Moldova is facing many intern challenges, as for example the high-level corruption or the conflict in Transnistria. The panelists did not only discuss current issues in the Republic of Moldova, but they also addressed the role of Russia and the EU.

EU’s Parliament’s and Commission’s steadfast commitment to the European integration of the Western Balkans is clear, despite the recent setback in this process when in October 2019 the decision to open the long awaited accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania was blocked. The upcoming year 2020 offers a number of opportunities to reinvigorate the integration process. Those opportunities come not without their own challenges and therefore need to be carefully considered.

Four panelists from Israel and Palestine presented and discussed their visions for peace in the region. By elaborating the current situation in Israel and Palestine, they concluded that a two-state solution is the only possibility in order to fully guarantee security, equal rights and freedom for everybody.

[VIDEO AVAILABLE] During this public talk Artyom Shraibman does not only reflect on the Belarusian domestic politics, but also on Belarus´relationship with the West on the one hand and Russia on the other hand. During the Question & Answer session several topics, as for example the role of China, interesting dymanics in the opposition or the concept of neutrality for Belarus were discussed.

The former Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan, shares during this public talk insights and experiences gained after serving for five years as Chief Monitor, highlighting among other things the tasks and goals of the mission.

Die Autorin Tyma Kraitt geht während der Präsentation ihres Buches ,,Sunniten und Schiiten: Zur Konstruktion eines Glaubenskrieges” nicht bloß auf den historischen Ursprung des islamischen Glaubensschisma ein, sondern sie weißt auch auf die Multidimensionalität dieses Konfliktes hin.

On October 16, 2019 the International Institute for Peace organized a background talk with Ambassador Dr. Mahmoud Karem from Egypt. The discussion focused on the current developments with regard to the establishment of Middle East weapons of mass destruction-free zone (MEWMDFZ).

Elizabeth Spehar is the Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). In a public talk she gives a historical overview of peacekeeping missions, in order to present on the one hand the existing challenges and achievements of the operations and on the other hand the new initiative ,,Action for Peacekeeping” (A4P).

Report and reflexions on the Western Balkans 2030 Initative visit to Berlin

With the upcoming presidential elections and peace talks between the Taliban and US making progress, does Afghanistan has a chance to strengthen the governments formal power and to contribute to a transformation into a state of law?