Consistent with the Kennedy School's emphasis on bringing together practitioners of public policy and government with students, 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. Past events include:

Covering the Balkans: Veteran Journalists Discuss Their Experiences
A public lecture by Nicholas Wood and Andrew Testa

Writer NICHOLAS WOOD recently left the New York Times after serving as Southeastern Europe correspondent since 2003. Freelance photographer ANDREW TESTA, much of whose work focuses on Kosovo, is a frequent contributer to the New York Times. Wood and Testa recently collaborated to produce "Endgame in Kosovo," an interactive feature about the Kosovo conflict for the Times. At this lecture, they will reunite to share their experiences documenting recent events in the Balkans.

March 11, 4:15 p.m.
Neustadt Classroom (R-G20), Rubenstein Building, John F. Kennedy School of Government

Pillars of Transatlantic Relations: Two Ambassadors Speak
May 10, 2007
H.E. Elena Poptodorova, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the US
H.E. John R. Beyrle, US Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Peace Building and Early Childhood Education: A Critical Alliance
May 2, 2007
H.E. Ömer Zülfü Livaneli, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Deputy for Istanbul, Author of Bliss
Ms. Ayla Göksel Göçer, CEO, Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV), Istanbul, Turkey
John F. Kennedy School of Government

The EU's Internal and International Challenges
(With remarks on what it means to be a politician)
March 21, 2007
Anna Diamantopoulou, Member of Greek Parliament, Former EU Commissioner of Employment & Social Affairs
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Does Europe still need NATO?
December 5, 2006
Dr. Jamie Shea, Director of Policy Planning in the Private Office of the Secretary General of NATO Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-sponsored with the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Weatherhead Center For International Affairs Fellows Program and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy 

Serbia after Milosevic: The Road to Democracy or a Standstill?
November 29, 2006
Dr. Milan St. Protic, former Serbian Ambassador to the U.S. and Mayor of Belgrade
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies

Beyond Conflict: Peace and Cooperation in the Balkans of the 21st Century
November 9, 2006
H.E. Srgjan Kerim, Candidate for Presidency of UN General Assembly; Ambassador of FYROM to the United Nations, 2001-2003; Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2000-2001
Center for Government and International Studies
Co-sponsored with the Weatherhead Center For International Affairs Fellows Program

Stability and Development in the Balkans: The Greek Perspective
October 16, 2006
H.E. Alexandros P. Mallias, Ambassador of the Republic of Greece to the United States
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-sponsored with the Institute of Politics

Turkey, the Middle East and the E.U.
May 5, 2006
Mr. Mithat Bereket, CNN Turk
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-sponsored with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies Seminar on Modern Turkey

Expanding the Union: Lessons from Southern Europe for Turkish Accession to the EU
April 21, 2006
Dr. Nikolaos Biziouras, Kennedy School of Government
Zergun Koruturk, Turkish Ambassador to Portugal
Francisco Seixas da Costa, Portuguese Ambassador to Brazil
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-sponsored with the Center for European Studies and the Luso-American Foundation.

The Western Balkans Towards European Integration
March 22, 2006
The Honorable Arben Malaj, Member of the Parliament of Albania;  Senior Fellow, Center for Business and Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Environmental Protection in Croatia
March 15, 2006
Dr. Nikola Ruzinski, State Secretary for Environmental Protection, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Kosovo: Time for Decision
December 6, 2005
H.E. Michael Schmunk, Ambassador and Special Envoy, German Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dr. James Pettifer, Author and regular expert commentator on Balkan Affairs on CNN and BBC
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Cyprus in the EU: Prospects for Reunification, Peace with Turkey and Regional Stability
November 16, 2005
H.E. Euripides Evriviades, Ambassador to the United States for the Republic of Cyprus
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies

Truth, Falsehood and the Politics of Verification in a Globalizing Turkish Media
November 14, 2005
Mr. Andrew Finkel, Journalist
John F. Kennedy School of Government

