[Bilimsel Haber] CONF./PROGRAM- The EU's Central Asia Strategy, 15-17 Sept. 2008, Loccum (Germany)

[Gonul Pultar]

CONF./PROGRAM- The EU's Central Asia Strategy, 15-17 Sept. 2008, Loccum

Posted by: Anna Kreikemeyer <annakreikemeyer at gmx.de>



We are glad to inform you on the International Conference:

Cooperation with Central Asia ­ The Potential of the EU's Central Asia 
Strategy

held on 15 -17 September 2008 at the Protestant Academy Loccum jointly
organized in cooperation with the Centre for OSCE Research (CORE).

Summary

The politico-geographical region of Central Asia is becoming 
increasingly important in the international context for strategic
reasons, and not least for its abundant resources. This is one of the
aspects why at the end of the German presidency, the European Council
adopted an EU Strategy for Central Asia on 21/22 June 2007. It is
intended to create a new basis for cooperation with the five states,
and to add momentum to a reorientation of existing relationships
towards the interests in civilian cooperation and development shared by 
the two regions.

On the one hand, a policy focused on conflict prevention that is aimed
at energy security, amongst other things, needs to balance the economic 
interests of primarily energy-producing actors and those who are 
primarily dependent on its supply. On the other, areas of common 
activities and cooperation on state and non-governmental levels need to 
be identified for a sustainable and lasting cooperation in areas such as 
environmental policy, scientific cooperation or educational and 
intercultural dialogue.

The international conference "Cooperation with Central Asia: The 
Potential of the EU's Central Asia Strategy" seeks to address the 
challenges posed by a cooperation-based policy of diversification, using 
the EU Strategy for Central Asia as an example. The conference will 
start with a focus on politics and strategy: top-level political and 
academic experts will elaborate on the conflict and cooperation 
potential arising from energy problems. Within the framework of two 
panels, the conference will then discuss selected policy areas (support 
of education and science including the example of 
environmentally-oriented water management and support of intercultural 
and inter-religious competencies as part of the secular-Islamic 
dialogues) pertaining to the Central Asia strategy that are highly
promising in terms of their potential for dialogue and the willingness 
to learn from each other.

In both panels experts from the respective areas of work from the EU and 
Central Asia will share their experiences in cooperation.

As part of a lessons learnt forum, the conference will also provide 
opportunities to share information and exchange views about existing or 
completed cooperation projects with Central-Asian partners.

The conference will close with a summing-up session and a critical 
appraisal of conference results in the light of measures taken so far 
towards the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia.

Please find the conference programme below.

Conference languages are German, English, and Russian (simultaneous
translation).

As regards conference proceedings, there is a publication of the papers 
planned in the series of "Loccum Protocols".

We hope to see you in Loccum,

Dr. Corinna Hauswedell, Anna Kreikemeyer, Wolfgang Zellner




Program

15:00 - Welcome and Opening

Dr. Corinna Hauswedell, Loccum
Dr. Wolfgang Zellner, CORE, Hamburg

15:15 - Keynote Addresses

Minister of State Gernot Erler, Federal Foreign Office, Berlin
Nurlan Onshanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Germany, Berlin

16:30 - Opening Panel: Central Asia and the EU: One Year after the
    EU-Central Asia Strategy

Pierre Morel, EU-Special Representative for Central Asia, Brussels
Prof. Dr. Martha Brill Olcott, Carnegie Endowment for International
    Peace, Washington
Prof. Dr. Bulat Sultanov, Institute for Strategic Studies at the
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty
Dr. Sukhrob Sharipov, Centre for Strategic Research at the President
    of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe
N.N., Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan
Dr. Andrea Schmitz, German Institute for International and Security
    Affairs, Berlin
Facilitator: Dr. Corinna Hauswedell
Followed by plenary discussion

19:30 - Co-operation and Diversification in Energy Policy Chances for
    the European-Central Asian Relations

Dr. Dossym Satpaev, Director, Assessment Risks Group, Almaty
Prof. Dr. Anatoly Kholmatov, International Funds for the Aral Sea
    (IFAS), Dushanbe
Pierre Morel, EU-Special Representative for Central Asia, Brussels
Johannes Regenbrecht, Head of Unit, Federal Foreign Office, Berlin
Dr. Petra Opitz, German Energy Agency, Berlin
Facilitator: Dr. Wolfgang Zellner
Followed by plenary discussion

Tuesday, 16 September 2008

09:30 - Introductions, Panel I: Co-operation through Education and
    Academic Exchange

Prof. Kulash Nogataevna Shamshidinova, Dep. Minister of Education of
    the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana
Dr. Barbara Rhode, Directorate General Research, EU Commission, Brussels
Facilitator: Dr. Corinna Hauswedell

10:45 - Panel II: Co-operation through Intercultural and
    Interreligious Dialogue

Prof. Dr. Muratbek Imanaliev, Institute for Public Policy, Bishkek
Darja Bavdaz-Kuret, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
    the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana
Facilitator: Dr. Anna Kreikemeyer, CORE, Hamburg

