Menu
Latest
Menu
Latest
Commentary

Brussels conference emphasises importance of CBMs for resolving conflicts.

18 December 2013

At a conference focusing on the unresolved conflicts in Eastern Europe held in Brussels on Tuesday, 17 December, the importance of confidence buidling measures as a way of helping the resolution of the conflicts was highlighted by many of the speakers and participants.

The conference with the theme "Bringing peace to the EU's Eastern neighbourhood - Challenges, prospects and opportunities for the OSCE and the EU" was organised by the European Policy Centre (EPC) and Conflict Management Initiative (CMI) in collaboration with the Lithuanian Presidency of the European Union, and was held in the premisies of the Lithuanian Delegation to the EU in Brussels.

The issue of confidence building measures was prominent in the first panel which looked at the events of the past two decades. Speakers on the panel emphasised that such measures are essential to create the right conditions for the sides to conduct negotiations and to avoid misperception. The matter was of particular importance in the context of the conflict on Nagorno-Karabakh it was stated. This view was also supported by the representatives of the Embassies of Azerbaijan and Armenia who were among the hundred or so participants in the event, and who in their interventions also referred to current work being done and of the need for confidence building measures, although there were different views as to what measures should be prioritised.

The panellists also referred top recent events including the Vilnius summit, events in Ukraine and the recent meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

source: commonspace.eu

photo: Gunnar Wiegan, Director for Europe at the European External Action Service speaking during the first panel of the event held in Brussels on 17 December. Other panellists included Claus Newkirch from the OSCE Conflict Management Centre, Sergei Markedonov, an independent Russian analyst and Dennis Sammut (LINKS and EPC) who chaired the event. (picture courtesy of the EPC).

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
European leaders set out their plan for Ukraine
Trending

European leaders set out their plan for Ukraine

16 December 2025
The leaders of Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and United Kingdom, together with the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission, o  Monday (15 December) issued a statement, outlining their plan for Ukraine. In their statement, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Frederiksen, President Stubb, President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Prime Minister Schoof, Prime Minister Støre, Prime Minister Tusk, Prime Minister Kristersson, Prime Minister Starmer, as well as President Costa and President von der Leyen spoke about "Peace for Ukraine". The Leaders welcomed significant progress on President Trump’s efforts to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They also welcomed the close work between President Zelenskyy’s and President Trump’s teams as well as European teams over the recent days and weeks. They agreed to work together with President Trump and President Zelenskyy to get to a lasting peace which preserves Ukrainian sovereignty and European security. Leaders appreciated the strong convergence between the United States, Ukraine and Europe. Leaders agreed that ensuring the security, sovereignty, and prosperity of Ukraine was integral for wider Euro-Atlantic security. They were clear that Ukraine and its people deserved a prosperous, independent, and sovereign future, free from fear of future Russian aggression. Both the US and European leaders committed to work together to provide robust security guarantees and economic recovery support measures for Ukraine in the context of an agreement on ending the war. This would include commitments to: Provide sustained and significant support to Ukraine to build its armed forces, which should remain at a peacetime level of 800,000 to be able to deter conflict and defend Ukraine’s territory. A European-led ‘multinational force Ukraine’ made up from contributions from willing nations within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing and supported by the US. It will assist in the regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, in securing Ukraine’s skies, and in supporting safer seas, including through operating inside Ukraine. (Click the image to read the statement in full).

Popular