Marshall Center Eastern Europe – Black Sea Regional Alumni Outreach Network Event

Security challenges in the Black Sea region, economic along with energy security, and strategy planning from a national perspective, were the main topics discussed by alumni of Marshall Center from Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova during the Eastern Europe – Black Sea Regional Alumni Outreach Network Event that took place in Tbilisi, Georgia on 26 – 27 July, 2017.

German Ambassador Heike Peitsch, and U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Dwight Nystrom provided opening remarks, speaking on the need for cooperation between all regional nations, and support from Germany and the United States.

Marshall Center professor Pal Dunay spoke on Hybrid Warfare and Dr Valbona Zeneli on Economic Security in the region. The Bulgarian delegation had presentations on key regional security challenges, energy security and national security strategies, as it was represented by Dr Velizar Shalamanov of the Bulgarian Academy of Science and former minister of defence within the period August – November 2014, Ms Violina Kehayova and Ms Vessela Nikolova of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence and Ms Mirena Chaleva of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The participants agreed upon the diverse nature of the Black Sea region. The significant shift of the geopolitical balance in the region since 2014, the protracted conflicts on the territories of Moldova and Georgia as well as the situation in Eastern Ukraine were the object of productive and fruitful discussions. The rapid change of the energy supply landscape in the Black Sea region was perceived to have a great impact on the future economic development of the three countries.

The participants stressed on the importance of the current and future cooperation between the EU and NATO with Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova on various issues, including democratic reforms, strengthening institutions, defense and security sectors, good governance and anti-corruption.

Marshall Center Alumni Event in Tbilisi presented a great opportunity for exchange of opinions and expertise on important aspects of the security in the Black Sea region.