12:30 - Lunch break

13.20 - Opportunity to visit the Cistercian Monastery Loccum (founded in 
1163)

14:30 - Continuation of the conference in two parallel workshops

Workshop I, Part 1: Co-operation through Education and Academic Exchange

Benedikt Brisch, Head of Unit, German Academic Exchange Service, Bonn
N.N., Aga Khan Foundation, Bishkek
Prof. Dr. Dr. Murad Haitov, Faculty of Law, Turkmen State University, 
Ashgabad
Dr. Tim Epkenhans, Director, OSCE-Academy, Bishkek
Dr. Barbara Rhode, Brussels
Prof. Kulash Nogataevna Shamshidinova, Astana
Prof. Dr. Dr. Johann W. Gerlach, President, German-Kazakh University, Almaty
Michael Schlicht, Head of Unit, Federal Ministry of Education and
    Research, Bonn
Dr. Wolfgang Levermann, VolkswagenStiftung, Hanover
Facilitator: Dr. Corinna Hauswedell

Workshop I, Part 2: Co-operation on Water and Environmental Issues

Prof. Dr. Malik Burlibaev, Astana
Prof. Dr. Anatoly Kholmatov, Dushanbe
Andrea Leone, AIDCO/E6, EU Commission, Brussels
Dr. des. Jenniver Sehring, Assistant Professor, University of Würzburg
Facilitator: Dr. Wolfgang Zellner

Workshop II: Co-operation through Intercultural and Inter-religious Dialogue

State Secretary Darja Bavdaz-Kuret, Lubljana
Prof. Muratbek Imanaliev, Bishkek
Muhiddin Kabiri, Chairman of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan
    (IRPT), Dushanbe
Julie McBrien, University Amsterdam/University College Utrecht,
    Utrecht/Amsterdam
Malikachon Normukhamedova, Spiritual Administration of Muslims of
    Uzbekistan, Tashkent
Omur Orhun, Ambassador, OSCE Special Representative on Combating
    Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims, Istanbul
Dr. Arne C. Seifert, Ambassador ret., Central Asia Adviser, CORE, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Bulat Sultanov, Almaty
Facilitator: Dr. Anna Kreikemeyer

19:30 - Lessons Learnt Forum

Information and exchange on existing and completed co-operation
projects with Central Asian partners

Wednesday, 17 September 2008

09:30 - Closing Panel: Reports from the Workshops and Responses in the
Light of EU Practice

Benedikt Brisch, Bonn
Dr. des. Jenniver Sehring, Würzburg
Dr. Arne C. Seifert, Berlin

Dr. Barbara Rhode, Brussels
Andrea Leone, Brussels
Darja Bavdaz-Kuret, Lubljana
N. N., EU Commission, Relations with Eastern Europe, Caucasus and
Central Asia (EECCA), Brussels
Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian 
Studies
11:15 - Final Plenary Discussion

Facilitator: Dr. Anna Kreikemeyer

12:15 - Conclusions and Perspectives

Dr. Corinna Hauswedell
Dr. Wolfgang Zellner

12:30 - Lunch and end of the conference
12:50 - Departure of the bus to Wunstorf (arrival approx. 13:30)




Conference Fees/Registration:

180 euro including accommodation, meals and fees.
For students (age 30 or under), members of the armed services and
alternative service as well as unemployed with proper identification:
90 euro. Conference fees are to be paid in cash at the time of registration.

We request that you register by name, address, institution/organization at:

Evangelische Akademie Loccum
Karin Hahn
D-31545 Rehburg-Loccum,
Fax: +49-5766-81-128
E-mail: Karin.Hahn at evlka.de

Registrations will be confirmed as long as places are available.
Should you have to cancel your registration, please inform us as soon
as possible.

Accommodation and meals:

Participants will be accommodated in single rooms or double rooms, if
preferred. All meals are served at the Academy. By prior arrangement,
rooms and meals may be available before and after the conference.

Directions:

Loccum is located 50 kilometers west of Hanover in Lower Saxony. The
nearest airport is at Langenhagen airport near Hanover. The nearest
train stations are Wunstorf, Minden and Nienburg. Detailed
instructions will be sent to all registered participants.



Conference Organizers:

Dr. Corinna Hauswedell, Director of Studies (Loccum)
Tel. +49-5766-81-109

Karin Hahn, Secretary
Tel. +49-5766-81-113
Fax.+49-5766-81-128


Dr. Corinna Hauswedell, Director of Studies for International
    Politics, Academy Loccum, Email: Corinna.Hauswedell at evlka.de, tel.:
05766-81109
Dr. Anna Kreikemeyer and Dr. Wolfgang Zellner, Centre for OSCE
    Research (CORE), Email: annakreikemeyer at gmx.de, tel: 040-8660 7767
Karin Hahn will provide you with information on train connections,
    directions, etc. if needed. Email: Karin.Hahn at evlka.de





Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian 
Studies