LETTER OF INVITATION
The Association for the Development of the Romanian Social Forum (AD FSR), with the support and participation of Transform! Network and of GUE/NGL Euro Parliamentary Group represented by Ms. Gabi Zimmer MEP, kindly invite You to participate at the Seminar ‘The National Question in Central-Eastern Europe’ organized on 21st to 22nd of April 2012 at RIN Grand Hotel in Bucharest, Romania.
ARGUMENTS
Apparently people have been questing for their Identity, both as individuals and groups, since time immemorial. In turn, the concept of Identity has been perceived in a multitude of forms, varying from individual to National, from Cultural to Religious or Political.
It is notorious that the National Question in Central-Eastern Europe has caused political, social, economic, cultural and religious clashes ending in social disruption, ethnic hatred, geo-political fragmentation and, eventually, ending in wars followed by neo-liberal ‘regulatory’ interventions.
The revival of Extreme Nationalism, Ethnocentrism and Chauvinism in Romania after 1989, the falling apart of former Yugoslavia following the Civil War in the 1990s ending in frozen conflicts, the unresolved Hungarian-Romanian ethnic issues in Transylvania, the Romanian-Moldavian-Russian-Ukrainian frozen disputes, the rise of Neo-Fascism, Neo-Nazism, and Racism in Hungary, Germany, Austria, and in other Central-Eastern European countries lately, only come all to justify the need for such initiative.
What could be the responses of progressive social and political actors to the challenging questions deriving from the above given situation which has been unfolding on the set-stage of a failing neoliberal European paradigm?
In the aforementioned general framework of the Project, the Seminar tackles the controversial issue of National Question in Central-Eastern Europe viewed in a complex interrelated perspective, i.e. as related to the historical-political past (cause-effect relation) and to the European Project.
OBJECTIVES
The Objectives of the Seminar include (without being limited to):
- providing an appropriate space for the debate of the aforementioned;
- setting up a strategic study based on the objective analysis of the contradictions existing in Central-Eastern Europe concerning sensitive aspects of the National Question, possibly challenging official approaches;
- opening a new European perspective to real Cultural and Political problems faced by people, in terms of Majority vs. Minority, and their legitimate representatives in this region;
- exploring the possibility of an internationalist platform for cooperation in finding democratic responses to the various frozen and potential conflicts, as well as to national contradictions in the region;
- gradually involving interested actors from other countries such as Greece, the Russian Federation, Turkey, etc, which are either linked with Central-Eastern Europe or/and have their own particular cases in this respect.
METHODOLOGY
Contributions produced by willingly-accepting speakers-contributors are expected to be in-depth fundamental and theoretical analyses and to cover the below mentioned Central-Eastern European clashing geo-political areas by means of Historical, Cultural, Political, Psycho-Social, and Economic treatment of each Study Case proper.
Contributions should be conceived and produced having in view a common denominator, i.e. the European Project concept as this has emerged and evolved in various forms throughout Time. The logic of having such common denominator resides in the necessity of carrying out the Project, i.e. the Seminar, in optimal conditions.
Contributions should be written in English language in Word format. Romanian contributors are exempted from this requirement.
There is no limit imposed to the length of contributions whatsoever. However, the oral presentation of contributions should not exceed the time allocated for each speaker in the Program (see below).
Contributions should be submitted to the organizer in charge, i.e. to the AD FSR (email address: pedroxma@yahoo.com), in Word format 1 (one) week ahead of the event proper, the latest.
Contributions should provide, in the aforementioned terms, working material for the Debate Phases of the Seminar proper on 4 (four) Study Cases, as follows:
- Study Case no.1:
Moldavia-Romania-Russia-Ukraine. Present Time situation vs. Soviet Time situation vs. Past Time situation;
- Study Case no. 2:
Hungary-Romania/Transylvania-Austria-Czechia-Slovakia-Poland. Present Time situation vs. Before 1989 Time situation vs. 1848-1918 Time-line situation;
- Study Case no. 3:
The Balkans and former Yugoslavia. Present Time situation vs. Yugoslavian Civil War Time situation vs. Before 1989 Time situation;
- Study Case no. 4:
The Roma and the Sinit in Central-Eastern Europe. Present Time vs. Past Time situation.
Observation: Contributions may be used for further publication by the main organizers, i.e. AD FSR, Transform! Network and GUE/NGL Euro Parliamentary Group represented by Ms Gabi Zimmer MEP.
ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS
Thanks to the support granted by Transform! Network and GUE/NGL Euro Parliamentary Group represented by Ms. Gabi Zimmer MEP, we are able to offer financial support for the participation of a number of maximum 12 (twelve) Central-Eastern European contributors in the following terms:
- travel reimbursement in amount of max. 250 Euro based on handing in all original tickets, boarding passes, and receipts to the main organizer, i.e. AD FSR, by means of subsequent bank transfer; at written request, the AD FSR may proceed to purchasing the flight in advance for the respective contributor providing them electronic tickets – a procedure which we strongly recommend;
- full accommodation and meals at RIN Grand Hotel Bucharest from Friday afternoon, 20th of April 2012, to Sunday midday, 22nd of April 2012 for the aforementioned (other situations occuring due to possible return flight schedules on Monday, 23rd of April 2012, would be managed individually);
- contributors/speakers are kindly requested to officially confirm their participation by 29th of February 2012 the latest;
- the invited Romanian contributors/speakers may claim travel reimbursement only on condition that they are not residing in Bucharest and on condition of handing in all original tickets to the main organizer, i.e. AD FSR (please, bear in mind that due to our Environmentalist policy, flights within the Romanian territory can not be subject of any claim for reimbursement) ;
- the invited Romanian contributors/speakers shall benefit from full accommodation and meals at RIN Grand Hotel Bucharest from Friday afternoon, 20th of April 2012, to Sunday midday, 22nd of April 2012 only on condition that they are not residing in Bucharest;
- no other costs would be subject of claim for reimbursement whatsoever;
- there would be no cash support/reimbursement in advance whatsoever;
- if applicable, reimbursement for invited Romanian contributors/speakers shall be carried out only in Romanian currency, i.e. in Lei, by means of subsequent bank transfer;
- delivering Contributions in the aforementioned conditions is a necessary clause for reimbursement.
We kindly ask all other participants, including Romanians, to consider that any costs related to travel, accommodation and meals during the Seminar can not be subject of any reimbursement claim but should be entirely covered by each organization/participant.
Nevertheless, in order to benefit from the lower negotiated rates of accommodation, regular invited participants are expected to confirm their arrival in writing to the organizer in charge, i.e. AD FSR, by 20th of March 2012, the latest (not applicable to contributors/speakers who should confirm much earlier).
The languages of the Seminar are English and Romanian.
There would be professional interpretation En-Ro, i.e. Ro-En, available throughout the Seminar.
Observation: This Seminar has not been designed as a big-scale open reunion, that is to say only invited/selected participants are allowed. Invited participants should not pass on the Invitation to other people without notifying the organizer about the third party. No Mass Media shall be allowed whatsoever.
PROGRAM
1. THEMES
Study Case no. 1:
Moldavia-Romania-Russia-Ukraine.
Present Time situation vs. Soviet Time situation vs. Past Time situation;
Study Case no. 2:
Hungary-Romania/Transylvania-Austria-Czechia-Slovakia-Poland.
Present Time situation vs. Before 1989 Time situation vs. 1848-1918 Time-line situation;
- Study Case no. 3:
The Balkans and former Yugoslavia.
Present Time situation vs. Yugoslavian Civil War Time situation vs. Before 1989 Time situation;
- Study Case no. 4:
The Roma and the Sinit in Central-Eastern Europe.
Present Time Situation vs. Past Time situation
2. DATE AND VENUE
- Saturday, 21st of April 2012, to Sunday, 22nd of April 2012;
- RIN Grand Hotel, 7D Vitan-Barzesti Street, District 4, Bucharest, Romania, tel. 0040 372100000, fax 0040 311061119, mobile 0040 731 111 160 & 0040 731 111365, www.rinhotels.ro.
3. PROGRAM PROPER
- Friday, 20th of April 2012:
– Arrival of Participants;
– 19:00 Supper (RIN Grand Hotel);
- Saturday, 21st of April 2012 :
– 8:00-9:30 Breakfast (RIN Grand Hotel)
– 9:30-10:00 Registration of Participants
– 10:00-10:20 Seminar Opening. Welcome
Speakers:
– Gabi Zimmer, MEP, GUE/NGL, Germany (10 min);
– Walter Baier, Transform! Network, Austria (10 min);
Moderator:
-Petre Damo, AD FSR
– 10:20-10:40 Introduction
Speaker:
– Winfried Garscha, Austria (20 min)
Moderator:
– Petre Damo, AD FSR
– 10:40-11:40 Study Case no. 1 (part 1):
Moldavia-Romania-Russia-Ukraine. Present Time situation vs. Soviet Time situation vs. Past Time situation. Contributions (part 1).
Speakers:
– Michel Cullin, Austria (15 min);
– Iulia Timotin, Md (15 min);
– Victoria Stoiciu, Ro (15 min);
– Alexandrina Cernoff, Ukr (15 min);
Moderator:
– Gabi Zimmer MEP GUE/NGL
– 11:40-12:00 Coffee Break
– 12:00-13:30 Study Case no. 1 (part 2):
Moldavia-Romania-Russia-Ukraine. Present Time situation vs. Soviet Time situation vs. Past Time situation.Contributions (part 2), Discussion and Debates.
Speakers:
– Mihai Traista, Ro (15 min);
– Ovidiu Tichindeleanu, Ro (15 min).
– Costi Rogozanu, Ro (15 min);
Moderator:
– Cornelia Ernst, MEP GUE/NGL
– 13:30-15:00 Lunch & Leisure
– 15:00-16:00 Study Case no. 2 (part 1):
Hungary-Romania/Transylvania-Austria-Czechia-Slovakia-Poland. Present Time situation vs. Before 1989 Time situation vs. 1848-1918 Time-line situation. Contributions.
