EaP Think Tank Forum 2017

Daniela Morari

Daniela Morari Daniela Morari is a career diplomat and since March 2016 serves as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, in charge of European Integration and Treaties/International Law. In 2015 – 2016 she worked as Director General for European Integration, in 2013-2015 as Deputy Director General of the General Directorate for European Integration, 2010-2013 as Head of Unit for Political Cooperation with EU within the same General Directorate. In 2007 - 2010, she was counselor within the Moldovan Mission to the EU. In 2004 - 2007, she served in the Department for European Integration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova. Daniela Morari was the national coordinator of the Visa Liberalisation Process, as well part of the negotiating team and subsequently monitoring and coordination of implementation of the EU-Moldova Association Agreement.

Amb. Peter Michalko

Amb. Peter Michalko Amb. Peter Michalko is the new Ambassador, Head of EU Delegation in the Republic of Moldova. Before that he was appointed as the Slovak Ambassador in Greece since 2013. Mr. Peter Michalko being a career diplomat served in different capacities at the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) since 1994, including as Deputy Director of the Department for EU internal Affairs and institutions (2007-2008), Director of the Department for South Eastern Europe (2009-2011) and Political Director of the Slovak MFA (2011-2012). Mr. Michalko also was a Deputy Political Advisor to the KFOR Commander in Pristina between 2006 and 2007. He also served as Political Advisor to the EU Special Representative for the Republic of Moldova, Kalman Mizsei between 2008 and 2009. Amb. Michalko has a M.A. in international relations from Moscow State Institute of International Relations and PhDr. in international relations from the Matej Bel University (Slovakia). He speaks Greek, English, Russian, Romania, Polish, French and Serbian.

Natalia Yerashevich

Natalia Yerashevich Natalia Yerashevich is an international development professional with 15-year practical experience in project management in the sphere of democratic and economic development and civil society empowerment and public policy influence in the countries of the Eastern Partnership. Since 2012, Natalia Yerashevich is heading the Brussels-based Secretariat of the EaP Civil Society Forum, a network of civil society organisations from the EaP countries and the EU. Natalia has more than 10 years experience with US Embassy in Minsk and USAID, where she designed and managed projects aimed at civil society empowerment, improving business climate, stimulating educational and cultural exchanges. Ms Yerashevich holds a MA in International Economics from the Belarusian State University and a MA in Globalisation and International Development from the University of Warwick.

Polina Ojog

Polina Ojog Polina Ojog is a Program Coordinator at Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Chisinau, Moldova.She is responsible for coordinating and organizing events on diverse topics especially regarding Eastern Partnership. Trained as a translator-interpreter and formerly responsible for Press and public Relations, she has a unique background in communications.

Ion Manole

Ion Manole Ion Manole is the Executive Director of Promo-LEX, a human rights and advocacy organisation. It was established in 2002 by a group of human rights defenders, with the aim of advancing human rights in the Republic of Moldova. Promo-LEX works on the entire territory of Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, and cooperates with Transnistrian NGOs to protect human rights in the region. He started his professional activity in human rights area back in 2000 as a pro-bono lawyer at the the League for defense of Human rights of Moldova. In 2002, he and a few other young activists established the Promo-LEX Association. Ion Manole has an extensive expertise and experience human rights and election observation. He also represented few very famous cases at the European Court for Human Rights regarding the Human Rights violations in the Transnistrian region of Moldova. Mr. Manole is licensed in Law. Ion Manole is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and the Country Facilitator of the Moldova's National Platform for the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.

Dr. Maria Golubeva

Dr. Maria Golubeva Dr. Maria Golubeva is a policy analyst and historian from Riga. Currently she is a member of the EaP Civil Society Forum Steering Committee. Maria has studied History at Cambridge University (PhD, 1999) and has worked in Latvian public administration, in a public policy consultancy in Brussels, and at the think-tank PROVIDUS. She has published a number of policy studies and the book “Models of Political Competence” on history of political ideas in late medieval Europe.

Hennadiy Maksak

Hennadiy Maksak Hennadiy Maksak is the head of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”, a network think-tank based in Ukraine. Studied economics (Chernihiv state institute for economics and management), political sciences (Warsaw University, Center for East European Studies). In 2006-2015 he was the president of the Polissya Foundation for International and Regional Studies. Since January 2017 he has been acting as the Co-chair of the EaP Civil Society Forum. At the same time he is the Facilitator of the Ukrainian national platform of the EaP CSF. Hennadiy Maksak is the head of the Civic Council under the MFA of Ukraine.

Dr. Valbona Zeneli

Dr. Valbona Zeneli Dr. Valbona Zeneli is a professor of national security studies, and director of the Black Sea-Eurasia Program at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. She is an economist with an interest in international economics, good governance and international security. She holds a Ph.D. in international political economy from the University of Bari, Italy, a postgraduate diploma in international marketing from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. She also received a B.A. in business administration from the University of Bologna in Italy, where she graduated with honors. Dr. Zeneli has work experience in public administration and the private sector. She has lectured at numerous universities and organizations in various countries. She has been widely published in well-known journals.

Dr. Steven Blockmans

Dr. Steven Blockmans Dr. Steven Blockmans is the Head of EU Foreign Policy at CEPS, a Brussels-based think tank which has been consistently ranked among the 10 best in the world. He is also Professor of EU External Relations Law and Governance at the University of Amsterdam and a founding member of the Centre for the Law of EU External Relations (CLEER). He served as leading author of Task Forces on ‘More Union in European Defence’ chaired by Javier Solana (2015) and ‘Regroup and Reform: Towards a More Responsive and Effective European Union’ chaired by Danuta Hübner MEP (2017). For the past 20 years, he has carried out numerous research and technical assistance projects in wider Europe and in Asia for the institutions of the EU and governments of EU member states and third countries. Blockmans holds a PhD in international law from Leiden University.

Valentina Eigner

Valentina Eigner Valentina Eigner is currently pursuing her PhD studies at the University of Vienna, specialising in European Energy Law. She is in charge of We Build Europe’s Eastern and Southeastern Europe network as well as We Build Europe’s legal affairs.

Dr. Olena Prystayko

Dr. Olena Prystayko Dr. Olena Prystayko, is Executive Director of Ukrainian Think Tanks Liaison Office in Brussels. Prior to this, she was Project Manager at the Directorate of Internal Oversight of the Council of Europe (2013); Representative in Brussels of the Anti-Discrimination Centre “Memorial” and the “Sova” Center (2012); Research Fellow at the EU-Russia Centre in Brussels (2008 - 2011); Project Coordinator at the Razumkov Centre, Kyiv (2006-2007); Projects Director at the Centre for Peace, Conversion and Foreign Policy of Ukraine (2005 - 2006); researcher at the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation, Regional Office to Ukraine, Kyiv (2003). Olena obtained her PhD in Political Sciences from the Institute of International Relations of Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University (Ukraine), and her LL.M. in European Law from the Europa-Institut, University of Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany.

Dmytro Shulgaю

Dmytro Shulga Dmytro Shulga, born in 1980 in Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine. Holds M.A. in International Relations (Kyiv, Ukraine) and LL.M. in European Integration Law (Dresden, Germany). Since 2005 he works at International Renaissance Foundation (the Open Society Foundation in Ukraine). Since 2012 he is IRF’s European Programme Director. At this position, he primarily focuses on bringing Ukrainian voices to contribute to the European debate on the war in Donbas, occupied Crimea, Ukrainian reforms, and dynamics of Ukraine-EU relations.

Dr. Olksandr Sushko

Dr. Olksandr Sushko Dr. Olksandr Sushko is Research Director at the Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation in Kiev and Chair of the Board of the International Renaissance Foundation, an NGO, which supports citizens’ initiatives working for a democratic society in Ukraine as part of the Open Society network. He has also been director of the Centre for Peace, Conversion and Foreign Policy of Ukraine and has taken part in projects in favour of freedom of movement and the civic initiative for visa liberalisation, “Europe without Barriers”.

Dr. Kornely Kakachia

Dr. Kornely Kakachia Dr. Kornely Kakachia is Professor of Political Science at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia, and Director of Tbilisi based think tank Georgian Institute of Politics. His current research focuses on Georgian domestic and foreign policy, security issues of the wider Black Sea area and comparative party politics. He was a recipient of IREX and OSI fellowships and was a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Black Sea Security program, (2009–2010) Harriman Institute, Columbia University (2011) and The Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

Dr. Stepan Grigoryan

Dr. Stepan Grigoryan Dr. Stepan Grigoryan – Chairman of the Board of the Yerevan-based Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation (ACGRC). From 1998 to 2000 was the Senior Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. From 1995 to 1998 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Minister of the Republic of the Republic of Armenia in the Russia Federation. Member of the Armenian Parliament (1990-1995). Holds diplomatic class of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Minister.

Dr. Kerry Longhurst

Dr. Kerry Longhurst Dr. Kerry Longhurst is Jean Monnet Professor at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw, Poland and a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe. Her research interests relate to the EU's relations with Eastern Europe and questions to do with the implementation and sustainability of the Eastern Partnership, especially in Moldova. She is currently leading a research project looking at the evolution of the business environment and SME sector in Moldova in the context of the implementation of the DCFTA. Aside from her academic activities Kerry has led a number of studies on behalf of the EU on Higher Education and Civil Society in the Eastern Neighbourhood and Black Sea Region.

James Nixey

James Nixey James Nixey is Head of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House in London. The department is Europe’s largest and most respected organising centre for research, publications and meetings on the former Soviet states. James is also an Associate Fellow with the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and serves on the boards of the international the journal UA: Ukraine Analytica and the ESRC-funded project, ‘Rising Powers and Conflict Management in Central Asia’. His key expertise concerns the relationships between Russia and the other post-Soviet states, and with the West. He holds degrees in modern languages and international relations and has previous experience in journalism, as a reporter in Moscow in the late 1990s, and in the banking sector.

Balázs Jarábik

Balázs Jarábik Balázs Jarábik is a non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where his research focuses on Eastern and Central Europe with particular focus on Ukraine. Jarábik worked with Pact, Inc. in Kyiv, Ukraine to build its presence as one of the largest international nongovernmental organizations in Eastern Europe, and later served as project director for Pact in Vilnius, Lithuania. Prior to joining Carnegie, Mr. Jarábik was an associate fellow at FRIDE in Madrid and senior fellow at the Central European Policy Institute in Bratislava. He was a civic activist in Slovakia in the 1990s, and he later co-founded the Bratislava-based Pontis Foundation’s international development projects in the Balkans and the Commonwealth of Independent States. He also worked as a consultant for political parties and civil society organizations in the Balkans and CIS countries, as well as an adviser with wide range of international, governmental, and parliamentary institutions.

Andrei Yahorau

Andrei Yahorau Andrei Yahorau is the director of the Centre for European Transformation. He graduated from Belarusian State University, department of political science, and holds a master’s degree in political science. He has been working in the political research area since 2001. Andrei Yahorau is one of the founders of the only specialized political science journal in Belarus “Political sphere” and he is the journal’s deputy editor-in-chief. He was Belarus Country Facilitator and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the EaP Civil Society Forum (2014-2015).

Denis Cenușa

Denis Cenușa Denis Cenușa is a political scientist from Moldova, who works as an associated expert at the Independent Economic Think-tank “Expert-Group”, based in Chisinau. Also, Denis is a weekly contributor at the “Info-Prim” News Agency, where between 2015 and 2017 he published more than 100 analytical articles related to European integration and EU-Moldova dialogue. He is the author of many analysis and researches published in Moldova and abroad. His areas of research comprise the following fields: EU-Moldova dialogue, economy of European integration, EU-Russia relationship, EU’s European Neighborhood policy, and energy security. Currently, Denis works closely in projects related to implementation of the Association Agreement between Moldova and EU and energy security. Denis obtained a Master diploma in European Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of Europe Natolin. Finally, Denis took part in an Advanced Program on EU Law and Economics at Riga Graduate School of Law.

Richard Giragosian

Richard Giragosian Richard Giragosian is the Founding Director of the Regional Studies Center (RSC), an independent “think tank” located in Yerevan, Armenia (www.regional-studies.org) and serves as both a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe’s Natolin Campus and Senior Expert at Yerevan State University’s Centre for European Studies (CES). He is also a contributing analyst for al Jazeera and Oxford Analytica, a UK-based global analysis and advisory firm. From 2002-2006, Giragosian served as a guest lecturer for the U.S. Army Special Forces and, for nine years, as a Professional Staff Member of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) of the U.S. Congress. He has also worked as an analyst for Abt Associates Inc., a social science consulting firm, and was a research consultant for the New America Foundation and the Center for National Policy (CNP) in Washington.