FORUM: Ms. Carla Del Ponte, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia, United Nations
"International Justice in Pursuit of War Criminals"
October 25, 2005
John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum
Co-sponsored with the Institute of Politics, Harvard Law School's Human Rights Program and the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies


Europe's Future: After the Atlantic Era, Heading Towards the Pacific?
October 5, 2005
Dr. Jorgos Chatzimarkakis, Member of European Parliament
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-sponsored with the EU/US Challenge Series, Boston University and the Center for European Studies

The Triangulation of Turkey: Redefining Ankara's Role In Transatlantic Relations
May 11, 2005
Mr. Omer Sabanci, Chairman of the Board, TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association)
The Honorable Ilter Turkmen, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Turkey
Mr. Pekin Baran, Vice- Chairman of the Board, TUSIAD
Ms. Ayca Dinckok, Board Member, TUSIAD
Dr. Soli Ozel, Professor of International Relations, Bilgi University
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Turkish Foreign Policy and the United States
April 28, 2005
Mr. Egemen Bagis, chair of the Turkish parliament's Turkey-U.S. Friendship Caucus, and foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Click here for audio of lecture

Greece's Approach to Turkey and Cyprus
March 23, 2005
Mr. Alkis Courcoulas, Turkey Bureau Chief, Athens News Agency
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Contemporary European and U.S. Approaches to Foreign Policy Making
March 22, 2005
The Honorable George Dimitrakopoulos, Member of European Parliament
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-Sponsored with the Southeastern Europe Study Group

Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation
February 22, 2005
Mr. David L. Phillips, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director, Center for Preventive Action, Council on Foreign Relations and Director of the Peacebuilding Program at American University
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-sponsored with the Belfer Center's International Security Program and the Study Group on Modern Turkey at Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies

Turkey's EU Accession: The Light at the End of the Tunnel?
December 3, 2004
Dr. Murat Mercan, Deputy Chairman, Justice and Development Party, (AKP) and Chairman of the Turkish Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
John F. Kennedy School of Government

The Republic of Macedonia: Still a Puzzle?             
November 22, 2004
Mr. Hristo Ivanovski, Diplomatic Editor, Dnevnik Daily, Skopje
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Campaign 2004: Views from Abroad
October 18, 2004
Mehmet Ali Birand, CNN Turk
Nicholas Voulelis, Athens News Agency
Nico Fried, Sueddeutsche Zeitung
Talal Al-Haj, Al-Arabiya TV
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-sponsored with the Center for European Studies

Five Years and Counting: The Euro's Next Challenges
April 29, 2004
Lucas Papademos, Vice-President, European Central Bank
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Click here for powerpoint presentation

Managing Migration: 'Fortress Europe' or a Europe without Borders?
April 21, 2004
Demetrios Papademetriou, President and Co-Founder, Migration Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Southeast Europe: From Post-Conflict to Development and the Role of the World Bank
April 15, 2004
Orsalia Kalantzopoulos, Country Director and Regional Coordinator for Southeast Europe, The World Bank Group
Ardo Hansson, Lead Economist, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, The World Bank Group
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Greek and Turkish Relations: Forever a Hostage of History?
March 22, 2004
Bruce Clark, International Security editor, The Economist magazine
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Semi-authoritarianism as the Endgame: Has Serbia Arrived?
March 4, 2004 
Milan Sturgis, Political Advisor, OSCE, Belgrade, US Department of State
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-Sponsored with the Institute on Religion and World Affairs, Boston University

Judging the Past: Uses and Abuses of History at the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal
March 3, 2004
Robert Donia, Adjunct Asst. Research Scientist, University of Michigan and Expert Witness in Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal
Minda de Gunzberg Center for European Studies
Co-Sponsored with the Southeast European Study Group

Turkish-U.S. Relations
February 11, 2004
H.E. Morton Abramowitz, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs
Co-Sponsored with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies

Lessons of Negotiation: EU Accession and the Cyprus Dilemma from a Diplomat's Perspective
December 10, 2003
Mr. Denis Chaibi, Former First Secretary, Delegation of the European Commission to Cyprus and Current Fellow, Yale Center for International and Area Studies
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Taubman Building,

