Polsko-litewskie forum polityki zagranicznej

Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University
Polish Institute of International Affairs 
LITHUANIAN-POLISH FOREIGN POLICY CONFERENCE
28-29 October 2009, Vilnius

Programme

Wednesday, 28 October 2009

16:00              

Opening

• dr. Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, Director, Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University
• dr. Sławomir Dębski, Director, Polish Institute of International Affairs
• Darius Semaška, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Lithuania (TBC)
• Mariusz Handzlik, Undersecretary of State, Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland

16:15              

Session I: Lithuania and Poland. Common or divergent interests in the new strategic environment.

Moderator: dr. Raimundas Lopata, Professor, Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Introductory remarks:

• Eitvydas Bajarūnas, Ambassador-at-Large, Political Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania
• Łukasz Adamski, Programme Coordinator for Bilateral Relations in Europe, Polish Institute of International Affairs

Discussants:

• Maciej Pisarski, Acting Director of Department of Strategy and Foreign Policy Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Poland
• dr. Evaldas Nekrašas, Professor, Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Questions for consideration:

• How Poland and Lithuania can cooperate over the EU Eastern Partnership?
• Is joint approach towards regional cooperation concepts (EU Baltic See strategy, Baltic-Nordic, Vysegrad-Baltic cooperation, Kaliningrad district of Russia) feasible?
• Can bilateral problems overshadow strategic possibilities? 

17:45    Coffee break

18:00             

Session II: Debate over New Strategic Concept for NATO. Where are common/divergent interests?

Moderator: dr. Raimundas Lopata, Professor, Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Introductory remarks:

• Witold Waszczykowski, Deputy Head, National Security Bureau, Chancellery of the President,  Republic of Poland
• Gediminas Varvuolis, Director of the Transatlantic Cooperation and Security Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

Discussants:

• Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University, Lithuania
• Łukasz Kulesa, Acting Head of the Research Office, Polish Institute of International Affairs

Questions for consideration: 

• How strong is the voice of Central Europe in NATO?
• What should be the right balance between Art. 5 commitments and out-of-area missions?
• How to shape NATO-Russia relations? 
• How wide should be the tasks of the Alliance? (Energy security, cybersecurity, support for humanitarian missions?)

20:00   Dinner

Thursday, 29 October 2009

8:45                

Session III: Russia’s policy towards the post-Soviet space. Can the concept of the spheres of influence be back?

Moderator: Laurynas Jonavičius, advisor to the President of the Republic of Lithuania (TBC)

Introductory remarks:

• Jarosław Bratkiewicz, Director of the Eastern Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of  Poland
• Marijus Gudynas, Deputy Director of the Eastern Neighbourhood Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

Discussants:

• dr. Raimundas Lopata, Professor, Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University, Lithuania
• dr. Adam Eberhardt, Deputy Director of the Centre for Eastern Studies, Poland

Questions for consideration:

• Russia’s objectives towards the post-Soviet space and strategies for their implementation
• How are the others reacting? Assessment of Lukashenka’s 'rapprochement' with the West, political situation in Ukraine and the role of Russia in the presidential elections
• ‘Frozen’ conflicts in Moldova and Georgia. What are the EU, US and Russia’s interests and policies?
• What kind of strategy towards Russia?

10:20   Coffee break

10:40

Session IV: Challenges for Energy Security. Can they be tackled jointly?   

Moderator: Laurynas Jonavičius, advisor to the President of the Republic of Lithuania (TBC)

Introductory remarks:

• Tomas Grabauskas, Acting Head of the Energy Security Policy Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania
• Ernest Wyciszkiewicz, Energy Security Programme Coordinator, Polish Institute of International Affairs

Discussants:

• Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz, Analyst, Polish Institute of International Affairs  
• Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania and Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Questions for consideration:

• What are the most pressing challenges to the energy security of Poland and Lithuania?
• Which bilateral and regional projects in the energy field are the most promising ones?
• How to influence the Common Energy Policy of the EU to the benefit of the region?

12:00   Lunch

Conclusions

What can Lithuania and Poland do together in the regional, European and global context?