International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in the Black Sea Region
"Current Security Challenges in the Black Sea Region"
(Sofia; April 22nd, 2016)
Introduction
The Black Sea Region is located strategically between Southeastern Europe and Western Asia and has historically served as both a bridge between cultures and civilizations as well as a dividing border. The conference “The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in the Black Sea Region” will focus on the current security challenges in the Black Sea Region as well as the opportunities for increased bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Program
| 09:00 - 9:30 | Registration |
| 09:30 -10:00 | Opening Session H.E. Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Amb. Eric Rubin, Ambassador of the United States to Bulgaria Dimitar Kyumyurdzhiev, Deputy Minister of Defence Regine Schubert, Director, Friedrich Ebert Foundation Dr. Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, Minister of Foreign Affairs (2001-2005) |
| 10:00-11:00 | “Sustainable Future Of The Black Sea Region” (Panel Discussion & Keynote Speeches) Amb. Alexander Vershbow, Deputy Secretary General of NATO Amb. Valentin Poryazov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgi Pirinski, MEP, S&D Group |
| 11:00 - 11:15 | Coffee Break |
| 11:15 - 12:05 | “Security Challenges In The Black Sea Region - First Part “ (Panel Discussion & Keynote Speeches) Moderator: Grigoriy Nedyalkov, Journalist Ioan Mircea Pascu, Vice-President, European Parliament Lt. Gen. Konstantin Popov, Chief of Defence of Bulgaria Amb. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, Ambassador of France to Bulgaria Konstantin Zografov, AFCEA International Regional Vice President for South East Europe and AFCEA Sofia Chapter President, BULYARD Shipbuilding Industry EAD, Director Security and Strategic Projects |
| 12:05-13:00 | “Security Challenges In The Black Sea Region - Second Part” (Panel Discussion & Keynote Speeches) Prof. Plamen Panayotov, Deputy Prime Minister (2001 -2005) Amb. Luybomir Kyuchukov, Director of the Economics and International Relations Institute, Former deputy MFA Prof. Mustafa Aydin, Rector, Kadir Has University Yordan Bojilov, President, Sofia Security |
| 13:00 - 13:15 | Coffee break |
| 13:15 - 14:30 | “Hybrid Warfare And Propaganda Campaigns” (Panel Discussion & Keynote Speeches) Moderator: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Brückner, Academic Director of Center for Cultural Diplomacy Studies Rear Adm. Mitko Petev, Commander, Bulgarian Navy Gizo Chelidze, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Georgia Victoria Bucataru, Program Director, Foreign Policy Association of Moldova Prof. Michail Stanchev, National University of Kharkiv, Ukraine Nahide Denis, Journalist, Turkey Intervention by Steven Mehringer, Head of Communications Services, PDD, NATO |
| 14:30 - 15:30 | Buffet Lunch |
| 15:30 - 16:45 | “Daesh War For Oil. Its Impact On Energy Security In The Region (Panel Discussion & Keynote Speeches) Moderator: Zdravko Popov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Czech Republic (2006 - 2010) Bogomil Manchev, President, BULATOM Prof. Alexander Nikitin, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University) Dr. Nika Chitatdze, International Black Sea University, Georgia Slavcho Neykov, Energy Policy Expert |
| 16:45 - 17:15 | Closing Remarks |
