Different roots, common goals? – the creation of the network
Warsaw, 07-08 December 2007
Polish partners:
Centre for East European Studies at Warsaw University
Centre for Eastern Studies
Participants from the Wider Black Sea Region Countries:
Dr. Dimitrios Triantaphyllou, International Centre for Black Sea Studies, Greece
Prof. Mustafa Aydin, University of Economics and Technology, Turkey
Ambassador Nicolae Micu, International Centre for Black Sea Studies, Romania
Prof. Oleksandr Potiekhin, Centre for Peace, Conversion and Foreign Policy, Ukraine
Dr. Gayane Novikowa, Center for Strategic Analysis ‘Spectrum’, Armenia
Fariz Ismayilzada, Western University in Baku, Azerbaijan
Prof. Alla Yazkova, Center for Mediterranean and Black Sea Studies, Russia
Mr. Zviad Abashidze, Tbilisi State University, Georgia
Ms. Pikria Asanishvili, Tbilisi State University, Georgia
We decided that the Fourth Annual International Caucasus Conference organized at the beginning of December 2007 (06-08.12) in Warsaw by The Centre for East European Studies at Warsaw University was a good occasion to get the project underway. The Conference took place on the 6th of December under the patronage of the President of Poland. The conference saw an expert and academic audience of over seventy people. Please find attached file with a Conference Programme in a *.pdf format.
During the first day (07.12.2007) CIR organized a two-panel discussion.
During the first session the WIDER BLACK SEA REGION - Regional, European and Global Dimension we discussed NATO and EU Strategies and Policies towards the Black Sea Region - Regional Perceptions; Ethnic Conflicts, Territorial Disputes and Issues of Territorial Integrity, Sovereignty and Autonomy.
During the second session – THE WIDER BLACK SEA REGION – An Area of Competition or Cooperation between the Transatlantic Community and Russia? we discussed the following issues: Russia’s policy towards Black Sea Region and its Regional Perceptions, problems of Energy Security and Routes of Pipelines in the Region; Ethnic Conflicts, Territorial Disputes and Issues of Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty.
As the conference preceded the workshop by a day, we decided that this is a good way of presenting the subject matter of the network to a wider Polish audience. At the same time, this event gave the workshop participants an opportunity to present their perspective on issues of geostrategic and regional importance and to confront their views with the Polish participants.
The workshop took place on the second day (08.12.2007).
Antoni Podolski, the project coordinator, explained the main objectives of the project, the planned events and the proposed ways of implementation.
The participants presented their work, areas of activity as well as commented on the project outline.
Dr. Andrzej Ananicz, on behalf of the Warsaw University presented the research project planned in the frame of the Network Building Project as a supplementary initiative.
Andrzej Bobiński, CIR Programme Coordinator, presented the Internet tool www.civicportal.org, which we intend to use in this project as an effective platform for further discussions, exchange of views and dissemination of knowledge and experience.
Later on, the participants of the conference discussed several topics concerning future work within the network: i.a. the Network’s goals, methods and desired personal/institutional make-up; recommendations for the future cooperation including the draft of the book.
Thanks to the financial support of the Centre for Eastern Studies, Polish Ministry of Economy and the Centre for East European Studies, Warsaw University and Center for International Relations will be able to publish a book consisted of analyses prepared by our Black Sea Network participants and Polish experts.
