Details

Die Konferenz findet in Zusammenarbeit mit YEPP (Youth of the European People's Party), der Eduardo Frei Foundation und den Jungen Christdemokraten in Litauen (Jaunieji Krikscionys Demokratai) statt.

Parliamentary Elections 2008 in Belarus – A Democratic

Choice?

Thursday, September 4, 2008

until 19.30Arrival and registration of the participants at the hotel ARTIS

(Hotel ARTIS, Liejyklos St 11/23, 01120 Vilnius, Lithuania, ph.: +370 5 2660366, fax: +370 5 2660377, e-mail: artis@centrumhotels.com)

20.00 – 22.00 Welcome dinner (TBD)

Welcoming speeches by:

•Mr. Stephan MALERIUS, Head of Belarus office of Konrad Adenauer Foundation

•Dr. Jan van LAARHOVEN, President of Eduardo Frei Foundation

•Ms. Inga AUGŪNIENĖ, Chairperson, JKD

•Mr. Yannis SMYRLIS, President, YEPP

Friday, September 5, 2008

07.30 – 09.00Breakfast at the hotel

09.00 – 09:30Walk to the Parliament of Lithuania

Venue - Constitutional Hall of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania

09.30 – 10.00Address of H.E. Valdas ADAMKUS, President of the Republic of Lithuania (TBC)

“Lithuania’s Role in Establishing Good Neighbourhood Relations in the Region”

10.00 – 11.00 PANEL I. Part 1

"European values and economic pragmatism – the case of Belarus”

Mr. Vytautas LANDSBERGIS (MEP), Former Head of the State, Republic of Lithuania (Confirmed)

Mr. Gérard ARAUD, Deputy Secretary-General, Political and Security Director-General, French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (TBC)

Ms. Helga Maria SCHMID, Director of Policy Unit of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (TBC)

11:15 - 11:45 Coffee Break

11:45 - 13:00 PANEL I. Part 2

"Will the new EU ‘Eastern Partnership’ concept make a difference?

Mr. Žygimantas POVILIONIS, Undersecretary of the Ministry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania (Confirmed)

Mr. Björn LYRVALL, Director-General for Political Affairs, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (TBC)

Mr. Jacek PROTASIEWICZ (MEP), Chairman of the Delegation for Relations with Belarus, European Parliament (Confirmed)

13.00 – 14.30 Lunch in the restaurant of the Parliament (Hosted by the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, speaker - TBD)

14.30 – 16.00 PANEL II

"Election and election observation – what can Europe (the West) do to foster democratisation processes?”

H.E. Ambassador Hans-Jochen SCHMIDT, Head, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office in Minsk (Confirmed)

Mr. Jonathan MOORE, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the United States of America to Belarus (Confirmed)

Mr. Jean-Eric HOLZAPFEL, Head, European Commission delegation in the Republic of Belarus (Confirmed)

Mr. Martin POVEJŠIL, Political Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (TBC)

16.00 – 16:30Coffee Break

16.30 – 18.00PANEL III

“A democratic choice for Belarus – the strategy of the opposition”

Round Table of the leaders of Belarusian democratic opposition with participation of:

Mr. Aleksandr MILINKEVICH, former candidate to the position of President from the united opposition for the elections of the president of the Republic of Belarus 2006 (Confirmed);

Mr. Anatoly LEBEDKO, Chairman of United Civil Party (Confirmed);

Mr. Leonid BARSHCHEVSKYI, Chairman of Belarusian Popular Front Board (Confirmed);

Mr. Pavel SEVERYNETS, Political Prisoner, leader of Belarusian Christian Democratic Party (Confirmed).

20.30 – 22.30Dinner at the restaurant hosted by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

Speaker - Mr. Andrius KUBILIUS, Chairman of Committee on European Affairs, Leader of Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats political party

Saturday, September 6, 2008

07.30 – 09.00Breakfast at the hotel

(Venue - Hotel ARTIS (AIDA I and AIDA II Halls)

09.30 – 10.45Permanent Working groups:

1) Intergenerational Justice

2) European Affairs

11.00 – 11.30Coffee Break

11.30 – 13.00Working groups:

1) Working paper

2) Resolutions

13.00 – 14.30Lunch at the hotel

15.00 – 17.00Council Meeting (part I)

17.00 – 17.15Coffee Break

17.15 – 19.00Council Meeting (part II)

20.00 – 22.00Dinner at the Restaurant Hosted by International Republican Institute (TBC)

Sunday, September 7, 2008

08.00 – 10.00Breakfast at the hotel

Departure of the participants