The new Russian-American START Treaty on nuclear disarmament came into force in February this year and the countries are cooperating on several other issues as well. The implications for Europe will be discussed at the GLOBSEC Bratislava Global Security Forum, which starts tomorrow.

It has been two years since the new head of American diplomacy Hillary Clinton, together with her Russian colleague Sergej Lavrov, pressed the RESET button. By the end of last year, improved relations expanded to NATO which passed the new Strategic Concept at the Lisbon Summit.

As a strategic and trusted partner, collaboration in the creation of an area of peace, stability and security, Russia should also be a part of the new anti-missile shield. However, the details are not yet agreed upon and the Russian proposal of splitting the shield into west and east parts creates resentment across Europe.

Where is the Russian-American relationship heading and what does it mean for Europe? Stephen Flanagan from CSIS, Alexander Nikitin from the elite Russian Diplomatic School MGIMO, Special Advisor at the US Department of State for Russia Jeremy Shapiro, top EU diplomat and former Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs Miroslav Lajčák and renowned Australian analyst Bobo Lo will be discussing the topic at the GLOBSEC Bratislava Global Security Forum.

The exclusive premises of the Kempinski Hotel River Park Bratislava – the GLOBSEC Forum venue – will host hundreds of political, think-tank, journalism and corporate leaders from all over Europe and overseas, starting tomorrow through Friday.
The security forum in the capital of Slovakia is the most important event of its kind in Central Europe and it significantly influences the development of transatlantic strategic discussion.

The upcoming edition refers to and supports the ongoing Slovak Presidency of the Visegrad Group. Two of its member countries – Hungary and later Poland will lead the EU in 2011, which has become an incentive to strengthen the common voice of Central Europe in the EU structures. Therefore it is expected that ministers of foreign affairs of the Visegrad countries, who will come to Bratislava to discuss mainly the European policy of East Partnership, will speak at the GLOBSEC forum.

The event will be organized by the Slovak Atlantic Commission in cooperation with the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, the NATO Public Diplomacy division and the International Visegrad Fund. GLOBSEC 2011 is taking place under the auspices of Mikuláš Dzurinda, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic. Please, find the official program and other information on the conference web site at www.globsec.org.

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Michal Číž

Slovak Atlantic Commisson