to the billions. Arab revolutions suggest that social media can generate a critical mass for wide protests that are able to topple governments. However, in other cases such as communist China, authoritarian Belarus and within the clerical rule of Iran, the true potential of social media lies in its role of supporting a platform for civil society in its development. This platform may translate into offline and real changes over the coming years and decades. What is the potential of social media and social networks to further disrupt the security order and bring about political changes?
Ms. Joanne Jacobs, London based Social Media Consultant
Dr. Said Sadek, Professor of Political Sociology, American University in Cairo
Mr. Spencer Boyer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
Mr. Ojārs Kalniņš, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Latvia
Moderator: Mr. Pauls Raudseps, Magazine “IR”
Saturday, 17 September 2011 20:00 - 22:00Latvian Society House, 13 Merķeļa str.
Gala reception hosted by the Defense Minister of Latvia Dr. Artis Pabriks
For participants only