Investing in Afghanistans future

Spring 2012

In association with Media partner

A Security & Defence Agenda, Friends of Europe and Debating Europe report
Rapporteur: David Koczij
Photos: Philippe Molitor
Publisher: Geert Cami
Date of publication: May 2012

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 Investing in Afghanistans future

CONTENTS

Report 2

Programme, speakers and moderator 11

List of participants 12

The views expressed in this report are personal opinions of the speakers and not necessarily those of the organisations they
represent, nor of the Security & Defence Agenda, Friends of Europe, Debating Europe, their members or partners.

Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted, providing that full attribution is made to the organisers and to the source(s)
in question, and provided that any such reproduction, whether in full or in part, is not sold unless incorporated in other
works.

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 Investing in Afghanistans future

Introduction These processes are already in place but need to be

developed further in order to address the problems
Ensuring stability in Afghanistan after the planned 2014 confronting Afghanistan, namely the issues of security,
draw-down in NATOs presence in the country requires development and governance encompassing
urgent action, agreed participants at Investing in corruption, rule of law, human rights and financing,
Afghanistans Future. The discussion, co-organised by among others.
Friends of Europe, the Security & Defence Agenda (SDA)
and Debating Europe, in partnership with the British In the most optimistic scenario, noted Fatima
Council and the NATO, considered the outlook for Ayub, Senior Policy & Advocacy Officer, Open Society
Afghan society to 2014 and Foundations, the 2014
beyond. A strong army but a weak civilian government draw-down would leave
is a recipe for chronic instability behind an Afghanistan with
We believe it is time to focus a minimally functioning
on Afghanistans people on central government and security forces capable of
governance, shoring up the civilian leadership, on the dealing with the ongoing insurgency.
economy, on women and the media, said Shada Islam,
Head of Policy at Friends of Europe. A strong army but
a weak civilian government is a recipe for chronic
instability, she added.
Heading towards civil war?

The coming transition in Afghanistan will not begin in Even this scenario may not become reality, as targeted
2014 with the withdrawal of NATO troops, said Paul assassinations and increasing political infighting in
Smith, British Council Country Director, Afghanistan. It Afghanistan appear to suggest that the country will be
has already started and is well underway. facing a serious political crisis in the next few years.
The fact is that the war in
This transition, of which the end The coming transition in Afghanistan will not Afghanistan is escalating,
goal must be to enable the begin in 2014 with the withdrawal of NATO Ayub underlined, adding:
Afghan people to command troops. It has already started and is well There are signs that the
and control their own destiny underway country is slowly sliding
in order to create a secure, towards civil war.
stable and prosperous country, should focus on three
main processes: the withdrawal of international
combat forces, the peace process, and democratic and During her extensive travels in Afghanistan over the
fair elections, said Pedro Serrano, Director for South last year, Nasrine Gross, Founder and President of the
and Southeast Asia at the European External Action Roqia Center for Womens Rights, Studies and
Service (EEAS). Education in Afghanistan, has not heard from one

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 Investing in Afghanistans future

single Afghan who is not worried about the Western The panel agreed that the way forward for a stable and
coalition leaving. While it is true that the Afghan sustainable Afghanistan is for the Afghan people with
security forces do not currently have the wherewithal support from the international community to take
to stand alone against the insurgency, she said she was upon themselves the task of creating capable
less concerned about the idea of civil war. The real governance structures while rallying national security
threat continues to be the Taliban and other groups forces and the will of the people around cohesive
who are trained, armed and funded by sources outside Afghan cultural ideals.
of the country.
The conclusion is not that the people do not care
Whether future conflict comes from outside forces or about what happens to their country, said Col. Michel
not, concerns are escalating that Afghanistans Lalumire, Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Interagency
fledgling governance and security structures will be Task Force Shafafiyat, ISAF. There are many entities on
unable to meet the requirements of stability and the ground that have the will but lack the tools and
sustainability as international support from both mechanisms to tackle the issues. Make no mistake;
development aid programs and the International Afghanistan is in a race where the prize is the trust of
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) drops off following the people.
troop withdrawals in 2014.

As much as I would like to subscribe to the ideas of

functional development and capacity-building, I What role for the international community?
genuinely do not think that this is how the In any discussion on the future of Afghanistan, it is
international community as a whole thinks about important to remember that currently, 90% of the
success in Afghanistan, said Ayub. Instead, she Afghan budget is donor-financed, noted Serrano,
suggested that the international community is more adding that much remains to be done to ensure the
concerned with patching up the security threat countrys sustainability.
presented by Afghanistan, rather than addressing the
The EEAS is currently negotiating a cooperation
root causes of the instability in Afghan society.
agreement on partnership and development with
Focus on people Afghanistan. This agreement will be the EUs first legal
framework with the country and is a sign of the
Afghanistan is not a geopolitical strategy, noted evolving and maturing relations between the EU and
Afghanistan.
Smith. It is not a series of bilateral agreements. It is
real. It is thirty million people who are tired of being
Furthermore, following the December 2011
pawns in other peoples games and want to build a International Afghanistan Conference in Bonn, the EU
normal life for themselves and their children. has reaffirmed its commitment to assisting Afghanistan
beyond the transition period, which ends in 2014
transition, throughout the decade of transformation.

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 Investing in Afghanistans future

The international communitys engagement with while continuing its financial support for police salaries
Afghanistan will be deepened and further defined this through the United Nations Development
year through a set of conferences to be held in Chicago Programmes Law and Order Trust Fund for
in May, Kabul in June and Tokyo in July, Serrano Afghanistan.
informed the participants. These conferences are all
interlinked, addressing different aspects of the
international community's engagement: security and Afghanistans neighbours
development and the regional dimension, respectively.
The second conference, to be held in Kabul in June, will
Afghan security forces involve actors from the region such as India, Pakistan
and China and will reinforce the importance of the
One of the key topics of the Chicago conference will be
regional dimension following the withdrawal of
how to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of
international combat forces.
the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). This area
concerns NATO and ISAF to a large degree but the EU
Finally, Serrano noted, the Tokyo conference is
will continue its commitment to supporting the civilian
police, he explained. concerned with ensuring the ownership of Afghanistan
over its own development. International donors are
The aim beyond 2014 is that the ANSF be in the lead already engaged in a number of areas in Afghan
and take over responsibility for security, said development, from the justice sector, through
Lalumire. Already, the capacity that the Afghan electoral reform, governance and human rights, to
forces are demonstrating is impressive. health and rural development. The donors have to
live up to their commitments and Afghanistan to the
Addressing a question about civilian oversight of the
military, Serrano underlined that EU efforts are reforms it has agreed to carry out, he stated.
focussed on developing an accountable police force
In the lead up to 2014, the
able to serve Afghan citizens.
The EU was complementing If we want to be successful in Afghanistan, the EU has three main messages
the se e ffo rts th ro ugh EU must fulfil its commitments, as well as the to impart to Afghanistan
supporting reform of the Afghan authorities and the international and its partners in the
judiciary and penitentiary international community,
systems. community.
Serrano underlined. Firstly,
the political and financial commitment from the EU
We are distinguishing between the civilian police and
the army, he noted. We want to ensure that the remains firm, as well as cooperation in any number of
civilian police are numerous enough and of a high other areas.
enough quality to protect citizens rights and provide a
service to society. To this end, through its EUPOL Secondly, effective engagement with Afghanistan can
Afghanistan mission, the EU provides leadership only be successful if the Afghan Government makes
training and mentoring to the Afghan police forces good on its commitments to addressing governance

The Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan is a multi-lateral Trust Fund set up in 2002 as a mechanism for coordinating contributions as part of the
international communitys support for building the Afghan national police force. For more information: http://www.undp.org.af/whoweare/undpinafghanistan/
Projects/sbgs/prj_lotfa.htm
5

The conclusions of the Bonn Conference can be found on the website of the EEAS: http://eeas.europa.eu/afghanistan/docs/2011_11_conclusions_bonn_en.pdf
 Investing in Afghanistans future

