Public Lecture by Dr. Lamberto Zannier, Secretary General of OSCE on The New Challenges to European Security

The Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Dr. Lamberto Zannier delivered a public lecture at the UNWE. In the Small Conference Hall of the university the Italian diplomat spoke on the New Challenges to European Security. At the event attended Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev, Rector of UNWE, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Spasov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria to UN, OSCE and other international organizations in Vienna, the Vice Rectors of the university Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milanka Slavova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stela Raleva and Prof. Dr. Valentin Goev, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Dean of the Economics of Infrastructure Faculty, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paskal Zhelev, Secretary General for International Cooperation of UNWE, etc.

Prof. Stattev (in the middle) is presenting Dr. Zannier (on the right). At the meeting attended also Assoc. Prof. Spasov.

The Rector presented Dr. Zannier as a professional diplomat, former Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center (CPC) since 2002 to 2006, special representative of UN for Kosovo since June 2008. At the moment he is a Secretary General of OSCE for a second mandate.

During the public lecture in the Small Conference Hall

We live in a polarized, complicated environment with much more participants including the movements and groups striving to make use of our division, declared the lecturer. Europe goes through lots of challenges of its security.

Dr. Zannier pointed out that the security measurements over the Cold War hadn`t worked. We are in danger of conflict and we don`t have precautions. “Because of the polarization some proxy conflicts can be watched – in Ukraine and Syria. The result of them is the migration”, pointed out Zannier but he added that the migrant crisis hadn`t been due only to wars.

Dr. Zannier is speaking about the security measures in Europe.

The diplomat spoke also about the instability and armed conflicts, hybrid wars, progress of terrorism and extremism, the increase of international threats including the organized criminality, traffic of drugs, arms and people. He examined the issue of enormous stream of refugees and migrants to the old continent as well as the global challenges like climate changes, demographic crises and increasing economic inequality between the countries and regions. He emphasized on the increasing African population that had changed the proportions. According to his words the society is in a period of marginalization and the Islam in Europe also changes.

As a reaction of some of these challenges we are witnesses of oppressive growth of populist parties and organizations, nationalist and even xenophobic rhetoric which creates a division in societies and could lead to violence, declared the diplomat. He emphasized on the need of global solutions achievable only through cooperation. But it is very difficult because of the geopolitical realities, pointed out the lecturer.

Participants in the meeting

I am sure we need a new structure of security in Europe. It is necessary to revive what we have and to resume our efforts and duties to the European security, explicitly said Dr. Zannier.

The Rector of the university Prof. Stattev awarded to Dr. Zannier the Statuette of Prof. Stephan Bobchev – Founder and First Rector of UNWE “for his contribution to the strengthening of security and cooperation development in Europe”. Porf. Stattev awarded to the diplomat also a Certificate of Appreciation for his lecture (in the picture below).

Dr. Zannier read his epistle written by him in the Golden Book of UNWE. In it is said:” It`s a great pleasure and indeed an honour to be invited to give a talk at this university on the role of European security. This is a very challenging time for Europe. We face conflict, again, and must deal with a large number of transnational challenges, including extremism, terrorism and the painful problem of a great number of refugees and migrants. These challenges taken together are creating a heavy rein on cooperative security and on the EU integration process.”

It is significant that our event is taking place in the margins of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) summit which crowns the Bulgarian chairmanship. 

I also appreciate the role that the university plays in the context of the OSCE network of academic innovations. May I offer to the university my felicitation for the high quality of education and all the students my best wishes for their professional future.“

The Secretary General of OSCE is writing his epistle in the Golden Book of UNWE.