COURSE SylLabus The frozen conflicts in the post-Soviet space Rationale: Lectures will be given in English language Dates: October 2, October 16, October 30, November 13, November 27, December 11, Time: Place: Instructor: Josef Buzalka, Minister Counsellor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former political advisor to the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia and to the EU Special Representative for Central Asia. E-mail address: jbuzalka@mzv.cz Course objectives: The main objective of the course is to acquaint students with the current stage of mediation efforts regarding frozen conflicts in the post-Soviet space, focusing on specific and practical diplomatic tools used in mediation process. The course will familiarize students with the actual players and the main participants in international mediation efforts aimed at resolving these conflicts. The course will illuminate the history of the creation, preparation and conduct of the Geneva international discussions, will describe functioning of Incident prevention and response mechanism applied jointly by the EU, UN and the OSCE in Georgia and will explain activities and goals of the EU Civilian Monitoring Mission in Georgia. With regard to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh the course will focus on functioning of the Minsk Group and will provide examples of EU mediation efforts in this conflict. All together the course will provide a valuable opportunity for students to learn from practical diplomatic experience and will help them to develop deeper understanding of concrete mediation tools used in the contemporary European diplomacy. Course description: The course consists of lectures based on personal experience of the instructor acquired in Brussels headquarters of the EEAS, in the office of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia during preparation of the Geneva international discussions. Personal involvement of the instructor in meetings with the leaders of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as in consultations with negotiating teams of conflicting parties. Lectures will be followed by a discussion and accompanied by power-point presentations, photographs, cartographic material and film documents. During the course simulation of the Geneva International Discussions with active student´s participation will be practiced. The information received will be possible to extend through recommended reading. Course requirements: To pass the course the students should: * Write a final test The questions will be based on information presented during lectures and recommended reading material. * Actively participate in discussions during lectures and contribute to simulation of the Geneva international discussions. Evaluation and grading specifics: In total it is possible to obtain 100 points: A = 100-95 points B = 94-88 points C = 87-78 points D = 77-69 points E = 68-60 points F = less than 60 points To pass a course, the students must earn at least a grade of “E” (60 points or better). * Participation in the simulation of the Geneva meeting: 20 points * Presence and activity during lectures: 30 points * Final test: 50 points The minimum number of points needed to successfully write the final test is 30 points. Course calendar: (time allocated 6 x 3 hours) October 2, 2015 1) Current status of the frozen conflicts in the Southern Caucasus, different intensity and different methods and tools of mediation - The conflict Georgia - South Ossetia - The conflict Georgia – Abkhazia - The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict October 16, 2015 2) Involvement of main stakeholders (EU / USA, Russia), different approaches and interests - Mediating role of the EU and USA, forms of cooperation - Types of the EU involvement o Mandate of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia - Role of Russia, specifics of Russian approach - Forms of involvement of the UN and OSCE October 30, 2015 3) Tools solving the frozen conflicts - Conflict in Georgia - Geneva International discussions, preparation of individual rounds, trips to the region, composition of the negotiating teams - setting goals for each round of the Geneva international discussions and the main objectives for the next period - IPRM (Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism) o examples of response to concrete security and humanitarian situation at place o impact on stabilizing the situation - The civilian monitoring mission (EUMM) in Georgia o genesis and its basic objectives o the experience of previous work November 13, 2015 4) Tools solving the frozen conflicts - conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh - Role in the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, its basic objectives - frequency of meetings, the main issues a track record in conflict resolution the perspectives of other development November 27, 2015 5) Simulation of the Geneva negotiations - Practical exercise simulating one round of Geneva discussions with the involvement of students simulating roles of negotiating teams December 11, 2015 6) Prospects for the future engagement of the European Union in resolving of frozen conflicts in the South Caucasus - Perspectives of the conflict solution in the Eastern Partnership policy - Development role and influence of the EU in relation to the conflict in Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh - The role of Czech diplomacy Recommended reading: * Report of the Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini - Head of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia (IIFFMCG - CEIIG) presenting the results of the investigation conducted by the IIFFMCG to representatives of Georgia, the Russian Federation, the European Union, the United Nations and the OSCE. (http://www.ceiig.ch/) * Thomas De Waal: Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War, 10th Year Anniversary Edition, Revised and Updated, Publisher: NYU Press; Anv Rev Up edition (July 8, 2013) * COUNCIL DECISION 2014/438/CFSP of 8 July 2014 amending and extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia * Lincoln Mitchell: The color revolutions, Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (May 9, 2012) * Thomas De Waal: The Caucasus, Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (September 9, 2010) * POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION EUMM GEORGIA/1/2013 of 13 September 2013 on the appointment of the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia) (2013/465/CFSP) * Acts adopted under title V of the EU treaty council joint action 2008/736/CFSP of 15 September 2008 on the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, EUMM Georgia * Azerbaijan Diary: A Rogue Reporter's Adventures in an Oil-Rich, War-Torn, Post-Soviet Republic, Thomas Goltz Publisher: M E Sharpe Inc; New edition (August 1999) * Azerbaijan: A Political History, Suha Bolukbasi, Publisher: I. B. Tauris (November 26, 2013) * The OSCE and the Multiple Challenges of Transition: The Caucasus and Central Asia), Farian Sabahi, Daniel Warner, Publisher: Ashgate Pub Ltd (February 2004) * International organizations in South Caucasus: Study on the roles and effectiveness of the UN, the OSCE, the CIS and the EU in facilitation of conflict resolution in South Caucasus), Esmira Jafarova, Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Muller (June 17, 2011) * Crisis group report: Abkhazia: The Long Road to Reconciliation Crisis Group Europe Report N°22410 Apr 2013 * Crisis group report: Armenia: An Opportunity for Statesmanship Crisis group Europe Report N°21725 Jun 2012 * Bourdieu's Secret Admirer in the Caucasus: Georgi M. Derluguian, Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (July 15, 2005)