Erasing the ‘grey zone’ on the frontlines of freedom

     

The countries of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine stand at a crossroads, the Atlantic Council notes. Perched between Russia and the West, they have chosen a path of economic and political reform and closer relations with the West. They face substantial challenges dealing with the systemic legacy of the Soviet period as they pursue reform, while also confronting Kremlin interference in their affairs and occupation of their land. Once described as part of a geopolitical “grey zone,” these countries are working to instead be seen as states on the “frontlines of freedom” with futures as free, whole, and secure European states.

At a forthcoming conference, the Atlantic Council will convene a group of experts to discuss topics such as the historical origins of the so-called “grey zone,” the Kremlin’s use of frozen conflicts, transatlantic policy toward the region, and democratic progress in these states.

Please join the Atlantic Council for an event entitled Championing the Frontlines of Freedom: Erasing the “Grey Zone” on October 18, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Atlantic Council headquarters (1030 15th Street NW, 12th Floor, West Tower Elevators).

This event will include a spotlight address from the Hon. A. Wess Mitchell, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, on US strategy in Central and Eastern Europe.

Agenda

Introduction

Mr. Damon WilsonExecutive Vice President, Atlantic Council

Keynote Remarks

The Hon. Roger WickerUS Senator for Mississippi, US Senate

The Hon. Jeanne ShaheenUS Senator for New Hampshire, US Senate

Address: The Historical Origins of the Frontlines of Freedom

Dr. Serhii PlokhiiDirector, Ukrainian Research Institute, Harvard University

Address: “Grey Zone” Past and Future

The Hon. Kurt VolkerUS Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, US Department of State

Fireside Chat

Dr. Serhii PlokhiiDirector, Ukrainian Research Institute, Harvard University

The Hon. Kurt VolkerUS Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, US Department of State

Moderated byMr. Mark SimakovskySenior Fellow, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council

Panel I: Frozen Conflicts and the Kremlin’s Agenda

Mr. Denis CenusaResearcher, Institut für Politikwissenschaft

Ambassador John HerbstDirector, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council

Minister Tinatin KhidasheliFormer Defense Minister, Republic of Georgia

Ms. Maria SnegovayaAdjunct Fellow, Center for European Policy and Analysis; Research Associate, Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland

Ambassador James WarlickPartner and Senior Policy Adviser, Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners

Moderated byDr. Michael CarpenterSenior Director, Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement; Senior Fellow, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council

Spotlight Address: Strategy in Central and Eastern Europe

The Hon. A. Wess MitchellAssistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, US Department of State

Introduced byMr. Damon WilsonExecutive Vice President, Atlantic Council

Panel II: Transatlantic Policy Towards the Region

H.E. David BakradzeAmbassador of Georgia to the United States

Mr. David KramerSenior Fellow, Vaclav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy, Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, Florida International University

Mr. Alex TierskySenior Policy Adviser, US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Mr. Damon WilsonExecutive Vice President, Atlantic Council

Moderated byMs. Melinda HaringEditor, UkraineAlert, Atlantic Council

Panel III: Democratic Progress in the Frontlines of Freedom

Mr. Carl GershmanPresident, National Endowment for Democracy

Ms. Laura JewettSenior Associate and Regional Director for Eurasia, National Democratic Institute

Mr. Stephen NixRegional Director, Eurasia, International Republican Institute

Moderated byMs. Eka GigauriExecutive Director, Transparency International Georgia

Atlantic Council, 1030 15th Street NW, 12th Floor
Washington, DC
Register

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