SDA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE REPORT

CONFLICT PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION: THE ROLE OF CULTURAL RELATIONS

March 2, 2010 Bibliothèque Solvay, Brussels

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

A Security & Defence Agenda Report Rapporteur: John Chapman Photos: David Plas Date of publication: April 2010

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA Bibliothèque Solvay, Parc Léopold, 137 rue Belliard, B-1040, Brussels, Belgium T: +32 (0)2 737 91 48 F: +32 (0)2 736 32 16 E: [email protected] W: www.securitydefenceagenda.org

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Conflict Resolution and Prevention: the Role of Cultural Relations

CONTENTS

Programme p. 4

Summary p. 6

Introduction p. 6

Setting the scene p.7

The British Council’s position p.7

NATO’s position p.8

Conflict zone - Afghanistan p.9

Cultural relations in action p.9

Conclusions p.10

List of Participants p.12

SDA Highlights 2009-2010 p.23

SDA Upcoming Events p.24

About the SDA p.25

Page 3

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Programme

CONFLICT PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION:

THE ROLE OF CULTURAL RELATIONS International Conference – Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Bibliothèque Solvay, 09:30-14:30

Session 1: Why culture matters 09.30 - 10.00

Introductory Remarks by Giles Merritt, Director, Security & Defence Agenda

Clashes of culture, related to religious beliefs, ethnicity or different values often lie at the root of security problems. Can a better understanding of these fundamental issues hold the key to conflict prevention, as well as peacemaking and peacekeeping? How best can Western forces and political leaders develop more sensitive cultural antennae in security hotspots?

Speakers: Martin Davidson, Chief Executive, British Council Martin Howard, Assistant Secretary General for Operations, NATO

Moderator: Shada Islam, Journalist and Senior Programme Executive, European Policy Centre

Cultural relations in conflict - case studies 10.00 - 11.30

Successful uses of cultural relations in conflict zones over the last 10 years have not received much media attention. This testimonial and lessons-learned session features actors in the field and tries to identify best practice in inter- cultural dialogue and understanding in conflict areas. Case studies/testimonials will be delivered from recent and cur- rent conflict areas, including Afghanistan, The and Africa.

Speakers: Brigadier Hamza Visca, Joint Staff Post-conflict Reconstruction, Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina Hewod Aziz Jan, Afghan student, Isleworth and Syon School in Hounslow George Gachara, co-Founder, Picha Mtaani, Kenya and British Council Global Changemaker Oliver Urquhart Irvine, Cultural Property Manager, British Library Afifa Azim, Executive Director; Afghan Women’s Network (via video link) Professor John Sugden, Director, International 'Football4Peace' programme Bjorn Maes, Artistic Coordinator Southern Africa, Africalia

Moderator: Anand Naidoo, Al-Jazeera English

Coffee break 11.30 - 12.00

Page 4

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Programme

CONFLICT PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION:

THE ROLE OF CULTURAL RELATIONS International Conference – Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Bibliothèque Solvay, 09:30-14:30

Session III: Civ-mil cooperation: designing a cultural approach 12.00- 13.00

Now that NATO has a more comprehensive approach to the planning and conduct of its operations, and is reviewing its Strategic Concept, what concrete steps need to be taken to ensure military training includes greater cultural awa- reness? Can improved civilian-military dialogue and a better understanding of the role of cultural relations improve security policy? What new approaches should be developed to help both civilian and military personnel in the field to bring a greater cultural dimension to their missions?

Speakers: Ilana Bet-El, Political Analyst Stephan Roman, Regional Director for West Europe and North America, British Council Colonel Per Mikkelsen, Deputy Branch Chief Joint Operations, NATO Marietje Schaake, Member of the

Moderator: Anand Naidoo, Al-Jazeera English

Closing Remarks by Giles Merritt, Director, Security & Defence Agenda

Networking Lunch 13.00 - 14.00

Page 5

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Conflict Prevention and Resolution: the Role of Cultural Relations International Conference

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION

This event, organised by the SDA, the British Council, In examining the role of cultural relations in conflict situa- and NATO, on the role of cultural relations in conflict pre- tions, the conference aimed to examine the extent to vention and resolution drew a large and expectant which a better understanding of culture clashes held the crowd. The conference demonstrated how “cultural” pro- key to conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacekeep- jects on the ground were improving dialogue, and hence ing. According to the Joint Operational Environment, the playing a part in both preventing conflict and healing World Through 2030 by US Joint Forces Command, post-conflict wounds. Initiatives in the spotlight were “future conflicts are likely to be dominated by religious those attempting to re-establish forgotten traditions and and cultural factors”. This implies that training should preserve cultural , while others focused on the always include an element of cultural awareness so that arts as a way of bringing cultures together. Perhaps Brit- all parties involved in a conflict zone – both civil and mili- ish Council Chief Executive Martin Davidson best tary – should have an understanding of local cultures summed up the British Council’s position when he said and beliefs. As the conflict zone in the media spotlight at that the aim of improving cultural relations was to build the time of the conference, Afghanistan featured heavily trust and engagement through the exchange of ideas. in the debate.

Much of the debate, however, dealt with cultural relations As well as exploring the role of cultural relations in con- in the field of conflict resolution, which put the spotlight flict resolution, the conference examined case studies directly on Afghanistan. At a previous SDA event, a where inter-cultural dialogue and cultural activities had NATO representative had stressed that the Alliance’s been used to prevent conflict and to bring harmony in comprehensive approach meant all international bodies post-conflict situations. These examples came from the working together. Now, 18 months on, NATO’s Deputy Balkans, Kenya, Israel and Palestine, South and East Branch Chief Joint Operations Colonel Per Mikkelsen Africa; topics ranged from the use of photographic exhi- admitted that the Alliance was on a learning curve. bitions (to remind people of the impact of war) to the re- NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Operations Mar- creation of a lost culture via the use of recordings of tin Howard agreed that pre-deployment training in this tribal songs. area was probably not enough and that civil-military op- erations in Afghanistan needed cultural issues and rela- tions to be embedded in the overall planning.

An exit poll of the conference indicated that over 90% of participants strongly agreed that there was indeed a role for cultural relations in conflict prevention and resolution. Most would agree that while military force alone could never be sufficient in future conflicts, any comprehensive approach had to ensure maximum awareness of the cul- tural norms and mores “on the ground”. They would also have felt, however, that the discussions had introduced a patchwork of projects and that much work remained to be done.

Page 6

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Conflict Prevention and Resolution: the Role of Cultural Relations International Conference

SETTING THE SCENE “It has to be accepted that the basis for sustainable the end result (of dialogue) peace and development. Political Analyst Ilana Bet-El laid out the distinction be- may be one that we do not Commenting on NATO’s tween “cultural identity” (i.e. the need for all parties to be like very much” comprehensive approach, more culturally aware) and “a cultural event” (that could Martin Davidson Davidson argued that the help to bring different cultures together and improve dia- need to understand and appreciate other people’s cul- logue): both were part of a definition of cultural relations, tures was simply the first step in a complex and compli- but the former was of more interest to the majority of cated agenda. The cultural relations aspect of this ap- conference participants. proach had to make dialogue more attractive than fight- Remarking that military operations had not worked effec- ing and it had to make the conditions for peace more tively for 20 years – since the end of the Cold War – Bet- favourable for individuals in different cultures. He also El argued that the military were not sufficiently aware of insisted that such an approach had to be “intensely prac- cultural identities. She added that any “incoming force” tical”; Davidson admitted that putting on a nice art show had to understand the preva- might be irrelevant in a “shattered country” but that there lent culture. Bet-El also made “Not all soldiers can be would be great merit in looking at, for example, building a a distinction between touchy-feely. We have to new higher education system in Iraq – where practitio- “industrial wars” of the past define soldiership” ners had been virtually cut off from the academic world and today’s conflicts, which Ilana Bet-El for 30 years. were not being conducted for The British Council’s Regional Director for West Europe territorial purposes. Today’s wars were going to be and North America, Stephan Roman, built on Bet-El’s fought “among the people” and that made it essential to comments by outlining three key areas of cultural rela- gain their support. tions:

Cultural dialogue: the importance of listening and learn- THE BRITISH COUNCIL’S POSITION ing; language was seen to be important and this could be supplemented by universal “languages” such as art, sports, or music. British Council Chief Executive Martin Davidson looked at the whole spectrum of conflict resolution – from aid to Culture on the ground: once dialogue had been military action. Arguing that there were many more op- achieved, Roman argued, emphasis should be placed on tions than “giving or fighting”, he focused on the impor- “practical steps”. tance of cultural relations which, if successfully pursued, created an opportunity for dialogue. This could reduce Valuing culture: Roman also emphasised the importance the fear of the outsider (e.g. the fear of NATO troops in of cultural memory. As examples, he described the de- Afghanistan) and the concern that a way of life might be struction of the National Library of Bosnia during the Bal- eroded. Cultural relations will not provide a quick fix in an kan wars (an attempt to destroy cultural heritage) and existing conflict, rather they have a role in preventing the successful attempts by the British Library to restore conflict and, especially in the reconstruction effort after a an oral culture by re-introducing the songs of the Batwa conflict. They are relations built between people rather people of the African Great Lakes to the present genera- than governments, deeply rooted and slow burning, and tion.

