Bildt: Libya not “center of gravity” in MENA

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BRUSSELS (March 27, 2011) – On the final day of Brussels Forum, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt warned that despite the current conflict and coalition involvement, Libya is not the “center of gravity” in the region. Pointing to Syria, Bahrain, and Algeria, Bildt said, “Those are the true challenges that we might be facing.”

Appearing with Bildt on a panel examining the future of European involvement in Libya, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, member of the European Parliament and president of the European Liberal Forum, added that no one should “count on the EU as such to respond” to any future conflicts given the different European reactions to the conflict in Libya.

Lambsdorff pointed out that the UN Security Council resolution authorizes not only a no-fly zone, but “also a no-drive zone. I think that could include ground forces,” he said. “But there is no willingness to deploy ground troops.”

Brussels Forum is an annual high-level conference organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States and its partners. With participants from 50 countries, the event focuses on transatlantic relations and brings together heads of state from around the world, including senior officials from EU institutions and member states, U.S. officials, Congressional representatives, and academics.

In a later panel, on the future of the Balkans, Serbian President Boris Tadić and Montenegran Prime Minister Igor Lukšić both said they see their countries in the European Union in the future.

Tadić called for cooperation between the Balkan states, saying that reconciliation is “a key factor of our policy.”

“We can’t bring in more conflicts to the European Union,” Tadić said. “They have already had their own conflicts.”

Stefano Sannino, deputy director general for enlargement with the European Commission, spoke passionately about the EU’s desire for the Balkans to become a part of the European community. “We want you,” he said. “We want all the countries of the Balkans to be part of the European Union.”

Sannino dismissed the rumors that the EU is fatigued by the slow progress of the Balkans. He noted the recent good news emanating from the region and said that even though the international agenda is full of competing priorities, “We have not forgotten.”

Lukšić also pointed out that other actors -- such as Turkey -- have assisted in improving the region’s chances of becoming a part of the EU.

“We have lost two decades; we have to run to catch-up,” Lukšić said. “The involvement of as many key actors as possible would only help.”

Also Sunday, Egeman Bağiş, Turkey’s chief negotiator to the European Union, joined a panel on Turkey’s EU accession, its role in its neighborhood, and its “zero problems with neighbors” foreign policy stance. “Turkey is not turning from the West to the East,” he emphasized. Referring to negotiations on EU accession, he said, “Turkey is willing to move ahead, but we have to see light at the end of the tunnel.”

Ruprecht Polenz, chairman of the Bundestag’s foreign affairs committee, said that, despite setbacks in talks with Turkey, “it is important to not use shortcomings as an excuse to stop the process.”

The conference closed with Belgian Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere awarding the Brussels Forum Young Writers Award to Pierce O’Reilly and David Post for their essay on the future of the transatlantic relationship, “New Institutions for a New World: The Transatlantic Alliance and the Future of the Global Economic Order.” The Young Writers Award, which is new this year, is an opportunity to showcase innovative thinking on issues that shape tomorrow’s transatlantic relationship and how the next generation of leaders can address 21st century challenges.

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Brussels Forum is an annual high-level meeting of the most influential North American and European political, corporate, and intellectual leaders to address pressing challenges facing both sides of the Atlantic. Participants come from 50 countries, and include heads of state, senior officials from the European Union institutions and the member states, U.S. officials, Congressional representatives, academics, and media.

Brussels Forum is organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), the Federal Authorities of Belgium, the Egmont Institute, and Daimler. Additional sponsors include the European Union Delegation to the United States, Deloitte, BP, BNP Paribas Fortis, theMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, the Ministry of Defence Republic of Latvia, Centre of European Studies, European Liberal Forum and the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership.