Consistent with the
Kennedy School's emphasis on leadership, The Kokkalis Program has invited
leaders and policy-makers from Southeastern and
East-Central Europe to present their views on various issues of importance
to the region. A complete list of past events sponsored by the Kokkalis Program follows.
European Leadership on Global Environmental Challenges
October 7, 2008 Mr. Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for Environment
Moderated by John Holdren, Professor of Environmental Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-sponsored with the European and American Perspectives Series, Center for European Studies
Harvard University Hosts Bulgarian Prime Minister - H.E. Sergei Stanishev Gives Keynote Lecture on Bulgaria’s Regional Role
History was made on 29 September 2008 at Harvard University, where Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev delivered a public address entitled “Bulgaria as a Stabilizing Factor in Southeast Europe and the Black Sea Region.” Organized by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Kokkalis Program, it was the first lecture at Harvard by an active Prime Minister of Bulgaria, and received an enthusiastic reception by Harvard students, faculty and senior administrators. The event, which was co-sponsored by Harvard’s Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, highlighted Bulgaria’s crucial role in the development of Southeast Europe and the Black Sea Region.
During his visit to Harvard, Prime Minister Stanishev also met and exchanged ideas with the Deputy Dean of the Kennedy School, Dr. Joseph McCarthy, University Marshal Jacqueline O’Neill, and noted scholar of international relations Dr. Joseph Nye. It was stated during the meeting that Bulgaria ranks fifth in terms of number of foreign students at Harvard College.
In his address, Stanishev outlined several key points, first noting Bulgaria’s crucial role in the recent transformation of Southeast Europe from the powder keg of Europe to a region of ever-increasing cooperation, stability, and development. He argued for the importance of striving toward European Union and NATO membership, crediting both organizations with promoting democratization, good governance and economic prosperity in the region. Stanishev recommended that European nations reach agreements on energy and environmental goals, and called for the promotion of neighborly and constructive relations with Russia, Georgia, and South East European nations.
Stanishev also encouraged Bulgarians educated abroad, along with other members of the Bulgarian diaspora, to return to Bulgaria, where new job opportunities are being created in the educational, technological, and other sectors.
The lecture was part of the Kokkalis Foundation and Kokkalis Program’s sustained commitment since their establishment in 1997 to build closer ties between the countries of Southeast Europe and to promote the region internationally. Through its continued support of a growing number of Southeast European students and professionals at Harvard, the Kokkalis Foundation has become a leader in promoting regional development through education.
A letter from Brussels to the next President of the United States
September 24, 2008 José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission
Center for Government and International Studies
Paul-Henri Spaak Lecture, "Challenges of the Twenty-First Century: European and American Perspectives Series," co-sponsored with the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies; the Karamanlis Chair, Fletcher School, Tufts University; and the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs
The Road from the USSR to EU and NATO Membership: Latvia's Success Story May 8, 2008 H.E. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, former president of Latvia and visiting fellow, Harvard Institute of Politics
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Bulgaria in the European Union: Advantages and Challenges May 9, 2008 The Honorable Nadezhda Mihaylova, member of Parliament and former Foreign Minister, Bulgaria
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Seminar on Modern Turkey: Challenges to Turkish Politics and Foreign Policy
May 7, 2008
Professor Ali Karaosmanoglu, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
Professor Ersel Aydinli, Chair, Department of International Relations, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
Center for Government and International Studies
Capacity Development as Development Aid: (How) Can We Help Institutions Do Their Work?
April 29, 2008 Kori Udovicki, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Europe and the CIS, United Nations Development Programme
Harvard Faculty Club
A Panorama of Modern Lobbying in Brussels, Capital of the EU April 21, 2008
Daniel Gueguen, CEO, CLAN Public Affairs
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Muslim Grassroots in the West Discuss Democracy April 14, 2008 Jocelyne Cesari, Director of the Islam and the West Program at the Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and Amedee Turner, author of the report "Muslim Grassroots in the West Discuss Democracy"
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-sponsored with the Islam and the West Program, Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Europe, Russia, and the US: The Energy Puzzle April 15, 2008
The Honorable Michalis Chrisochoidis, Member of Parliament, Greece
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Turkey's Economy: Key Achievements, Challenges, & Medium Term Outlook
March 19, 2008
John F. Kennedy School of Government
A lecture by H.E. Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of State and Undersecretariat of the Treasury of the Republic of Turkey
Delivering a message of prosperity and openness, Turkish Minister of State Mehmet Şimşek gave a major public address at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government on March 19. His visit and lecture, “Turkey’s Economy: Key Achievements, Challenges, & Medium Term Outlook” received an enthusiastic reception by Harvard students, faculty and senior administrators. The event, which was sponsored by Harvard’s Kokkalis Program on Southeastern and East-Central Europe, highlighted Turkey’s recent economic achievements, priorities for reform, and the outlook for the economy.
