Between Russia and the West : The Challenge of Georgia

L’association culturelle anglophone, Wice, organise le jeudi 25 février 2010, à L’American Library, une conférence sur l’avenir de la Géorgie après le conflit qui l’a opposé à la Russie en août 2009. La Présidente du Cercle des Européens, Noëlle Lenoir participera à ce débat aux côtés de son Excellence Mamuka Kudava, Ambassadeur de Géorgie en France et de Natalia Narotchnitskaïa, Presidente de l’Institut pour la démocratie et de la coopération et ancienne membre de la Douma.

In August 2008, Georgia launched a large-scale military attack against Moscow-backed South Ossetia in an attempt to regain control of the territory following a series of clashes. Russian forces quickly repelled the assault, and pushed further into Georgia. Shortly after an EU-brokered ceasefire agreement ended the war, the Kremlin recognised South Ossetia and Georgia’s other separatist region of Abkhazia as independent states.

The conflict between Russia and Georgia raises questions of Russia’s strategy and position towards the West and its “near abroad”, the interdependence of the European Union and Russia and the challenges and opportunities Georgia presents for both the West and Russia. Join our expert panel for a fascinating analysis.

Speakers :

His Excellency Mamuka Kudava, Georgia’s ambassador to France

Natalia Narotchnitskaïa, president of the Institute of Democracy and Cooperation and former member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation

Noëlle Lenoir, president of the Cercle des Européens and former minister-delegate for European Affairs of France

Moderator :

Florence Mardirossian, geopolitics expert and observer at the Russo-Georgian border in 2004 for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Thursday 25 February, 19h30

The American Library in Paris
10 rue du Général Camou, Paris 75007
Metro : École Militaire or Alma-Marceau
 

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