On September 12-13, 2017, the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University and the Economic Policy Research Center hosted an international conference in Tbilisi, Georgia: “A World in Flux: The Future of Democracy, Europe and the Middle East.” Now in its third year, the two-day conference was held at the Tbilisi Rooms Hotel.
The annual Tbilisi International Conference provides a one-of-a-kind platform to bring together experienced political and security leaders from the United States, Western Europe, Georgia, and the wider Euro-Atlantic community to discuss the vision of a Europe whole, free and at peace; the challenges facing Europe’s eastern nations; and strategies to move forward.
The 2017 conference built on the previous year’s discussion on NATO and Black Sea regional security, while taking a more in-depth look at Georgia’s geopolitical compass. Further, with high-level speakers from the United States, Europe, and regional countries, the conference addressed U.S. foreign policy and its implication on political processes in Europe and its neighborhood and the Middle East. Particular emphasis was given to security and NATO’s role.
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Session Videos
Agenda
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Welcome by Kurt Volker, the McCain Institute for International Leadership
Conversation with Giorgi Margvelashvili, President of Georgia, and Kurt Volker, the McCain Institute for International Leadership
Conversation with Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, and Kurt Volker, the McCain Institute for International Leadership
Session I – Debate: Georgia Now and in the Future
- David Bakradze – Former Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia
- Ian Kelly – U.S. Ambassador to Georgia
- Irakli Kobakhidze – Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia
- David Usupashvili – Former Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia
Moderator: Alexandra Hall Hall – Atlantic Council
Session II – Panel: The Future of Liberalism, Democracy, and Populism
- Daniel Fried – Atlantic Council
- Alina Polyakova – Atlantic Council
- Robin Shepherd – Halifax International Security Forum
- David Sikharulidze – Atlantic Council
Moderator: Christopher Walker – National Endowment for Democracy
Session III – Conversation: Energy in the Region: Where Are We Now?
- Edward Chow – Center for Strategic and International Security
- Gediminas Kirkilas – Former Prime Minister of Lithuania
Moderator: Batu Kutelia – Atlantic Council
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Session IV – Panel: U.S. Foreign Policy Under the Trump Administration
- Ian Brzezinski – Atlantic Council
- James Nixey – Chatham House
- Zygimantas Pavilionis – Member of Parliament, Lithuania
- Peter Van Praagh – Halifax International Security Forum
- Ketevan Tsikhelashvili – Minister of Reintegration of Georgia
Moderator: Randy Scheunemann – Orion Strategies
Conversation with Daniel Fried, Atlantic Council, and Kurt Volker
Session V – Panel: Germany–France–UK: Whither Europe?
- Ali Aslan – TV Presenter and Journalist
- Benjamin Haddad – Hudson Institute
- James Kirchick – Brookings Institution
- Justin McKenzie Smith – UK Ambassador in Georgia
Moderator: Robin Shepherd – Halifax International Security Forum
Conversation with Daniel Fried, Atlantic Council, and Kurt Volker
Session VI – Panel: Ukraine: Moving Forward or Verging on Crisis?
- Andrius Kublilius – Former Prime Minister of Lithuania
- Sergii Leshchenko – Member of Parliament, Ukraine
- Oleh Shamshur – Ambassador of Ukraine to France
- James Sherr – Chatham House
Moderator: Donald Jensen – CEPA, Johns Hopkins SAIS
Session VII – Panel: The Future of Transatlantic Relations, Europe, the EU, and NATO
- Bridget Brink – Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of State
- Christian Danielsson – Director General for Enlargement, European Commission
- Levan Izoria – Minister of Defense of Georgia
- Thomas Mayr-Harting – European External Action Service
Moderator: Ian Bond – Centre for European Reform
Session VIII – Panel: Democracy, Human Rights and Security in Georgia’s Neighborhood: Getting the balance right
- Knut Abraham – Federal Chancellery, Germany
- Zeki Levent Gumrukcu – Ambassador of Turkey to Georgia
- Thomas O. Melia – George W. Bush Institute
Moderator: James Kirchick – Brookings Institution
Session IX – Panel: Addressing the Challenge of Putin’s Russia
- Stefan Meister – European Council on Foreign Relations
- Salome Samadashvili – United National Movement
- Andrew Wood – Chatham House
- Christopher Walker – National Endowment for Democracy
- Keti Khutsishvili – Open Society Georgia Foundation
Moderator: Ian Brzezinski – Atlantic Council
Remarks from Rose Gottemoeller, Deputy Secretary-General of NATO (via Skype)
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