Page 7

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Conflict Prevention and Resolution: the Role of Cultural Relations International Conference

Cultural Relations in action – Overall, an intention to im- grain”. On the point of Cultural Relations in action – Picha Mtaani – Kenya prove cultural relations in dialogue, he argued that Football 4 peace – International conflict situations was not with, for example, 44 Picha Mtaani is a youth-led seen as a matter of estab- countries being involved This is an activity-based commu- national reconciliation initiative lishing something for today; in ISAF in Afghanistan, it nity relations and reconciliation supported by the UNDP. It initiative. Sports coaches, com- seeks to engage Kenyan youth George Gachara, British was difficult to appreciate munity leaders and volunteers, in finding lasting solutions to Council Global Change- all of the cultural implica- work to bring differing communi- attaining peace and reconcilia- maker and co-Founder of tions of a campaign. He ties together through football and tion. Picha Mtaani, Kenya, de- argued, therefore, that the aspects of outdoor education. Picha Mtaani uses photogra- scribed his organisation’s Afghans had to be in- The project aims to connect with phy/DVDs to tell horrific stories activities, which aims to volved so that they could civil society with the political com- and show that conflicts kill. raise an army of 2 million do “the heavy lifting”. munity through culture (sports). It Over 400 dialogue sessions young people as agents of started modestly in 2000, coa- have been held to find out what Colonel Per Mikkelsen ching camp in the Arab town of young people want. reconciliation, to help future Ibillin and works on “football luring generations build a sustain- added that NATO troops people in to a human rights fra- www.pichamtaani.com able cycle of peace. were “guests” and they mework”. It is a project looking for had to have the respect a ripple effect, hoping it will “wash and understanding of lo- over those in the corridors of power” cal people. He reasoned NATO’S POSITION that NATO did have the ww.football4peace.eu right tools for today’s At the Bucharest Summit in April 2008, Allied leaders challenges but the Alliance had to learn to make better endorsed an Action Plan for the development and imple- use of them. Mikkelsen felt that it was necessary to mentation of NATO’s contribution to a comprehensive change the troops’ mindsets (to improve their cultural approach. NATO has stated that “Meeting today’s secu- awareness) – from commanding officers down to individ- “There has to be rity challenges requires a wide spec- ual soldiers on the ground. His conclusion was that steady progress trum of civil and military instruments. NATO’s doctrines and procedures had to reflect this em- in the removal This calls for regular coordination, con- phasis on the need to be culturally aware at all levels of the causes of sultation and interaction among all in- and he referred to the existence of NATO’s Joint Analy- conflict” volved actors. NATO has developed a sis and Lessons Learned Centre (the JALLC). Going Martin Howard set of pragmatic proposals aimed at further, Mikkelsen hoped there would be a chapter about promoting such a comprehensive ap- the comprehensive approach and cultural relations in the proach to crisis management by the International Com- forthcoming revamped strategic concept document. He munity.” wanted the two existing centres of excellence to be in- volved in encouraging improvements in the understand- At the conference, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General ing of local cultures. for Operations Martin Howard stated that this compre- hensive approach must ensure that campaigns were both civil and military in nature and that when troops “Cultural values are the were engaged in a country, they “did not cut across cul- new territories of war” tural norms”. Preferring to avoid the term cultural rela- Marietje Schaake tions, Howard said the aim was to “go with the Afghan

Page 8

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Conflict Prevention and Resolution: the Role of Cultural Relations International Conference

CONFLICT ZONE - AFGHANISTAN stan President’s Office insisted that people had been dependent on the imams for 30 years. Popal Siroos pre- ferred any dialogue to be directly with the people, fearing It was no surprise that a conference about conflict pre- that the imams would have too much influence on, for vention and resolution should focus attention on Afghani- example, the way that people would vote. stan. Howard stressed that NATO was not involved in order to impose a particular cultural approach, but rather Speaking via video, Afifa to create conditions where Afghans would be able to look Azim, Executive Director Afghan Women’s network after themselves. Davidson was in agreement, adding of the Afghan Women’s that it was essential to listen to what people wanted – as • 3,000 members, 72 organi- Network, stressed the criti- sation in Afghanistan this was the only way to develop an effective dialogue. cal role that women had to play as they “had never • Works by lobbying about Many participants will have remembered the words of 16 been involved in the fight- women’s rights and by rai- year-old Afghan student Hewod Aziz Jan who gave a sing awareness of major ing”. While acknowledging unique perspective (as a young Afghan student who has issues that NATO had the aim of been living in the UK for eight years) on the conflict. Re- rebuilding Afghanistan, • Wants a focus on sustaina- ferring to the classic English novel Silas Marner and the she bemoaned that fact ble peace not on technical villagers’ suspicions of strangers, he said he understood that there had hardly been training of troops that NATO forces were any contact with women “All forces in Afghanistan fighting for the security of • A call for deeper cultural until 2007 – this contact are seen as Americans” people in the west, but relations in negotiations “had to grow stronger and Hewod Aziz Jan there should be greater em- faster”. Summing up, Azim www.afghanwomensnetwork.org phasis placed on the pro- argued that justice had tection of people in Afghanistan. Aziz Jan had initially been in the hands of male-dominated structures for too stated that all NATO’s forces were seen as American long; women had to be involved in negotiations with the and that local people had no detailed knowledge about Taliban. the Alliance. In that respect, the Taliban were winning the communications war in that they, at least, had the advantage of speaking the local language. He added that Afghans were suspicious as to why NATO was operating CULTURAL RELATIONS IN ACTION in Afghanistan and not, for example, in Pakistan or During the conference a number Yemen. Taking up the message of several speakers, “Don’t just have a of speakers described successful Aziz Jan said it was essential to listen to local people meeting; don’t start in experiences of cultural relations and he favoured the imams as the appropriate conduit. the corridors of power in pre- and post-conflict zones. He ended by – perhaps unknowingly – echoing the mes- - you must connect These were only a few of the sage of another English classic novel “Howard’s End” – with the people ” many examples of how cultural with his call to (only) connect: although people were dif- John Sugden events could be used to improve ferent, they had the same hopes and ambitions, and they dialogue and how a better understanding of local cul- needed to be united. tures and mores could lead to healing and the preserva- Differences of opinion abound in Afghanistan of course tion of cultural heritage. Case studies examined at the and, from the floor, Ahmad Popal Siroos of the Afghani- conference included:

