October 20th-21st, 2023
8th ZAGREB SECURITY FORUM 2023
Transatlantic Cooperation and New Security Architecture - Security Challenges in Existing and Emerging Conflicts
Organized by Hybrid Warfare Research Institute & St. George Association
Day 0: Thursday, October 19th, 2023
20:00 Dinner for Speakers, Panel Chairs, and Guests of Honor (Invitation only)
Day 1: Friday, October 20th, 2023
08:30 – 09:30 Arrival and Registration
09:30 - 09:40 Opening Ceremony
Assist.Prof. Gordan Akrap, Hybrid Warfare Research Institute, Zagreb
Prof.Dr. Shlomo Shpiro, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan
09:40- 10.40 Keynote Speakers
Transatlantic Cooperation and new Security Architecture
10:40-11:10 Coffee Break
11:15-13:00 Panel I
Threats to NATO – from Cold war to Russian aggression in 2022 – Lessons Identified – Lessons Learned - joint Lithuanian-Ukrainian panel
Chair: Prof.Dr.Shlomo Shpiro, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
Colonel Viacheslav Semenenko, PhD, the Deputy Head of the Center for Military Strategic Studies, National Defence University of Ukraine: Developing Ukrainian resiliency against Russian aggression as a Comprehensive mode of actions
Assoc. Prof. dr. Gintaras Labutis, Military academy of Lithuania: European Green Deal for security and defence in the light of present war in Ukraina?
Dr. Arturas Jasinkas, Military academy of Lithuania: The role of Strategic Communication and Crisis Management in countering Hybrid Threats through the study and analysis of practical case studies of Lithuania
NN, National Defence University of Ukraine: Analysis of hybrid Russian aggressions against Ukraine since the fall of Soviet Union
Marzena Żakowska, PhD, War Studies University in Warsaw, and Witold Ostant, PhD, War Studies University in Warsaw: War in Ukraine - is Peace Possible?
13:10-14:10 Lunch (one non-alcoholic beverage included)
14:10-16:00 Panel II
Hybrid Threats and Resiliency of Society
Chair: Prof.Dr. Iztok Podbregar, University of Maribor, Slovenia
Dr. Vira Ratsiborynska, Adjunct professor on NATO and transatlantic approaches to security, Free University of Brussels (VUB): Strategic security environment and NATO’s perspectives in developing effective Strategic Communications from 2014 till now (2014-2022)
Dr. Anders Strindberg, Swedish Defence Research Agency-FOI, Sweden: “Democratic Security”: values and principles as critical assets
Prof.Dr. Gilliam de Valk, University of Leiden: Four types of warning in CIP
Dr. Eleni Kapsokoli, University of Piraeus, Greece: Securing the digital electoral processes in the EU, Digital Jihad model: the case of ISIS
Dr. Andrew Liaropoulos, University of Piraeus, Greece: Emerging Disruptive Technologies and EU Cybersecurity
16:30-18:10 Panel III
Foreign Fighters as a Russian Tool of Influence
Chair: Prof.Dr. John M. Nomikos, RIEAS, Greece
Prof. Dr. Shlomo Shpiro, Bar Ilan University, Israel: Iran and Russia against Ukraine
Prof.Dr. Darko Trifunović, University of Belgrade, Serbia: Chechens and Night Wolves in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina – vectors of Russian influence
Dr. Barak Bouks, Bar Ilan University, Israel: Foreign fighters from middle east countries in support of Russain agression
Ljubomir Filipović, PhD candidate: Russian vectors of influence against Montenegro – activities and consequences – Lessons Identified – Lessons Learned
Assoc. Prof. Dražen Barbarić, University Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Russian influence operations and Bosnia and Herzegovina
20:15 -
Networking dinner for all Forum participants, (two non-alcoholic beverages included)
Day 2: Saturday, October 21st, 2023
Introduction to second day of 8th Zagreb Security Forum
10.00-10.10
Mr. Holger Haibach, Head of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Office in Zagreb and Ljubljana
10.10-11.50 Panel IV
Russian intelligence – important vector of Russian hybrid attacks – Lessons Identified and Lessons Learned
Chair: Assist. Prof. Gordan Akrap, University North, Croatia
Przemyslaw Gasztold, IPN and War Studies University, Warsaw, Poland: „Modus operandi of Russian intelligence services: from the Cold War to War in Ukraine”
Dr. Yaacov Falkov, University of Tel Aviv, Israel: Russian (counter)intelligence activities in Middle East
Ante Letica, HWRI, Zagreb, Croatia: Russian (counter)intelligence activities in South East Europe
Thomas Wegener Friis, University Southern Denmark: Europe and Russian Foreign Intelligence in times of War
Wladyslaw Bulhak, IPN, Poland: „An illegal method in Soviet-type intelligence work. The case of the intelligence of communist Poland”
11:50-12:15 Coffee Break
12.15-14.00 Panel V
Young Researchers Forum and Hybrid Threats Resiliency
Chair: Yvan de Mesmaeker, ECSA, Belgium
Ivar Ekman, PhD candidate and Prof.Dr. Per-Erik Nilsson, FOI, Sweden: Kerch Bridge on Fire - St. Javelin, NATO, and the privatization of Ukrainian info warfare
Denise Wornig, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences: Strategic Foresight Training: A step by step process to use strategic foresight and learn how to think about the future through a structured approach
Celien De Stercke, PhD candidate and Prof.Dr. Jelle Janssens, University of Gent, Belgium: The weaponization of organized crime in the context of hybrid warfare: challenges for the Belgian security architecture
Margareta Gregić, PhD candidate, Jelena Božić, PhD candidate, Marija Jakovljević, PhD candiate, University North, Croatia: Crisis management through verbal and non-verbal communication – case of Croatia
Tomislav Vazdar, PhD candidate, University of Zagreb: Uncovering the Strategic Culture of Hybrid Threats: How to adapt and Defend in Modern Age?
12.15-14.00 Forum Conclusions
Future Challenges, Joint Responses
Co-chairs: Assist.Prof. Gordan Akrap, Prof. Dr. Shlomo Shpiro
The aim of this session is to integrate the lessons learned from the individual presentations of the previous two days, both in terms of threat analysis and of networked responses. Furthermore, this session will facilitate a wider discussion on the needs for joint capacity building, intensive inter-operability, and mutual multi-level crisis assistance.
14:15-15:45 Lunch (one non-alcoholic beverage included)
Important information:
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- Forum is organised according to pandemic situation in a hybrid way – “in situ” and online
- Every activity (conference halls, restaurants, coffee breaks, rooms) are going to be organised in a Hotel due to the disease prevention.
- Forum organisers are reserving the right to change the Program according to the necessities.