Illicit Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Southeastern Europe
November 13, 2003
Mr. C. Edward Peartree, Foreign Affairs Officer, Bureau of Political-Military Affair, US Dept. of State
Mr. Adrian Wilkinson, Team Leader, Southeastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNDP)
Chaired by: Lt. Gen. (USAF, ret.) Tad Oelstrom, Director of National Security Program, Kennedy School
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Click to see presentation

Aspects of Greek Foreign Policy: Europe, the USA and the Eastern Mediterranean on the eve of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games
October 20, 2003
H.E. George Savvaides, Ambassador of Greece to the United States
Minda de Gunzberg Center for European Studies
Co-Sponsored with the Center for European Studies, and the Greek Study Group

Olympic Truce: An Ancient Peace-Building Concept for Modern Troubled Times
October 29, 2003
Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, Director, Olympic Truce Committee
John F. Kennedy School of Government

NATO and the Greater Middle East
October 27, 2003
H.E. Nicholas Burns, US Ambassador to NATO
The Charles Hotel Pavillion
Co-Sponsored with the Belfer Center for International Affairs
Audio transcript and photos of the event available here

The Dynamics of Socio-Political and Economic Transformation in Bulgaria
May 13, 2003
Ms. Radka Betcheva, Nieman Fellow, Executive Producer at Bulgarian National Television
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-Sponsored with the Southeast European Study Group

NATO Enlargement - What Brings New Members to the Table?
April 30, 2003
H.E. Sorin Ducaru, Ambassador of Romania to the United States
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-Sponsored with the Center for Public Leadership and European Caucus

UNDP's Perspective of Development and Integration Challenges
April 23, 2003
Kalman Mizsei, Regional Director of Europe and CIS, UN Development Program, and Richard Morningstar (moderator)
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-Sponsored with the Center for International Development, Caspian Studies Program

Security and Olympics 2004
April 21, 2003
Ms. Marialena Conalis-Kontou, Senior Policy Advisor on American foreign policy, trans-Atlantic relations and Greek-American relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-Sponsored with the Southeast European Study Group

The Future of Cyprus
April 8, 2003  
Mr. Mustafa Akinci, Former Mayor of "North" Nicosia
Moderator: Dr. Robert Rotberg, Director of the Program on Intrastate Conflict and Conflict Resolution, Belfer Center, JFK School of Government
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-Sponsored with the Program on Intrastate Conflict, Conflict Prevention, and Conflict Resolution

A Diplomat's View of Iraq: Historical and Social Aspects
March 12, 2003
Mr. Konstantin Bikas, Consul General of Greece in Boston, Former Head of Mission at the Greek Embassy in Baghdad (1998- August 2002)
Center for Middle Eastern Studies

The Black Sea Region: Prospects and Challenges
January 28, 2002
Ersoy Volkan, President, Black Sea Trade & Development Bank.
John F. Kennedy School of Government

The US-Greece Relationship in 2002: An American Perspective
April 11, 2002
H.E. Thomas Miller, U.S. Ambassador to Greece 
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Human Trafficking in Southeastern Europe
November 6, 2002 
Mr. Sebastian Junger, Special Correspondent, ABC News, author of “Slaves of the Brothel,” and Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair 
Justice David Marshall, Senior Human Rights Advisor, Department of Justice, Canada, and former Chief of Legal Systems Monitoring Section, OSCE/UNMIK
Dr. Louise Shelley, Professor in Department of Justice, Law, and Society, the School of International Service, American University, and Director, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center
Panel Chair: Ms. Robin Lerner, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Current Realities and the Question of the Future Status of Kosovo
October 29, 2002
Dr. Daniel Serwer, Director, Balkans Initiative, US Institute of Peace
Mr. Louis Sell, Contributer, "Kosovo Final Status", USIP Special Report
Mr. Whit Mason, Public Affairs Advisor to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Milosevic in the Hague: The Politics of War Crimes Tribunals
March 21, 2002
Gary Jonathan Bass, Author "Stay the Hand of Vengeance: The Politics of War Crimes Tribunals"
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-Sponsored by the Carr Center for Human Rights and the Harvard Bookstore