Minister Şimşek has served as state minister in charge of the economy since August 29, 2007. Prior to his election, he was the chief economist and strategist for emerging Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Merrill Lynch in London.
World Economic Challenges in the Era of Globalization
March 14, 2008
H.E. Christopher F. Egan, U.S. Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (HKS MPA '05)
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-sponsored with the Center for International Development at Harvard University
Challenges at the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights: The Responsibility to Protect February 13, 2008
Anton Nikiforov, Executive Assistant to the High Commissioner, Office of the High Commission on Human Rights
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The Campaign for Truth and Justice in Bosnia
February 12, 2008
Judith Armatta, former
legal liaison for the Coalition for International Justice to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia
Antonia DeMeo, former Deputy Register of the Human Rights Chamber, Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Donald Hays, former Principal Deputy High Representative, Office of the High Representative, Bosnia
Anton Nikiforov, Executive Assistant to the High Commissioner, Office of the High Commission on Human Rights
Boston College Co-sponsored with Boston College and the Center for Balkan Development
Climate Change and the Energy: Europe Takes the Lead Friday, December 7, 2007
H.E. Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner for Energy
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies Co-sponsored with the Minda De Gunzburg Center for European Studies as part of “Challenges of the 21st Century” series organized by Ms. Renée Haferkamp
Priorities and Challenges in Efficient and Democratic Governance in South Eastern and East Central Europe A summit of five parliamentarians from the region who will share their insights featuring: November 13, 2007
Aldo Bumci, Democratic Party of Albania
Alexander Vlahovic, Democratic Party of Serbia
Mirjana Malic, Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dan Doncev, VMRO-People's Party of FYROMacedonia
Georgi Bliznashski, Coalition for Bulgaria Party Click here to view bios of the participants > John F. Kennedy School of Government
European Patriotism: Balancing Interests Between the USA
and China October 31, 2007 Dr. Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Member of the European
Parliament
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Croatia: The Achievements,
Challenges and EU Aspirations of a Small State October 23, 2007
H.E. Ivan Suker, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Croatia
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The
Eastern Policy of the European Union
October 17, 2007 Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Chairman of Committee
on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies Co-sponsored with the Minda De Gunzburg
Center for European Studies as part of “Challenges of the 21st Century” series organized by Ms. Renée Haferkamp.
Turning the Tide: Romania's Anti-Corruption Bid
April 27, 2007
Ms. Monica Macovei, former Minister of Justice of Romania
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Bridging the Euro-Balkan Gap: Development and Transition in the West
Balkans
September 27, 2006 H.E.
Dimitrij Rupel,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Slovenia John F. Kennedy School of
Government
FORUM: Peace, Progress and the Way
Forward in Southeastern Europe
September 22, 2006 H.E. Stjepan Mesic,
President of the Republic of Croatia
H.E. Boris Tadic, President of the Republic of Serbia John F. Kennedy School of Government Co-sponsored with the Institute for Politics
Bulgaria, US, and Europe: Foreign Policy and Economic
Priorities September 18, 2006 H.E. Ivailo Kalfin,
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria John F. Kennedy School of Government
Croatia: Beyond the Western Balkans April 20, 2006 H.E. Mirjana Mladineo,
Croatian Ambassador to the United Nations Weatherhead Center for International
Affairs Co-sponsored with the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs
Albanian Contemporary Political Landscape
April 25, 2005
H.E. Rexhep Meidani, former President of Albania
Mr. Kosta Barjaba, HKS MPA/MC '05, former Chief of Staff to the Albanian
Minister of Labor
Mr. Naim Zoto, spokesperson, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs
John F. Kennedy School of Government
US-Bulgarian Relations in a Transforming International and Security
Environment March 10, 2005
H.E. Elena Poptodorova
Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United States
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Cyprus at a Crossroads: The Way Forward
June 1, 2004 H.E. Tassos Papadopoulos, President of the Republic of Cyprus
John F. Kennedy School of Government Co-sponsored with Harvard School of Public Health, Institute of
Politics, Center for Public Leadership and the Belfer Center's Program on
Intrastate Conflict and Resolution
FORUM: Islam, Democracy and Human
Rights
May 11, 2004
Ms. Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize (2003)
John F. Kennedy School of Government Co-sponsored with the Institute of Politics and ILEX Foundation
European Economic Competitiveness and EU Enlargement April 22,
2004 H.E. Ivan Miklos,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Slovakia Minda de Gunzberg Center for European Studies Co-sponsored with the
Center for European Studies
FORUM:
Democracy in the Middle East, Pluralism in Europe:
The Turkish Perspective
January 30, 2004 H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey John F. Kennedy School of Government, John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum Co-sponsored with the Institute of Politics, the Belfer Center and its
Caspian Studies Program and the Center for Public Leadership Click
here
to see and hear the Prime Minister's address
Click
here for the transcript of the Prime Minister's address
Are US-EU Comparisons Valid? Integration and Governance Models in the
European Union and the United States
November 24, 2003 Ms.
Anna Diamantopoulou, EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Minda de Gunzberg Center for European
Studies Co-sponsored with the Center for European
Studies
The Future of Globalization
September 24, 2003
H.E. Lech Walesa, President of Poland
(1990-1995) and Nobel Peace Laureate (1983) John
F. Kennedy Jr. Forum
Co-sponsored with the Institute of Politics, Center For Public Leadership and
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Serbia: Economic Stabilization in the post-Djindjic Era April 15, 2003
H.E. Kori Udovicki, Minister of Energy and
Mining
H.E. Bozidar Djelic, Minister of Finance and Economy
H.E. Goran Pitic, Minister of International Economic Relations
H.E. Aleksandar Vlahovic, Minister of Privatization
John F. Kennedy School of Government
European Enlargement from a Central European
Perspective: A Public Discussion With Four Ambassadors November 14, 2002 H.E. Martin Bútora, Ambassador of Slovakia to the United States
H.E. Przemyslaw Grudzinski, Ambassador of Poland to the United States
H.E. Martin Palous, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States
H.E. András Simonyi, Ambassador of Hungary to the United States
Moderated by James Cooney, Director, Weatherhead Center for International
Affairs, Harvard University
John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum Co-sponsored with the European Caucus at KSG, the Minda de Ginzburg Center
for European Studies, the Institute of Politics, and the Weatherhead Center for
International Affairs
Bulgaria’s Political and Economic
Transformation May 9, 2002 H.E. Nikolay Vassilev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy
of Bulgaria Harvard Business School
Co-sponsored with the HBS European Club
The Balkans: Present and
Future April 19, 2002 H.E. Petar Stoyanov, President of the Republic of Bulgaria 1997 - 2002 Minda de Ginzburg Center for European
Studies Co-sponsored with the Minda de Ginzburg Center for European Studies
The
Future of Turkish Foreign Policy April 1, 2002
H.E. Cem Duna, Former Turkish Ambassador to the EU
H.E. Ilter Turkmen, Former Foreign Minister of Turkey
Mr. Soli Ozel, Professor of International Relations, Bilgi
University, Istanbul Panel chair: Dr. Ahmet Evin, Dean of Arts and Social Sciences,
Sabanci University, Istanbul
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Hungary in the 21st Century February 13, 2002 H.E. Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary Harvard Faculty Club
Romania at the Crossroads, and the Challenges for
Renewal May 10, 2000 H.R.H. Princess Margarita of Romania
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Albania: The Unbaptized Decade May 8, 2000
H.E. Ilir Meta, Prime Minister of Albania
H.E. Fatos Nano, Chairman, Socialist Party of Albania and Former Prime
Minister of Albania John F. Kennedy School of Government
Greece, Europe and Turkey November 17, 1999
T.H. Dora Bakoyianni, Member of the Parliament of Greece John F. Kennedy School of Government
Recent Developments in Greek Foreign Policy April 30, 1999
T.H. Theodore Pangalos, Member of the Parliament of Greece John F. Kennedy School of Government
Romania's Defense Policy, NATO and the Balkans April 28, 1999
T.H. Victor Babiuc, Minister of Defense of Romania John F. Kennedy School of Government
Romania's Role in Europe April 23,
1999
H.E. Emil Constantinescu, President of the Republic of Romania Harvard Faculty Club
Central Europe after the Expansion of NATO April 22, 1999
T.H. János Martonyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-sponsored with the Belfer Center for Security and International Affairs
Conflict and International Interests in the Balkans: A Slovenian Perspective April 22, 1999
H.E. Dr. Janez Drnovsek, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-sponsored with the Woodbridge Society of International Students, Harvard
University; the Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International
Affairs, International Affairs PIC and the Institute's Student Advisory
Committee
Romania's Foreign Policy after the Madrid NATO Meeting
November 25, 1998
H.E. Dr. Elena Zamfirescu, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Romania John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-organized with the Romanian Consulate in Boston
The Aegean: A Sea of Cooperation and Prosperity November 14, 1998
H.E. Elissavet Papazoi, Minister of the Aegean, Greece John F. Kennedy School of Government
Greece and Southeastern Europe December 10, 1997
H.E. Philippos Petsalnikos, Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Greece Minda de
Gunzberg Center for European Studies