Dovilė Šukytė

Dovilė Šukytė Dovilė Šukytė is a Policy Analyst at the Eastern Europe Studies Center in Vilnius. She also serves as a Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. Ms. Šukytė previously served as a Research Fellow for the New European Democracies Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Her research interests include democratization and reform in the Eastern Partnership countries, as well as Russian foreign policy, transatlantic relations and information warfare, among other issues.

Amb. Paata Gaprindashvili

Amb. Paata Gaprindashvili Amb. Paata Gaprindashvili holds the position of Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS)’s Director since June 2016. Before that Paata served as a Vice Director at GRASS and Editor-in-Chief of analytical-and-information service FactCheck Georgia. He received an MA in International Law from Tbilisi State University in 1994 with continued post-graduate level studies at the George C. Marshall European Centre for Security Studies in Germany (2000) and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK (2001). A career diplomat, Paata holds the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. In 2009-2013, he was Georgia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Austria as well as the Permanent Representative of Georgia to the OSCE and other International Organisations in Vienna. In 2004, he was the Deputy Minister of Defence.

Dr. Stanislav Secrieru

Dr. Stanislav Secrieru Dr. Stanislav Secrieru is Senior Associate Fellow at the EUISS. He was until recently a policy analyst at the Open Society European Policy Institute (Brussels). He was previously a Partnership for Peace research fellow at the NATO Defense College, a Study Program on European Security research fellow at the Institute for European Politics in Berlin, and a senior research fellow at the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM).

Paul Ivan

Paul Ivan Paul Ivan is a Senior Policy Analyst at EPC in the World and the European Politics and Institutions programmes. Before joining the EPC, Paul was a diplomat working on the South Caucasus countries in the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a researcher at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels and a researcher on EU external relations and security issues at the Romanian Center for European Policies (CRPE), where he remains an affiliated expert. Working for a time in the European External Action Service (EEAS), he was involved in EU’s Association Agreement negotiations with the South Caucasus countries and Moldova. Paul holds an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and bachelor’s degrees in international relations, European studies and history.

Dr. Kataryna Wolczuk

Dr. Kataryna Wolczuk Dr. Kataryna Wolczuk is Professor of East European Politics at the Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies (CREES), the University of Birmingham, UK. She holds an MA in Law from the University of Gdansk, Poland, an MSc and a PhD from the University of Birmingham. Her research focuses on politics in Central and Eastern Europe, EU's relations with the post-Soviet states as well as on Eurasian integration and its impact on EU’s eastern policy. Prof. Wolczuk is an Associate Fellow at Chatham House (Russia and Eurasian Programme), London.

Iskra Kirova

Iskra Kirova Iskra Kirova is a senior policy analyst at the Open Society European Policy Institute, responsible for EU policy advocacy and analysis on Eurasia. She supports the Open Society Foundations in advancing human rights and the rule of law through EU policies, legislation, and political influence. Previously, Kirova worked for the International Crisis Group as EU advocacy and research analyst, conducting and helping to develop Crisis Group’s advocacy on conflict prevention and resolution in Brussels and other European capitals. She has served as research associate and later a fellow at the USC Center on Public Diplomacy in Los Angeles, publishing on EU affairs, media, civil society, and conflict resolution. She has also worked for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for External Relations on European Neighborhood Policy, and as a research assistant at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Kirova graduated from the University of Southern California with a master’s degree in public diplomacy and holds another master’s in international relations from Sofia University in Bulgaria.

Adrian Lupușor

Adrian Lupușor Adrian Lupușor is the Executive Director of Expert-Grup - an independent think-tank specialized in economic policies, consultancy and research. Adrian has a Master degree in Economics and Finance received from the Charles University in Prague and a Master degree in Financial and Banking Administration from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova. During his 8+ years of activity within Expert-Grup, Adrian has been involved, as an expert and/or team leader in a number of projects related to monitoring economic trends of Moldova (including the Transnistrian region), monitoring the implementation of Government's commitments within the European agenda, developing three National Human Development Reports for UNDP, consulting the public authorities on strategic policies and development of strategic documents for the Government (e.g. Investment Attraction and Export Promotion Strategy 2016-2020), monitoring the implemrntation of Millennium Development Goals, "nationalization" of Sustainable Development Goals, consulting public authorities and international organizations on a number of policy issues related to economic development, financial/banking sector, trade policies etc. Currently, Adrian is the manager of the Project Management Unit of the Managed Good Governance Fund - a five-year UK technical assistance project funded by DFID that provides expert advise and support to public institutions in strengthening the governance and regulatory framework.

Ivane Chkhikvadze

Ivane Chkhikvadze Ivane Chkhikvadze works as a EU Integration Program Manager at Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF). He focuses on EU-Georgian relations and runs the projects promoting Georgia’s integration into the European structures. He was country analyst of European Stability Initiative for up to two years. Before, he worked for the Eurasia Partnership Foundation and prior to joining the Foundation, he worked at the Office of the State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Georgia, where he assisted in monitoring and evaluating implementation of EU programs in the field of economic integration, public awareness, capacity building, education and trafficking. Ivane also supervised the implementation of EU projects related to regional cooperation. Ivane Chkhikvadze holds Master's Degree from the College of Europe in European Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, as well as from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs, in Policy Analysis.

Ulad Vialichka

Ulad Vialichka Ulad Vialichka graduated from Belarusian State Pedagogic University and Post-graduate Course at National Institute of Education. Ulad Vialichka is working in CSO sector in Belarus since 1994 and is known as experienced NGO leader, manager, trainer, facilitator, evaluator and consultant. His main areas of activities are: civil society development, civic and adult education, advocacy, organizational development and capacity building of NGOs, project and program monitoring and evaluation, development cooperation and partnership, EU-Belarus relations. In 2009 Ulad Vialichka was elected as the Chairperson of International Consortium EUROBELARUS – organization aimed at promotion of active citizenship and development of public participation in different policy fields and Belarus-EU relations. Since 2014 he is Director General of EUROBELARUS. Ulad is one of the leaders of Belarusian National Platform of the EaP Civil Society Forum. In 2009-2011 as well as since 2015 he was elected to the EaP CSF Steering Committee – as a national coordinator on Belarus and later as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee.

Boris Navasardian

Boris Navasardian Boris Navasardian is the President of Yerevan Press Club since 1995, the first journalistic association established in post-Soviet Armenia. Making an impressive career as columnist, chief-editor, host of TV shows, lecturer in journalistic schools, he in the same time is active participant of civil society development, regional cooperation and Europeanization. In 2002-2006 Mr. Navasardian acted as Board chair of the Open Society Institute Armenia, in 2005-2007 he was member of Council of Europe’s expert group on “Freedom of expression and freedom of information in times of crisis. Since 2009 Boris Navasardian is actively engaged in the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in the capacity of country facilitator for Armenia.

Ziya Guliyev

Ziya Guliyev Ziya Guliyev is a graduate of the University of Essex in the United Kingdom. From 2006 to 2014, Ziya worked for different NGOs, such as Social Strategic Research Center (2006-2008), Law and Development Center (2008-2010), Democracy Study Public Union (2010-2012), Public Association for Assistance to Free Economy (2012-2014), and legal researcher at Human Rights Watch (2015-2016). In 2009, he established the Center For Legal Initiatives, which mainly deals with protection of civil and political rights, human rights education and conducting research and advocacy work before the United Nations Treaty Monitoring Bodies. Since May 2016, he is a founder of the Baku Academy of Human Rights Law, the first human rights education platform in Azerbaijan. He is alumnus of the Baku School fo Political Studies (2012) and Visegrad School of Political Studies (2015). Currently, he is a member of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and voting member of the CIVICUS Alliance.