Speakers:
– Jan Kavan, Cz (15 min);
– Derek Weber, Austria (15 min);
– Judit Morva, Hu (15 min);
– Michal Syska, Pl (15 min);
Moderator:
– Petar Atanackovic
– 16:00-16:20 Coffee Break
– 16:20-17:30 Study Case no. 2 (part 2):
Hungary-Romania/Transylvania-Austria-Czechia-Slovakia-Poland. Present Time situation vs. Before 1989 Time situation vs. 1848-1918 Time-line situation. Discussion and Debates.
Moderator:
– Winfried Garscha
– 19:00 Supper (RIN Grand Hotel)
- Sunday, 22nd of April 2012
– 7:30-9:00 Breakfast (RIN Grand Hotel);
– 9:00-11:00 Study Case no. 3:
The Balkans and former Yugoslavia. Present Time situation vs. Yugoslavian Civil War Time situation vs. Before 1989 Time situation. Contributions, Discussion and Debates.
Speakers:
– Michel Cullin, A (15 min);
– Petar Atanackovic, Serbia (15 min);
– Srecko Horvat, Hr (15 min);
– Vladan Jeremic, Serbia (15 min);
– Dimitris Christopoulos, Gr (15 min);
Moderator:
– Walter Baier, Transform! Europe
– 11:00-11.20 Coffee Break
– 11:20-13:20 Study Case no. 4:
The Roma and the Sinit in Central-Eastern Europe. Present Time vs. Past Time. Contributions, Discussion and Debates.
Speakers:
– Cornelia Ernst, MEP, GUE/NGL, Germany (15 min);
– Brigit Daiber,RLS, Germany (15 min);
– Elena Mihalache, ACRR, Ro, (15 min);
– Marian Mandache, Romani Criss, Ro (15 min);
– Enikő Vincze, ‘BabesBolyai’ University of Cluj, Ro (15 min);
– Maria Koreck, Asociatia ‘Divers’, Ro (15 min).
Moderator:
– Annie Striethorst, RLS
– 13:20-14:20 Conclusions & Final Interventions. End of Seminar
Speakers:
– Gabi Zimmer MEP, GUE/NGL, Germany (10 min);
– Cornelia Ernst MEP, GUE/NGL, Germany (10 min);
– Winfried Garscha, Austria (10 min);
– Walter Baier, Transform! Network, Austria (10 min);
– Petre Damo, AD FSR, Romania (5 min)
Moderator:
– Petre Damo
– 14:20-15:30 Lunch & Leisure
– After 15:30 Departure of Participants
Observation: Program may be subject of change due to objective conditions.
LIST OF CONFIRMED INVITED SPEAKERS
GABI ZIMMER, MEP GUE/NGL, Germany;
- CORNELIA ERNST, MEP GUE/NGL,Germany;
- WALTER BAIER, Transform!Network,Austria;
- JAN KAVAN, Counselor; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Czechia;
- WINFRIED GARSCHA, Historian, Expert on Theory ofNation,Austria;
- MICHEL CULLIN, Professor, Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, former Director of French Cultural Institute inVienna,Austria;
- DEREK WEBER, Professor atUniversity of Vienna,Austria;
- BIRGIT DAIBER, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Brussels Office, Germany;
- ANNA STRIETHORST, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Brussels Office, Germany;
- SRECKO HORVAT, Philosopher and Author,Croatia;
- VLADAN JEREMIC, Artist and Activist, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung South-East Europe OfficeBelgrade,Serbia;
- PETAR ATANACKOVIC, Professor of History Potsdam/Berlin,Serbia;
- DIMITRIS CHRISTOPOULOS, Professor at the Political Science and History Dept of ‘Panteion’ University, Chairperson of Hellenic League of Human Rights,Greece;
- MICHAL SYSKA, Author, Head of ‘Frederic Lassalle’ Centre for SocialThought,Poland;
- ALEXANDRINA CERNOFF, Author, ‘Glasul Bucovinei’ magazine, Ukraine;
- OVIDIU TICHINDELEANU, Philosopher & Author, CriticAtac Group & Founder of IndymendiaRomania,Romania;
- VICTORIA STOICIU, Author, CriticAtac Group,Romania;
- COSTI ROGOZANU, Author, CriticAtac Group,Romania;
- JUDIT MORVA, Transform!Hungary;
- IULIA TIMOTIN, Transform!Moldova;
- MIHAI TRAISTA, Author, Union of the Ukrainians inRomania & ‘Nas Holos’ magazine,Romania;
- ENIKŐ VINCZE, Professor of Anthropology, ’Babes-Bolyai’University of Cluj,Romania;
- ELENA MIHALACHE, Public Policy & Advocacy Officer, Alianta Civica a Romilor dinRomania;
- MARIAN MANDACHE, Romani Criss, Romania;
- MARIA KORECK, President of Asociatia Divers,Romania;
Observation: Besides the aforementioned invited Speakers/Contributors, there will be other invited participants whom are expected to intervene and contribute in the Debate phase of the Seminar. Speakers/Contributors who do not confirm their participation in due time, i.e. by 29th of February 2012, may be replaced.