Page 9

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Conflict Prevention and Resolution: the Role of Cultural Relations International Conference

Post-conflict Sarajevo - Brigadier Hamza Visca: a AFRICALIA, a Belgian non-profit organization founded in 2000, is project to bring together Croats, Bosniaks and an avid proponent of culture as a motor for sustainable human deve- Serbs so that there would be a single armed lopment, not on the basis of what Europe considers necessary or force; the quality of reconstruction was influ- useful, but what is deemed desirable by people and organisations in Africa. enced by a cultural dimension Africalia cooperates with cultural civil society organisations in sub- Post-conflict Kenya - George Gachara: a project Saharan Africa, notably in Burkina Faso, DRC, Kenya, South Africa (Picha Mtanni, see text box) that allows young and Zimbabwe. It supports cultural and artistic richness in view of people to reflect on their own futures (rather than enabling local people, organizations and artists to prosper and build more stable communities. Africalia also draws public attention to on “butchering each other”); using photographs contemporary African art and culture, particularly in Belgium, to open up a dialogue through the organisation of cultural events. It has supported over 350 cultural projects. Post conflict Africa - Oliver Urquhart Irvine: a project to help restore the culture of the Batwa people of www.africalia.be the African Great Lakes; traditional songs found in the archives of the British Library and played Merritt added that EU was currently responsible for 70% back to the Batwa people – an act of cultural of the world’s aid – an area that should overlap with any remembrance push to improve cultural relations. It was a concern, therefore, that no one referred to any demonstrable Reconciliation initiative - Professor John Sugden: benefits of EU-NATO cooperation. From the floor, the working on the football4peace initiative (see text Director of the British Council’s North East of England box) that aims to connect directly with civil soci- Office, Sarah-Jane King argued that NATO was focus- ety; using a series of events to encourage dia- ing on respecting local cultural norms rather than actively logue and reduce tensions using culture to create opportunities for dialogue and healing. King wanted an effective comprehensive ap- Conflict prevention in Africa - Bjorn Maes: series of proach, otherwise there would be a cost – both financial cultural projects (run by local civil society on mu- and human. She therefore echoed Merritt’s call for de- sic, literature, film and dance) are nurturing more tails of the next steps. stability and fruitful dialogue in society.

CONCLUSIONS

Speaking at the end of the conference, SDA Director Giles Merritt said there had to be a joined-up strategy and a framework that allowed all kinds of cultural ideas into development aid processes. He saw the need for a well-defined project with estimated costs.

Page 10

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Conflict Prevention and Resolution: the Role of Cultural Relations International Conference

Lessons learnt in cultural relations in conflict situations

• Military campaigns alone are not sufficient, there must be steady progress on removing the causes of of conflict

• Inequalities and tensions in conflict areas must be removed

• The complexity of conflict areas must be recognised

• Shared cultural remembrance is a positive, forward-looking step

• It is not enough to develop “nice documents”, actions must be driven by the people on the ground

• NATO has the tools but it needs to use them better; the Alliance is in a learning process

• NATO troops are guests and they must understand and respect the local people

• Not all soldiers can be touchy-feely, soldiership has to be defined

• There is no quick fix.

Page 11

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants

Jens Adam Frances Austin Lecturer at the Department of European Marketing & Communications Manager Ethnology British Council Humboldt University Liz Austin Paul Adamson Teacher Chairman and Co-Founder Isleworth and Syon School in Hounslow The Centre Amaia Ayala Ana Aguado Cornago EU Officer Assistant Head of EUI Brussels Office Delegation of the Basque Country to the EU European University Institute Afifa Azim Laheebullah Akbarzad Executive Director Interpreter Afghan Women's Network (AWN) World Bank Hewod Aziz Jan Enver Akhmedov Student First Counsellor Isleworth and Syon School in Hounslow Mission of the Russian Federation to NATO Alasha Bahemurwaki Morten Dehlie Andreassen Member Researcher Forum Interrégional des Femmes Congolaises Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) (FIREFEC)

Anca Andreescu Mira Banacka Project Manager Second Secretary MWH Global Delegation of Slovakia to NATO

Liina Areng Martin Banks Assistant Defence Counsellor Journalist Delegation of Estonia to NATO The Parliament Magazine

Matt Armstrong Samir Bantal Blogger - mountainrunner.us Member Transatlantic Network 2020 (TN2020) Rachel Aron Ambassador Franciska Barabas-Komives Embassy of the United Kingdom to Belgium Officer Permanent Representation of Romania to the EU Frank Asbeck Chief Adviser, Human Resources and Security Mohamed Raja'i Barakat Expert

Anna Athanasopoulou Sati Bekyan Policy Officer - Culture & Intercultural Dialogue Intern European Commission British Council Directorate General for Education and Culture

Page 12

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants SDA Monthly Roundtable

Ilana Bet-El Gabriela Caraman Op-Ed Editor External Consultant European Voice LOGOS Public Affairs

Agnieszka Bidzinska Laura Giulia Cassio Trainee EPP Group Unit C1 - Cultural policy and Intercultural Committee of the Regions Dialogue European Commission Christian Boone Directorate General for Education and Culture Member International Association for Intercultural Antonella Cerasino Education (IAIE) Head of NATO Countries Section, Public Diplomacy Division Benjamin Boutin North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Military Crisis Management Assistant Permanent Representation of France to the EU John Chapman Rapporteur Helena Boyden Lamb Executive Officer Rachel Chetham Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP) Operations Team Delegation of the United Kingdom to NATO Jana Brandt Project Assistant Jarka Chloupkova Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation Principal Administrator (UNPO) European Parliament

Irina Bratosin Angela Christofidou Program Assistant for the Preventive Diplomacy Administrative Officer Initiatives Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre EastWest Institute Institute (ITI)

Wolfgang Braumandl-Dujardin Mualla Cirakli Senior Researcher, Institute for Peace Support Member and Conflict Management Transatlantic Network 2020 (TN2020) National Defence Academy Francesco Civino Jonathan Brennan Aide de camp of the President Web and Communications Manager High Defence Studies Center (CASD) British Council Paolo Clarotti Sara Callegari Policy Adviser Gender and Development Consultant Union of European (UEF)

Geert Cami Dominika Cosic Director EU Correspondent Security & Defence Agenda Wprost

Page 13

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants

Niels Dahlmann John Derrick Honorary Consul 2nd Secretary Consulate of the Republic of Latvia to Belgium Permanent Representation of the United Kingdom to the EU Anna Dalamanga Cultural Counsellor Olivier Dodier Permanent Representation of Greece to the EU Film Crew

Anne Damoiseaux Elena Donnari Executive Director Project Manager Ansor Fores Agenzia d'Informazione Europea Bureau Européen David Henry Doyle Martin Davidson Security Jam Communication Officer Chief Executive Security & Defence Agenda (SDA) British Council Ovidiu Dranga Robin Davies Ambassador Head, European Team Embassy of Romania to Belgium British Council Dirk Drijbooms Lennie De Brandt Director Human Resources Apothiki Art Foundation Ministry of Defence, Belgium Boris Ecker Camila de Epalza Azqueta Consultant Head of Press, Communication and External North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Relations Public Diplomacy Division Delegation of the Basque Country to the EU Susan Elbow Delphine de la Vallée Counsellor, Public Affairs Attaché Mission of the United States of America to the EU Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium Nicole Emany Wilfried De Wever Member President Collectif des Femmes Congolaises pour la Paix et Effectius la Justice

Joan Delaney Aude Esperandieu Independent Consultant Film Crew

Polydoros Demetriades Darja Fabjančič Principal Administrator Minister Plenipotentiary European Commission Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Slovenia Directorate General for Education and Culture Nicolas Ferrier Business Development Manager Thales International

