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Conference: “Security and Defence in the Baltic Sea Region”
May 14 @ 6:00 am
The Estonian World Council (ÜEKN) in collaboration with the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki and the Network of Estonian Organisations in Finland (EOVS) hosts the hybrid conference, “Security and Defence in the Baltic Sea Region” on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 (starting 13:00 Helsinki time / 6 am Eastern US) at the Embassy of Estonia in Helsinki, Finland.
The conference will be livestreamed here and also by Estonia’s national broadcaster ERR , website globalestonian.com and by Finnish media. The event will also be made available for later viewing.
The conference aims to foster a deeper understanding of the current and emerging security challenges within the Baltic Sea region. Topics of discussion include the implications of Russian aggression and disinformation, the role of NATO in ensuring regional security, and strategies for civil defence preparedness. The conference will be available for post viewing on EANC’s YouTube channel, ERR website, and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs webpage, as well as on globalestonian.com.
Conference program is as follows:
Conference moderator – Reet Marten Sehr, Chair Estonian World Council foreign relations committee, Chair, Estonian Central Council in Canada
13:00 – Introductory remarks
• Sven Sakkov, Estonian Ambassador to Finland
• Sirle Sööt, Chair, Estonian World Council, Association of Estonians in Sweden
• Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia (Livestream)
13:30 – Introduction of keynote speaker by Tuuli-Emily Liivat, Global Estonian Youth Network
• Keynote: Douglas Hickey, US Ambassador to the Republic of Finland
14:00 – Panel discussion: “NATO’s Role in Baltic Sea Region Security”
• Martin Roger, Director-General for NATO and Trans-Atlantic Relations, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Joakim Paasikivi, Lieutenant Colonel, Swedish Defence University
• Andres Kasekamp, Professor of History, Chair of Estonian Studies, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
• Moderator Märt Vesinurm, Network of Estonian Organisations in Finland
15:30 – Keynote: Jessikka Aro Finnish journalist and writer, author of “Putin’s Army” and“Putin’s Trolls”
16:15 – Panel discussion: “Civil Preparedness and Disinformation”
• Jay Janzen, Strategic Communications Director (J10) at NATO
• Jakub Kalensky, Senior fellow, Atlantic Council Eurasia Centre, former Deputy Director of COI Hybrid Influence
• Marko Mihkelson, Member of Estonian Parliament, Chair of Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee
• Moderator Marcus Kolga, President, DisInfoWatch, Fellow McDonald Laurier Institute, Central and Eastern European Council in Canada
17:15 – Closing Remarks – Ilona Kolberg, Network of Estonian Organisations in Finland