Amb. Andrei Popov

Amb. Andrei Popov Amb. Andrei Popov is a Moldovan career diplomat, political analyst and journalist, President of the Moldovan Institute for Strategic Initiatives (IPIS) and Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Policy Association of Moldova (APE). He is the author of the weekly TV programme "Popular Diplomacy” and co-host of the weekly political talk-show „Botan+Popov”, both on independent TV8 channel. He is the former Member of the Parliament (2009), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (2009-2013) and Ambassador of Moldova to Austria, Slovakia, OSCE and International organisations in Vienna (2013-2016). In the later capacity, in April-August 2014, he served as the Chairperson of the OSCE´s Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC). In 2016, in the middle of his ambassadorial mandate, he resigned from the diplomatic service in sign of disagreement with the policies of the ruling Democratic Party’s leadership.

Leonid Litra

Leonid Litra Leonid Litra is a Senior Research Fellow at the New Europe Center, previously served as Deputy Director at the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” in Chisinau (Moldova) where he is now an Associate Fellow. Leonid has co-authored many publications on democratization of the post-Soviet area, European integration and frozen conflicts. He was at the basis of “European Integration Index for Eastern Partnership Countries” and a regular contributor to the Nations in Transit Report on Moldova of the Freedom House and to the Bertelsmann Transformation Index. Leonid was a Carnegie Research Fellow at Yale University and holds a master degree from the European Institute of High International Studies in Nice in International Relations and European Studies.

Irakli Porchkhidze

Irakli Porchkhidze Irakli Porchkhidze is the Co-founder and Vice-president of the Georgian Institute for Strategic Studies (GISS) since 2012. He concurrently holds the position of Dean of the Law School of Ilia State University. From 2010 until October 2012 Irakli has been the First Deputy State Minister for Reintegration. In 2008-2010 he served as the Deputy National Security Advisor to the President of Georgia and Deputy Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia. In 2004-2006 he launched and headed the Civil Registry Agency. The reform of the agency became the flagship case of Georgia’s institutional transformation. Irakli holds master’s degree in International Affairs and Political Science from the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia University and Central European University. He is also a fellow of the Draper Hills Program of the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford University.

Iulian Groza

Iulian Groza Iulian Groza is a career diplomat and an expert in foreign policy, European affairs and good governance. He is a former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova (June 2013 to March 2015). Before that he served in different capacities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, including as Director General at the Directorate for European integration. He was posted as well to Brussels at the Moldovan Mission to the EU. Currently he leads the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE) and is a Board member of the Institute for Strategic Initiatives (IPIS). Mr. Groza is a PhD candidate at the Moldovan State University and holds a BA degree in international law. He also did postgraduate European Studies at Birmingham University and Security Studies at SNSPA in Bucharest. Iulian is an FCO Chevening Scholar. Mr. Groza holds diplomatic rank of Minister-Counsellor.

Dr. Igor Munteanu

Dr. Igor Munteanu Dr. Igor Munteanu is acting today as Managing Director of IDIS Viitorul Administrative Board. The Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) is one of the oldest research and advocacy think tanks in Moldova. Dr. Munteanu is also teaching a Public Policy Course and Political-Administrative Institutions in Europe at ASEM (Academy of Economic Studies in Moldova). Previously, Dr. Munteanu served as E.P. Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the United States of America (September 2010 – June 2015), Canada (February 2011 – March 2013) and Mexico (2010 – 2015). He served in the International Board of PASOS (Policy Association Network) between 2008-2010. He served as Independent Expert to the Institutional Committee of the Council of Europe (2001-2008), implementing country-assessment assignments in the areas of self-governance and resilience of democratic institutions at the regional level. In 2007, Munteanu served as a member of the International Board for the BSTF (Black Sea Trust Fund) and also a Member of the External evaluation committee of the Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD). He also served as Political Advisor to the first President of Moldova (Mircea Snegur) during 1992-1994.

Zaur Shiriyev

Zaur Shiriyev Zaur Shiriyev is an Azerbaijani academic in the field of international affairs. He is an Academy Associate at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House, London), position he has held since 2015. Since March 2017, he has worked at the PeaCE Project, serving as coordinator for CRRC Georgia/EPF Azerbaijan, dealing with Track 2 processes on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Before that he worked as a senior research fellow at ADA University, Baku (May 2014 - March 2017). Prior to joining ADA he worked as a leading research fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies (2009-14), the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies, Istanbul and the International Strategic Research Organization, Ankara (2006-2008). He is currently a contributing analyst for the EurasiaNet, CACI Analyst, Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor and has previous editorial and journalistic experience in Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Speakers

Participants