Page 14

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants SDA Monthly Roundtable

Giorgio Ficarelli George Gashara Head of Cultural section Co-Founder European Commission Picha Mtaani Directorate General for Development and Relations with ACP States Rabah Ghezali Member Claudius Fischbach Transatlantic Network 2020 (TN2020) Head of Section, Policy Planning Staff at the Federal Foreign Office Mohammad Munir Ghiasy Ministry of Foreign Affairs, First Secretary Embassy of Afghanistan to Belgium Simon Fisher Teacher Katja Gigklhorn Isleworth and Syon School in Hounslow Working student - Culture Goethe-Institut Mary Fitzgerald Foreign Affairs Correspondent Joseph Gildea The Irish Times Assistant to Dr Andrey Kovatchev MEP European Parliament Louise Friis Pedersen Project Officer Kasper Juul Gimsing Danish Center for Culture and Development Officer for Fundamental Rights (DCCD) European Organisation of Military Associations (EUROMIL) Qian Fu Journalist Johana Grohova China Youth Daily Press Consultant British Council Yoshinori Fukushima Senior European Correspondent & Bureau Chief Andy Hansen Mainichi Shimbun Brussels Office Director of Sport British Council Lisa Galaski Translation Forum Organiser Wiebke Haubold European Commission National Expert on Professional Training Directorate General for Translation European Commission EuropeAid Cooperation Office (AIDCO) Ana Maria García Álvarez Translator Esther Hay Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU Global Peacekeeping English Manager British Council Leticia Garin Journalist Marco Hekkens Aquí Europa Deputy Commander/Commander Landing Force Netherlands Maritime Force (NLMARFOR) Eugenia Garrisi Intern, Cabinet of Vice-President Tajani Damien Helly European Commission Research Fellow Institute for Security Studies

Page 15

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants

Martin Hill Ljiljiana Jankovic Vice President, Defence First Secretary Thales International Mission of Montenegro to NATO

Trine Holo Anja Jensen Advisor Afghanistan and Pakistan Programme, Trainee CFSP Department of Security and Conflict Management Permanent Representation of Denmark to the EU Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) Rowena Judd Pekka Holopainen Policy Analyst Chief, Force Capability Unit SecEUR European Union Military Staff (EUMS) Anita Kalmane Martin Hope Vice-President Director, Benelux European Students' Forum (AEGEE) British Council Zakir Karim Henna Hopia Member Project Manager Transatlantic Network 2020 (TN2020) Security & Defence Agenda (SDA) Hassan Kerimel Martin Howard Project Manager IT Assistant Secretary General for Operations British Council North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Gabriela Keseberg Davalos Bjoern Hultin Communication Officer Managing Director International Crisis Group (ICG) Intercity Consulting Brussels Office

Radu Illiescu Nawab Khan Web Manager Correspondent British Council Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)

Shada Islam Zalini Khan Senior Programme Executive Preventive Diplomacy Initiatives European Policy Centre (EPC) EastWest Institute

Samir Ismayilov Radek Khol First Secretary Civilian Crisis Management Mission of Azerbaijan to NATO Council of the European Union General Secretariat David Itier Public Affairs Galina Khorkova Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) Researcher University of Kent Valentin Ivanoski Senior Staff Officer/Security Officer Sonia Kimps Mission of the former Yugoslav Republic of Gender Advisor Macedonia to NATO Ministry of Defence, Belgium

Page 16

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants

Sarah-Jane King Béatrice Leonard Lomami Director Member North East of England Office Collectif des Femmes Congolaises pour la Paix et la Justice Christine Klüsch Coordinator Brita Louwrier European Union National Institutes for Culture Student (EUNIC) Université Libre de Bruxelles

Antje Knorr Chrystelle Lucas Information Officer Programme Manager of regional programmes North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) related to Culture (ENPI East and South) European Commission Julia Kofler EuropeAid Cooperation Office (AIDCO) Project Manager British Council Ioana Lung Intern Saso Kuzmanovski Centre for European Studies Defence Counsellor Mission of the former Yugoslav Republic of Eva Lutzmann Macedonia to NATO Business Development Manager British Council Jean Labrique Secretary General Alastair MacCallam Western Defense Studies Institute Student Isleworth and Syon School in Hounslow Chiara Landolfo Graduate Bjorn Maes Università Bocconi Artistic Coordinator Southern Africa Africalia Joël Le Quément Head of Sector, Interservice Consultation Pia Makengo European Commission Spokesperson Directorate General for Research Forum Interrégional des Femmes Congolaises (FIREFEC) Lionel Lechien Euro-Atlantic Association of Belgium Jacques Malache Senior Director Suvi Leinonen International Press Agency Assistant to MEP Anneli Jäätteenmäki European Parliament Peter Mares Head zivik Funding Programme Lemmetyinen Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (IFA) EU Liaison Officer Christian Solidarity Worldwide Victoria Martin de la Torre Press Officer S&D Group Shawn Lent European Parliament Member Transatlantic Network 2020 (TN2020)

Page 17

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants

Pauline Massart Caroline Morrissey Senior Manager MBE Director Security & Defence Agenda (SDA) British Council Switzerland

Zurab Matcharadze Boris Moshkovits European Correspondent Founder and CEO Resonance Daily Newspaper PostNovum

