Licht: Belgrade Security Forum is important for Serbia

Licht: Belgrade Security Forum is important for Serbia

The conference entitled "Europe 2014: Closure and/or New Beginning?", taking place from September 30 to October 2, can help Serbia gain a better insight and define its future actions in the domain of foreign and security policy, as well as establish contact with international experts, many of whom have significant influence on the foreign policy of theirs and other countries’, says Licht, one of the forum organizers.

"The forum has already made a name for itself in these circles, which I think is very important for Serbia and its role in international relations,” she said and expressed satisfaction at the overwhelming attendance which, as she pointed out, is increasing year after year.

Licht announced the participation of security and international relations experts from the USA, Europe, Russia, Turkey, and the region.

"Besides the experts, activists, members of the academic community, we will also host a number of key political figures in the EU, such as Elmar Brok, long-time Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, one of the most prominent experts on these topics in Europe," she said, noting that Brok is a member of the Christian-Democratic Union of Germany (CDU).

Forum participants will also include Christian Danielsson, Director General for Enlargement at the European Commission, and Karen Donfried, President of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and former advisor to US President Barack Obama on European security affairs.

"Professor (Vladimir) Baranovsky, of one of the most significant international policy and security institutes in Moscow, will also attend the forum,” said Licht.

The fact that the forum will be opened by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic sends an important message to the local and international public - even though the conference is organized by three civil society organizations “the top state officials recognize the need to take part in it”, stressed Licht.

The Forum is organized by Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, Belgrade Center for Security Policy, and the European Movement in Serbia.

"I think that the importance of such gatherings lies in the fact that they address the topics that bear great significance to Serbia and the entire region, but also to the world," she said.

One of the sessions will be dedicated to the Ukrainian crisis, so the participants could exchange opinions on the extent to which it will affect the future of EU integrations, she noted.

Licht pointed out that this year's debate will also address OSCE, not only because of Serbia's chairmanship in 2015, but also because of the organization's 40th anniversary, which will be marked next year.

"Serbia's OSCE chairmanship will be a huge challenge but also an opportunity,“ Licht said, and expressed hope that by that time the Ukrainian crisis will be resolved and the tension between the EU and the USA on one hand, and Russia on the other, will be eased, if not eliminated.