The Balkans: A Mission Neither Accomplished Nor Impossible
March 14, 2002
H.E. Fatos Tarifa, Ambassador of Albania to the United States
John F. Kennedy School of Government 

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: On the Road to Stability?
November 14, 2001
A panel of experts discuss the future of the FYROM.
Cambridge panel:
Dr. Steven Burg, Professor of Politics, Brandeis University
H.E. Mark Dickinson, former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the FYR of Macedonia; 2001-02 Weatherhead Fellow, Harvard University
Dr. Duncan Perry, Dean of Graduate Studies and Extended Programs, Millersville University
via telephone conference:
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Turkey Between Two Worlds
October 15, 2001
Mr. Stephen Kinzer, former New York Times Istanbul Bureau Chief
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Democratic Transition in Croatia
October 11, 2001
Dr. Ivan Grdesic, Ambassador of Croatia to the United States
John F. Kennedy School of Government  

The Balkans after Milosevic: The Economic Battleground
May 10, 2001
H.E. Daniel Daianu, Former Minister of Finance, Bucharest
Dr. Georges De Menil, Visiting Professor, John F. Kennedy School of Government; former advisor to the Prime Minister of Romania
Mr. Mark Medish, Former Special Assistant to the President; Senior Director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs, National Security Council, Washington D.C.
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-sponsored with the Center for International Development

Integration or Definitive Ethnic Division: Bosnia-Herzegovina Five Years after Dayton
May 1, 2001
Mr. Senad Pecanin, editor, Dani, Sarajevo; 2000-01 Nieman Fellow, Harvard University
Center for European Studies
Co-organized with the Southeast European Study Group, Center for European Studies

Toward a Political Community in the Aegean Area: New Opportunities for Greece and Turkey
April 30, 2001
Dr. Epameinondas Marias, Special Scientific Collaborator, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Athens; 2000-01 Weatherhead Center Fellow, Harvard University
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Prospects of Stability in Southeastern Europe and Democratic Changes in Yugoslavia
April 26, 2001
H.E. Milan Protic, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the United States
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Future Challenges in Southeastern Europe and the Role of the West
April 25, 2001
T.H. Bodo Hombach, Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe
John F. Kennedy School of Government

De-Mining and Mine Action: The Croatian Model - From Death to Life
April 23, 2001
Dr. Dijana Plestina, Professor of Political Science, College of Wooster, Ohio; Adviser to the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Mine Action
Ms. Stacy Davis, Executive Director, Office of the Special Representative to the President and to the Secretary of State for Humanitarian Global De-Mining
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-organized with the Southeast European Study Group, Center for European Studies and the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard University

Kosovo in the Changing Environment of Southeastern Europe
March 21, 2001
Veton Surroi, Publisher, Koha Ditore Daily, Pristina
John F. Kennedy School of Government

The Media of Democratizing Societies: The Case of Southeastern Europe
February 27, 2001
Mr. Roland Qafoku, News Director, Koha Jone TV, Tirana
Ms. Zenit Djozic, Producer, Nadrealisti show, Sarajevo
Ms. Tanja Novak, Editor, Croatian Commercial Network, Zagreb
Mr. Visar Hoti, Producer/Manager, Radio Tema, Ferizaj
Ms. Tamara Causidis, Journalist, Macedonian Radio, Skopje
Moderated by Dr. Dimitris Keridis, Director, The Kokkalis Program
John F. Kennedy School of Government

The Kosovo Report: A Conversation with Commissioners
January 22, 2001
Justice Richard J. Goldstone, Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, Chairperson of the Independent International Commission on Kosovo
Michael Ignatieff, Visiting Carr Professor of Human Rights Practice Commissioner, the Independent International Commission on Kosovo
Martha Minow Professor of Law, Harvard Law School Commissioner the Independent International Commission on Kosovo
Moderated by Samantha Power, Executive Director, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-sponsored by the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy and the Project on Justice in Times of Transition Democracy

