“International Security and Cooperation in South – Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region”

Wednesday, April 5th 2006

20:00 - 21:30 Welcoming reception at the “Divani Palace Acropolis” Hotel

Thursday, April 6th 2006

“Divani Palace Acropolis” Hotel

08:30 - 09:00 Participants’ registration

09:00 - 09:30 Opening Remarks

Speakers:

Evangelos - Vassilios Meimarakis Minister of National Defence

Sergei Konoplyov Director of the Black Sea Security Programme - Harvard University

Yannis Valinakis Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Academic Dean, Belfer Professor of International Relations,

Stephen WaltJohn F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

SESSION 1 International Security and Cooperation in South - Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region. The Hellenic Perspectives

09:30 - 10:30

Speakers:

Vassilios Magginas MP of “Nea Demokratia” Party

Former Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs

MP of PASOK Party, Former Minister of Public Order

Mikolaos Konstantopoulos Member of the Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs

MP, Former Chairman of Synaspismos Party

Michael Chrisochoidis Member of the Standing Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs

Chair:

Vassilios Michaloliakos Deputy Minister of National Defence

SESSION 2 Euro-Atlantic Strategy for the Black Sea Region: Practical Steps towards Partnership

10:30 - 11:30

Speakers:

Kostas Ifantis Associate Professor of the University of Athens

Chairman & Director General of the Hellenic Centre for European Studies, Athens

Thanos Dokos Research Director of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, Athens

Dimitris Triantaphyllou Director General of the International Centre for Black Sea Studies, Athens

Tedo Japaridze Secretary General of the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Istanbul

Chair:

Ioannis Bourloyiannis - Tsangaridis Ambassador (ret.), Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of National Defence

11:30 - 12:00 Coffee Break

SESSION 3 12:00 - 13:00 Oil, Security and Geopolitics in the Black Sea Region.

Security Risks and Prospects

Speakers:

Charalampos Papasotiriou Associate Professor of International Relations, Pantion University, Representative of the Institute of International Relations, Athens

Mustafa Aydin Professor of International Relations, TOBB Economics and Technology University, Ankara

Michalis Mirianthis Director General of International Activities, “Hellenic Petroleum Company”

Chair:

Sergiu Celac Ambassador (ret.), Alternate Director General of the International Centre for Black Sea Studies, Athens

SESSION 4 13:00 - 14:00 Collective Defence in the 21st Century: Cooperation and Conflict Deterrence in the Black Sea region

Speakers:

Andrew A. Michta Professor of National Security Studies

George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

Dov Lynch Senior Research Fellow, EU Institute for Security Studies, Paris

George Katsirdakis Head of the Defence Co-operation and Defence Planning Division, NATO International Staff

Panagiotis Tsakonas Assistant Professor of International Relations, University of the Aegean, Rhodes

Chair:

Minas Kontrafouris Lt.General (ret.), Honorary Inspector General of the Army

14:00 - 14:15 Conclusions – Closing Remarks

Sergei Konoplyov Director of the Black Sea Security Programme - Harvard University

Ioannis Bourloyiannis - Tsangaridis Ambassador (ret.), Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of National Defence

14:15 - 15:30 Lunch at the «Divani Palace Acropolis» Hotel

16:00 - 18:00 Cultural Tour / Acropolis – Museum

Friday, April 7th 2006

“Ministry of National Defence”

09:30 - 10:00 Arrival at the Ministry of National Defence

10:00 - 10:15 Opening Remarks by the Deputy Minister of National Defence

Ioannis Labropoulos Deputy Minister of National Defence

SESSION 1 10:15 - 10:45 Hellenic Defence Policy: International Security and Cooperation in the South - Eastern Europe and Black Sea Region

Speaker:

Lt. Col. Polychronis NalbantisDirector of Defence Planning & Programming Directorate / Minister’s Staff

Chair:

Ioannis Bourloyiannis - TsangaridisAmbassador (ret.), Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of National Defence

11:00 - 11:15 Coffee Break

SESSION 2 11:15 - 11:45 Hellenic Armed Forces’ Reform, Peacekeeping Operations and Military Cooperation in South - Eastern Europe and Black Sea Region

Speaker:

Lt. Col. Panagiotis Karabelas Staff Officer of International Relations Directorate / Hellenic National Defence General Staff

Chair:

Minas Kontrafouris Lt. General (ret.), Honorary General Inspector of the Army

11:45 - 12:15 Questions & discussion

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch at the Hellenic Navy General Staff

Saturday, April 8th 2006

Foreign Delegations Depart