Regional Meeting of the BSPN, Kyiv, 9 December 2010

1. “Black Sea Synergy” for
Peacebuilding Initiatives
Regional Meeting of the BSPN, Kyiv, 9 December 2010
Natalya Belitser,
Pylyp Orlyk Institute for democracy, Kyiv

2. General considerationsGeneral considerations
 There are a number of on-going, “frozen”, andThere are a number of on-going, “frozen”, and
potential conflicts in the Black Sea regionpotential conflicts in the Black Sea region that
interfere or even prevent successful
social/economic development and integration of
the region
 Until recently, international community paidUntil recently, international community paid
relatively little attention to them, having, perhaps,relatively little attention to them, having, perhaps,
not enough political will to be closely involved innot enough political will to be closely involved in
post-Soviet geographical and political spacepost-Soviet geographical and political space
 Therefore, in this particular region, a role of theTherefore, in this particular region, a role of the
most powerful actors - both the EU (except recentmost powerful actors - both the EU (except recent
initiative in Crimea) and US - in conflict prevention,initiative in Crimea) and US - in conflict prevention,
management, and/or settlement remained rathermanagement, and/or settlement remained rather
weak compared to other regions suffering fromweak compared to other regions suffering from

3. OSCE failureOSCE failure
 Recent OSCE summit in Astana – the first in moreRecent OSCE summit in Astana – the first in more
than a decade – has demonstrated inability of thisthan a decade – has demonstrated inability of this
“Europe’s main security watchdog” to tackle“Europe’s main security watchdog” to tackle
successfully the existing post-Soviet conflictssuccessfully the existing post-Soviet conflicts
 The 56-member state Organization for Security andThe 56-member state Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe could not agree on a newCooperation in Europe could not agree on a new
"action plan" for them; instead,"action plan" for them; instead,
 they signed the Astana Commemorativethey signed the Astana Commemorative
Declaration, which repeated the previousDeclaration, which repeated the previous
commitment to principles of a free and democraticcommitment to principles of a free and democratic
security community from Vancouver to Vladivostoksecurity community from Vancouver to Vladivostok

4. A role of civil society
 Under such circumstances, to overcome
general negative impact of (different kind
of) conflicts on the overall region
development, civil society actors and their
initiatives might play more decisive role in
peace processes in the Black Sea region
 To empower civil society in countries of
the BSR, several factors are needed,
including:
 Networking (separate NGOs and initiative
groups supporting each other, sharing
“good practices”, analysing together
shortcomings and drawbacks, providing
both internal and external expertise)

5. Empowering civil society by:
 Broadening the scope of opportunities provided
by the EU Eastern Partnership (and/or Common
Foreign and Security Policy)
 Including the issue of conflicts into the agenda of
the EaP Civic Forums (creating additional Working
Sub-Group?)
 Increasing organisational, technical and financial
support for peacebuilding projects and initiatives
 Providing some kind of protection for civic peace
activists in case of persecutions, excessive
pressures and/or brutal intimidations

6. Proposals for the Black Sea
Peacebuilding Network
 Take measures for establishing closer cooperation
with other international and regional networks
pursuing the same or similar aims
A few examples of the latter:
 Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed
Conflicts (GPPAC) has two networks operating in the
BSR
 East-East: Partnership Beyond Borders Programme
(networking national Soros Foundations in many
countries of the BSR)
 Black Sea Region Peacebuilding Platform (initiated by
PATRIR, Romania, has essential human resources,
newly established electronic bulletin but up to now,
nothing else)
 Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (very active in 90-s, still
operating in a few countries of the BSR)

7. Proposals for the Black Sea
Peacebuilding Network
For the decision-makers (including donors):
 Consider more “synergistic” approach for the
BSPN future activities (including co-funding of
joint projects and region-wide initiatives)
 reconsider non-inclusion into the Black Sea
Peacebuilding Network of those Black Sea
countries that already joined NATO and EU
(Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece)
For coordinators/managers responsible for projectsFor coordinators/managers responsible for projects
implementationimplementation
 Avoid unhealthy “competition” between different
projects, aiming instead at closer collaboration
(beginning from the early planning stage)

8. Proposals for the Black Sea
Peacebuilding Network
For all actors/stakeholders involved:
 Promote closer interaction of the BSPN with other
networks, projects and programmes working in
the same area and having similar purposes
 Use more efficiently media resources (including
already existing) for promoting BSPN activities
and initiatives
 Internet portal “BlackSeaNews” (Crimea, Yalta-
based, project supported by the USAID) can
serve as common source of information and
discussion forum for a number of national Expert
Councils of the BSPN

9. Benefits of a “synergistic”
approach:
 Possibility of a “cumulative effect”
 More cost-saving because of wider use of
co-funding
 Wider outreach due to targeting different
groups/audiences (instead of dealing with
the same ones in frames of different
projects, which is often the case)

10. Thank you!
Natalya Belitser, POID,
belitser.n1@gmail.com