Alessandro Mauriello Maged Mosleh Deputy Director Counsellor Italian Military Center for Strategic Studies Embassy of Egypt to Belgium

Heidemarie Meissnitzer Nuno Moura Counsellor for Cultural Affairs Assistant Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU Permanent Representation of Portugal to the EU

Giles Merritt Hajar Mubarez Director Researcher Security & Defence Agenda Afghanistan Center for Research and Policy Studies Monika Migo Administrator Alphonsine Muganga-Fuarinyo European Parliament Member Forum Interrégional des Femmes Congolaises Gyongyi Mikita (FIREFEC) Policy Officer European Commission Angèle Muhigirwa Directorate General for Education and Culture Communication Officer Forum Interrégional des Femmes Congolaises Per Mikkelsen (FIREFEC) Deputy Branch Chief Joint Operations North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Simon Mundy Senior Associate Fellow - Conflict, Security and Nadja Milanova Development Group Information Officer for Afghanistant, and King's College London Romania North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Vibeke Munk Petersen Head of Culture and Development Projects Samvel Mkrtchian Danish Center for Culture and Development Head of Mission, Ambassador (DCCD) Mission of Armenia to NATO Boniface Mwangi Alan Mooney CNN Africa Photojournalist of the Year 2008 Project Manager British Council Anand Naidoo Presenter Charles Morgan Al Jazeera English

Page 18

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants

Hannah Nicholls Anabela Pereira Policy and Communications Officer Coordinator for Internal Communication Effectius European Commission Directorate General for Translation Eva Nunes European Projects Assistant Patricia Pincarilho European Festivals Association Responsible for EDF, DCI, ENPI, IPA, ICI Permanent Representation of Portugal to the EU Regina O'Connor Assistant to Liam Aylward MEP David Plas European Parliament Photographer

Paul Odent Beata Podgórska Budget Unit Director Cultural Department European Commission Embassy of Poland to Belgium European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) Maren Polte Office Manager, EU Affairs & NATO Aleksandra Olejnik SAAB Representative Lodz Region Brussels Office Irina Margareta Popescu MA Development Policy & Governance Fellow Carmen Oprea Centre Européen de Recherches Internationales Regulatory and Policy Associate, EU Liaison et Stratégiques (CERIS) Office European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET) Nina-Maria Potts Bureau Chief & Europe Correspondent Brian Owens Feature Story News, Brussels News Editor Research Europe Alois Preineder Deputy NADREP Valérie Panis-Cendrowicz Mission of Austria to NATO Policy Officer, Intercultural Dialogue and Cultural Policies Constantinos Prevelakis European Commission Consultant Directorate General for Education and Culture North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) NATO Headquarters (HQ) Emmanuelle Paris-Cohen Forward Studies Unit Officer Malika Rabyi Committee of the Regions Human Resources Directorate General Ministry of Defence, Belgium Johan Peeters Belgian Defence Staff Laura Radulescu Ministry of Defence, Belgium Aerial Systems Coordination Officer European Defence Agency (EDA) Christoph Pelzer Quality Management Officer - Culture Clara Radunsky European Commission Trainee at the Austrian Cultural Forum EuropeAid Cooperation Office (AIDCO) Embassy of Austria to Belgium

Page 19

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants

Bahram Rahman Ines Sabalic Project Coordinator for Youth, Gender, Journalist Transitional Justice and Civil Society Slobodna Dalmacija Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Alexandra Samii Azita Ranjbar Member Member Belgian Baha'i Community Transatlantic Network 2020 (TN2020) Alexandre Samii Sonja Rauchenberger Professor Intern Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) Embassy of Austria to Belgium Loreto San Antonio Delphine Resteigne International Officer Assistant Professor Spanish Democratic Student Union Royal Military Academy, Belgium Sonia Sánchez Simona Rocchi Policy Officer Legal Advisor, C3 Agency Delegation of the Junta of Andalucia in Brussels North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) NATO Headquarters (HQ) Margarite Sandler Correspondent in Europe Stephan Roman IMA Press News Agency Regional Director for West Europe and North America Elissar Sarrouh British Council Director United Nations Development Fund for Women Laia Ros Gasch (UNIFEM) Projects Officer European Network of Cultural Administration Marietje Schaake Training Centers (ENCATC) Member European Parliament Alain Ruche Committee on Culture and Education Deputy Head of Unit, Horizontal Matters European Commission Elsa Schrier Directorate General for External Relations Vice-Chairman JASON Foundation Rainer Ruge EU Administrator, Civilian Crisis Management Christoph Schweitzer Council of the European Union National Expert on Professional Training (NEPT) Directorate General for External Economic and European Commission Politico-Military Affairs EuropeAid Cooperation Office (AIDCO)

