LONDON DIPLOMATIC SUMMIT

It is time to take a critical look at the current regional orders, and ask difficult questions about their relevance, efficiency and effectiveness in dealing with the challenges of the 21st century. Systemic challenges such as terrorism, conflict and instability, nuclear non-proliferation, and economic inequality, among others, undoubtedly require a collective strategy.

Yet, as the Brexit vote and the state of the European Union demonstrate, we need to re-assess regional orders and to explore the best ways to make them more flexible, to improve governance, and to meet the different aspirations of member states and their citizens, while ensuring a continued commitment to deeper regional co-operation.

In December 2017, London will host an unprecedented diplomatic summit that will bring a fresh perspective to regional challenges and to international affairs. The summit will be guided by the principles of smart diplomacy, bringing together a diverse community of stakeholders, who will apply innovative approaches to finding practical solutions with a measurable impact.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

• H.E Dr Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq
• Major General Massod Azizi, Deputy Minister of Interior, Afghanistan
• H.E. Luis Almagro, Secretary General, Organisation of American States
• H.E. Dr.  Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union
• Johan Obdola, President, International Organization for Security and Intelligence – IOSI
• H.E Enrique Austria Manalo, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Philippines, the Chairman of ASEAN 2017
• H.E Mrs. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana
• H.E. Ahmed Omar Maiteeq, Vice President of the Presidential Council of Libya
• Rainatou Sow, Founder & Executive Director of Make Every Woman Count (MEWC)
• Chief Roxanne Lindley, Chief for Westbank First Nation, Canada
• H.E Bineta Diop, Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, African Union

PROGRAMME

5TH DECEMBER

09:15- 10:00 Keynote Speech: Middle East and North Africa
• Unwinnable wars – Ending the cycle of instability
H.E Dr Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq
H.E. Eng. Abdulsalam Saad Kajman, Vice President of the Presidential Council, Government of National Accord

10:00 – 11:00 Round Table 1: Political violence and socioeconomic development in the region
• Addressing the Sunni-Shia split and the refugee crisis
• Promoting Smart diplomacy (civil society, technology and role of women)
• Re-positioning the social and economic development debate 7 years after the Arab Spring
• Rethinking existing regional cooperation frameworks

11:00- 11:15 Refreshment Break

11:15- 12:00 Keynote Speech: Africa
• The 3 E’s: Employment, Education and Economic Development
H.E. Dr. Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union
H.E Bineta Diop, Special Envoy on Women , Peace and Security , African Union
H.E Mrs. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana (TBC)

12:00- 13:00 Round Table 2: Security and Economic Development in the African Continent
• Evaluating the prospects of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) 2016-2020 roadmap
• Delivering growth in an environment of lower commodity prices
• Lessons from the Euro for the African Economic Union and Single Currency
• Providing technological solutions to enhance good governance and regional economic cooperation in areas such as energy, climate change, transport and telecommunications

13: 00- 14:00: Lunch

14:15 – 15:00 Keynote Address: Asia-Pacific
• Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship
• Building a regional economic and social identity
H.E Enrique Austria Manalo, Undersecretary of State of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Chairman of ASEAN 2017
Major General Massod Azizi, Deputy Minister of Interior, Afghanistan

15:00- 16:00 Round Table 3: Management of South and East China Sea and North Korea Nuclear Programme
• Leveraging ASEAN to address tensions in the South China Sea
• Diplomacy in the Nuclear Programme of North Korea
• Security Cooperation with Countries in the Region and Impact of Stability In Afghanistan on The region

16:00 – 16:15 Refreshment Break

16:15- 17:00 Plenary Session: Americas
• Re-invigorating Democracy
• Listening to indigenous voices – the way forward for the Organisation of American States’ 2016 Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People
H.E. Luis Almagro, Secretary-General, Organisation of American States
Chief Roxanne Lindley, Chief for Westbank First Nation, Canada
Johan Obdola, President, International Organization for Security and Intelligence – IOSI

17:00 – 18:00 Round Table 4: The future of partnerships in the Americas
• Developing a regional approach to the war on drugs
• Maintaining equitable regional trade in an era of growing US insularity
• Transcending the nation-state? Implications of Bitcoin and Blockchain

17: 00- 18:00: Reception

6TH DECEMBER

09:15- 10:00: Keynote Speech: Europe
• Brexit and the future of the European Union

10:00- 11:00 Round Table 5: Challenges that could cause cracks in the Union
• Preventing instability and conflict in the Black Sea Region and engaging with Russia
• Making Brexit a win-win situation
• Reforming the European Union and Re-invigorating Euro-Atlantic strategic cooperation
• Counteracting resurgent nationalism, xenophobia and social divisions
• Enhancing Pan-European Cybersecurity

11:00 – 11:15 Refreshment Break

11:15- 12:00 Presentation from the Expert Panel: Summary of findings

12:00 -13:00 Lunch and Departure

ATTENDING THE SUMMIT:

INVITATION

50% of delegates places for the London Diplomatic Summit are by-Invitation only to ensure regional representation and presence of different stakeholders. For the remaining places, they are open on the first come first serve basis.

TO REGISTER

Delegates can either register online via this link or contact us on the details below :

• Tel: (44) 208 8533293
• Email: events@gdforum.org