The 2nd Skopje Debate on Europe 17–19 November 2023
Thematic outline
As war again haunts the European continent, the political project Europe must be thought anew. Instead of ever closer integration of a few core European countries, further EU enlargement is now back on the agenda – not only as an economic and social objective, but as a security measure, so as to achieve long-term stability in an increasingly volatile geopolitical situation. The western Balkans are in focus again, together with Ukraine and Moldova. This is unquestionably shifting the centre of gravity to the east, not only geographically but also when it comes to whose perspective is relevant and whose is not.
But where does Southeast Europe stand today? What is its place in the new geopolitical constellation? Are its conflicts really a thing of the past? And how do different countries in the region approach the challenge of creating inclusive and sustainable societies, where minorities’ rights are the responsibility of the majority?
Following up on the Sofia Debate on Europe held in February and on the Belgrade Talks on War and Peace this autumn, leading experts, writers and opinion-makers will meet in Skopje to address some of the most pressing issues on the agenda of the region and their relevance for Europe’s future. These questions are acute and urgent, highly political to their nature. But they are also the products of and have consequences for much more fundamental and long-term social and historical developments.
The program includes public panel discussions and literary readings as well as internal sessions. Join us to explore new ways of how the countries in Southeast Europe see themselves and each other – and how the region can play a constructive role in a common European future!
The 2nd Skopje Debate on Europe is organized by Debates on Europe and Kontrapunkt. It is supported by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.
Debates on Europe is a joint initiative of the S. Fischer Stiftung and the Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung. Since its inception in 2012, the series Debates on Europe has been hosted in places where the idea of Europe is at stake. In international discussion forums organized in cooperation with local actors – mainly in East and Southeast Europe – it addresses the most pressing issues on the European agenda.
Programme
Friday 17 November
18:30 | Kosovo Between Geopolitical Token and Conflictual Reality
Panel discussion
Venue: Čifte Hammam, National Gallery of Macedonia
Kosovo is not only a country in Southeast Europe, diplomatically recognized by mostEU members and currently receiving international attention due to the threat of itsconflict with Serbia escalating. ‘Kosovo’ has also been turned into a symbolic tokenused in a geopolitical game. The rule-based world order is constantly put intoquestion, not only by Russia and Serbia but also a whole range of European and globalpoliticians and opinion-makers. “All rules are off,” they say. “Look at what happened inKosovo.” What is at the core of this argument? And how harmful is the gap betweenthe symbol ‘Kosovo’ and the real problems that need to be addressed – in Kosovo, inthe region, in Europe
Speakers: Sonja Biserko (Serbia), Veton Surroi (Kosovo) and Sergei Lebedev (Russia; inexile)
Moderator: Steinar Bryn (Norway)
Saturday 18 November
16:00 | Might and Rights. The Role of Minorities and Majorities in Southeast Europe
Panel discussion
Venue: Čifte Hammam, National Gallery of Macedonia
The relation between minorities and majorities is key to many of the conflicts in
Southeast Europe and the instrumentalization and ‘weaponization’ of minority groups by both domestic and foreign politicians remain a threat to stability. At the same time, the power of the majority – might – comes with great responsibility and the rights of minorities must be safe-guarded. How can a more constructive relationship between majorities and minorities be thought? What are the pillars of an inclusive society? These questions go well beyond ethnic, linguistic or religious groups and concern LGBTQ and women’s rights as well.
Speakers: Robert Alagjozovski (North Macedonia), Linda Gusia (Kosovo),
Gorana Pebić (Serbia) and Manol Peykov (Bulgaria)
Moderator: Kristof Bender (Austria)
18:30 | Literature in Times of Conflict
Discussion and reading
Venue: Čifte Hammam, National Gallery of Macedonia
What is the place of literature in a world torn apart by war, social conflict and political turmoil? How free can literature be in an increasingly unfree world? And what do art and literature actually do with their freedom?
Speakers: Elife Krasniqi (Kosovo), Arian Leka (Albania), Nikola Madžirov (North Macedonia), Sergei Lebedev (Russia; in exile)
Moderator: Vladimir Jankovski (North Macedonia)
Споделено на: November 17, 2023 во 8:43 pm