Marie-Claire Ruhamya Jeroen Sennef Coordinator Staff Officer Concepts, Interoperability and Forum Interrégional des Femmes Congolaises Capabilities (CIC) (FIREFEC) CCOE (Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence)

Page 20

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants

Anca Serbanuta Michael Stopford Assistant Deputy Assistant Secretary General, Strategic Embassy of Afghanistan to Belgium Communications Services (SCS) North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Jamie Shea Director for Policy & Planning, Private Office of Aleksandra Styś the Secretary General Programme Assistant, Europe in the World North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Programme European Policy Centre (EPC) Dmytro Shkurko Brussels Correspondent John Sugden National News Agency of Ukraine Director Football 4 Peace (F4P) Daniela Simionescu Official Naomi Takagi European Commission Host/Organizer Joint Research Centre Pro Action Europe

Anjula Singh Nagayo Taniguchi Member Journalist Transatlantic Network 2020 (TN2020) Sentaku

Ahmad Popal Siroos Panagiotis Tasiopoulos Interview Coordinator Brussels Office Manager Office of the President, Afghanistan Constantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy

Zeka Sizo René Teijgeler Administrateur Délégué Senior Cultural Advisor Les Amis du Monde Entier Culture in Development

Urszula Ślązak Olivia ten Horn Head of the EU Section - Department of Project Assistant International Relations Security & Defence Agenda (SDA) Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Poland Anthony Testa Kate Smith Project Assistant Intern Security & Defence Agenda (SDA) British Council Brooks Tigner Editor and Chief Policy Analyst Camille Solal SecEUR Member Transatlantic Network 2020 (TN2020) John Tod Retired Officer Patrick Stephenson British Council Editor/Project Manager, Corporate Communications North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

Page 21

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

List of Participants

Karl Torring Hamza Visca Coordinator, European Network of NGOs in Post-Conflict Reconstruction Afghanistan Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina British Agencies Afghanistan Group (BAAG) Joint Military Command

Marcantonio Trevisani Sorin Vulcu President - Vice Admiral CD Assistant High Defence Studies Center (CASD) European Students' Forum (AEGEE)

Oliver Urquhart Irvine Anja Vvedenskaia Cultural Property Manager Journalist, EU and NATO Observer British Library BBC Russian Service

Neringa Vaisbrode Owen Wainhouse Programme Coordinator Project Manager North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) British Council

Isabelle van de Gejuchte Catharina Wale-Grunditz Senior Programme Manager Administrator/Desk Officer British Council Council of the European Union Directorate General for External Economic and Gidon van Emden Politico-Military Affairs Deputy Director EU Policy and Jewish Affairs CEJI Sue Wallace-Shaddad Programme Leader Sharing Futures Marijke Van Hemeldonck British Council Honorary MEP European Parliament Andrea Cornelia Windhab Brussels Representative David van Veenendaal Eurisc Foundation Policy Advisor Security, Innovation and Technology Nataša Zavolovšek Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Director The Netherlands Exodos Institute

Françoise Verbanck Xinghi Zhang Psychological Operations Chief Correspondent Ministry of Defence, Belgium China Youth Daily

Álvaro Vermoet Hidalgo Susanne Ziegler Member Intern National Education Council (Spain) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) Brussels David Viner Programme Leader Climate Change Karolina Zielińska British Council Senior Expert, Department of International Relations Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Poland

Page 22

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Page 24

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

Page 25

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

About the SDA

The Security & Defence Agenda (SDA) is the only specialist Brussels-based think-tank where EU institutions, NATO, national governments, industry, specialised and interna- tional media, think tanks, academia and NGOs gather to discuss the future of European and transatlantic security and defence policies in Europe and worldwide.

Building on the combined expertise and authority of those involved in our meetings, the SDA gives greater prominence to the complex questions of how EU and NATO policies can com- plement one another, and how transatlantic challenges such as terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction can be met.

By offering a high-level and neutral platform for debate, the SDA sets out to clarify policy positions, stimulate discussion and ensure a wider understanding of defence and security is- sues by the press and public opinion.

SDA Activities:

• Monthly Roundtables and Evening debates

• Press Dinners and Lunches

• International Conferences

• Discussion Papers and special events

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

The Security & Defence Agenda would like to thank its members and partners for their support.

Centre for Studies in Secu- rity and Diplomacy (University of Birmingham)

The SDA gratefully acknowledges the generous support from the following

France Romania United States Russia Netherlands Turkey

Czech Republic Italy Finland Belgium

Interested in joining the SDA? Please contact us at Tel: +32 (0)2 739 1582

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA (SDA)

Bibliothèque Solvay, Parc Léopold, 137 rue Belliard, B-1040, Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 737 91 48 Fax: +32 (0)2 736 32 16 E-mail: [email protected] www.securitydefenceagenda.org

SECURITY & DEFENCE AGENDA