Against the backdrop of our policy to shift event formats to closed confidential meetings, which is tantamount to a new ICEUR profile, we have deliberately refrained from conducting zoom conferences and similar virtual events.
Nevertheless, our activities have increased in both quantitative and qualitative terms, in that we have zoomed in on a series policy-relevant and topical themes.
Through recombinant analysis and live consultations we have become involved in the following hot spots:
- Belarus: We work with various representatives of civil society (Coordination Council, National Anti-Crisis Management) and other interested sides, provide liaison with European institutions, and elaborate of joint documents
- Karabakh/Artsakh conflict: We conduct separate consultations with both sides starting with virtual interviews, with the potential to translate into a full-fledged dialogue on NGO level. Three high-ranking Armenian politicians will be in Vienna soon in order to hold confidential talks with various interlocutors.
- Donbas: Continuing previous meetings, a conference under Chatham House rules is in our pipeline. Participants from Russia, Ukraine and the so-called People´s Republics have been contacted. This is a track-2 initiative complementing the Normandy Format
- Responding to informations from Moldova and Russia to the effect that the Transnistrian issue is again on the agenda, we have initiated consultations with interlocutors from Moldova and have asked our analytical staff to closely monitor the situation. Their reports were and will be communicated to interested clients
- We have been asked by the Austrian FM to continue our successful Tbilisi seminars that assemble participants from Georgia proper, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Because of the severe travel restrictions and the military conflict the 2021 seminar will adopt a different format, which addresses only Georgian citizens, albeit from different ethnicities. The formal academic program will deal with proposal writing for EU projects, which will translate to the discussion of a possible project concerning the situation and addressing the grievances of national minorities in Georgia.
Our business activities have been affected by the pandemic, but will be resumed in due time and in full force depending on the softening of travel restrictions. In particular, this concerns our ongoing projects in Central Asia (water management) and the facilitation of e- mobility for our Ukrainian partner company.
It is understood that despite ICEUR´s new profile a certain degree of visibility should be part of the game. This is a part of our mission and is suggested by many of our members. The ICEUR tradition of larger and smaller events will be continued as soon as COVID restrictions permit. Incidentally, our new web site will be online soon.