Cyprus Looking to the Future
December 1, 2000
H.E. Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-organized with the Hellenic American Women's Council (HAWC) and the Harvard Hellenic Society, the Women in Public Policy Program, the Cambridge Foundation for Peace, the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England, and the Boston Chapter of the American Hellenic Institute

The Role of Women in Peace-Building Efforts in Southeastern Europe
November 16, 2000
A discussion with women peace activists from Cyprus and former Yugoslavia
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Turkish Policy Towards Greece
November 8, 2000
H.E. Nazmi Akiman, former Ambassador of Turkey to Greece
Center for European Studies

Recent Developments in the Balkans and the role of Greece and the United States
October 27, 2000
H.E. Nicholas Burns, Ambassador of the United States to Greece
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Yugoslavia: The Challenge of Democracy
October 20, 2000
Mr. Pavle Jevremovic, chief advisor on foreign affairs to President Kostunica
Dr. Miroljub Labus, leader of the G-17 group of economic experts
Dr. Milan Protic, Mayor of Belgrade joined Kennedy School’s Asst. Professor
Dr. Richard Falkenrath, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government
Dr. Steven Burg, Professor of International Politics, Brandeis University (via phone conference)
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Bulgarian Foreign Policy on the Balkans, 1991-2000
October 2, 2000
H.E. Philip Dimitrov, Ambassador of Bulgaria to the United States
John F. Kennedy School of Government

European Enlargement: Its Impact on Central and Southeastern Europe
February 18, 2000
H.E. Loukas Tsilas, Permanent Representative of Greece to the European Union
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Budapest in the 21st Century
February 11, 2000
T.H. Gábor Demszky, Mayor of Budapest
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Benefits from a Small Country Joining the EU: The Case of Greece
November 9, 1999
Mr. George Stathopoulos, International Legal Consultant
John F. Kennedy School of Government

The Quality of Greek Democracy: Recent Developments
November 2, 1999
Dr. Nikiforos Diamandouros, Professor of Political Science, University of Athens; National Ombudsman of the Hellenic Republic, Athens
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-organized with the Southeast European Study Group and the Greek Study Group, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies

Democracy, Accountability and the Institution of the Ombudsman: The Greek Experience
November 1, 1999
Dr. Nikiforos Diamandouros, Professor of Political Science, University of Athens; National Ombudsman of the Hellenic Republic, Athens
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Partnership between Moldova and the US: Opportunities for Cooperation at the Confluence of the Centuries
October 29, 1999
H.E. Ceslav Ciobanu, Ambassador of Moldova to the United States.
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Growing Romania's Economy: Should We Care?
October 20, 1999
H.E. James C. Rosapepe, Ambassador of the United States to Romania
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-sponsored with the Institute of Politics and the Belfer Center for Security and International Affairs

Turkey and Europe
October 15, 1999
Dr. Cengiz Candar, Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, Washington D.C.
Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies
Co-organized with the Southeast European Study Group and the Greek Study Group, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies

The Greek-Turkish Arms Race: Is There a Way Out?
May 20, 1999
Mr. Panayotis J. Tsakonas, Fellow, Weatherhead Center of International Affairs, Harvard University
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Croatian Foreign Policy and the Kosovo Crisis
May 11, 1999
H.E. Miomir Zuzul, Ambassador of Croatia to the United States
John F. Kennedy School of Government

Greek-US Relations in the late 1990s: An Ambassador's View
November 2, 1998
H.E. Nicholas Burns, Ambassador of the United States to Greece
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Co-organized with the Hellenic-American Women's Council

The Ambassadors Talk: Balkan Stability in the Late 1990s - A forum
March 11, 1998
With the Ambassadors of Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the United States and the United Nations
John F. Kennedy School of Government

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