reforms, while encouraging its civil society to fully play Afghanistan. In order to accomplish this, we must bring
its role. Finally, the continued commitment of the together the various actors and improve a shared
international community is essential to Afghanistans understanding on the common issues at stake.
transition and transformation processes. NATO, the UN
and other, particularly regional, actors must at least While conducting these discussions, the different
maintain, if not increase, their involvement in the dynamics around the region need to be dealt with
processes currently underway in Afghanistan. If we separately, either through bilateral agreements or
want to be successful in Afghanistan, he noted, the through third party interventions, he suggested.
EU must fulfil its commitments, as well as the Afghan On the technical level in some areas, certain regional
authorities and the international community. actors are interested in continuing and expanding
Underlining the importance of her fellow discussants cooperation, noted Lalumire. Security issues are an
analysis, Ayub warned that, for all the discussion easy example but we are also seeing some cooperation
underway, there are not any real economic between regional players on trans-border crime. An
commitments to Afghanistan after 2014. Afghanistan alignment of interest prompts discussion, which is part
is largely aid dependent, she reminded, and the of the natural evolution of stabilisation, he elaborated.
budget is completely skewed, with 40% of revenue Cooperation on a technical level is a good step but it is
currently consumed by security services. Once aid not enough, said Ayub, adding that regional players
levels fall, we must consider what effect the ensuing can only be engaged politically. If we are to engage
economic instability will have. these actors productively, we must continue talking to
them.

Stabilising the region

Fixing Afghanistans political deficit
The regional players are very important for the future
Afghanistan is facing a growing insurgency, as the
of Afghanistan, stated Gross. The inclusion of
attacks that took place on 15 April 2012 demonstrate,
Afghanistans neighbours in the processes currently Ayub stated, suggesting further that conflicts distort
underway is imperative for a peaceful transition in the economies and the political fabric of societies.
country. Countries that are in conflict have not achieved a single
Millennium Development Goal, according to last years
As the regional conference in Kabul approaches, it is World Development Report, released by the World
vital that the regional players recognise their common Bank.
interest in stability in the region. Failure of one
neighbour is a great danger to every player in the She believes that, in order to truly advance in stabilising
Afghanistan, the drivers of the conflict must be
region, said Serrano. The priority is the stability of
overcome and all factions within the country must be
able to meet and come to a genuine political
6 settlement.
 Investing in Afghanistans future

What is currently being presented as a political In addition, there is a proliferation and fragmentation
process is in reality only discussion about a political of armed groups throughout the country.
process, she noted, adding that successful
negotiations to end the ongoing conflict must be held In the absence of a commonly-held notion of a state to
between more than just the Americans and the Taliban. provide protection and run the country, against a
The challenge is to include all of the power brokers in backdrop of increasing insecurity as to whether the
Afghanistan in the process and allow them to reach an ANSF will remain cohesive after the withdrawal of ISAF
agreement among themselves. troops, she expressed concerns about the possibility of
a civil war.
An important step in this process is the elections
proposed for 2014, underlined Gross. The 2014 In sum, Ayub said that 2014 will bring one of two
elections must happen and they must be free, fair and possibilities. There will either be recognition on the
transparent. For this to occur we need to effect part of the current Afghan administration that it needs
changes in electoral law and the electoral commission. to hold a productive dialogue in the absence of
The work needed to make support from ISAF, or the
these changes must start The 2014 elections must happen and they power brokers in Afghanistan
now. must be free, fair and transparent. will believe that they can
continue to fight the war, thus
Though she agrees with her co-panellist, Ayub said she prolonging the conflict and perpetuating the hardship
was uncertain that the current conditions on the for the country and its people.
ground in Afghanistan will allow these free and
transparent elections to take place. In the absence of a
fair and democratic transition of political leadership, Integrating equality and justice in the Afghan
she posits, there is a greater risk of a slide towards cultural identity
more armed conflict.
The question of redefining Afghan culture is quite
We need to discuss what a political process looks like pertinent to the process of transition the country is
in Afghanistan, she said. As it stands now, there is no undergoing, panellists said. People often speak about
political framework in place to Afghanistan as a three-legged
manage competing interests. We need to discuss what a political process stool, comprising governance,
This is the point that needs to looks like in Afghanistan. As it stands now, security and socio-economic
be underscored. development. I believe it is a
there is no political framework in place to man-
four-legged chair. Without the
age competing interests. fourth leg of culture to
Powerful families stabilise it, the whole
structure is liable to collapse, noted Smith.
As Ayub sees it, the political pattern currently emerging
in Afghanistan is one where networks of powerful
families control large sectors of the economy.

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 Investing in Afghanistans future

The future stability of Afghanistan depends heavily The role of women

forging an identity as a nation with rich cultural
traditions. He said the way forward for Afghanistan While women do work in government and business,
depended on: investment in education, a responsive they remain a small minority that is shrinking at an
and responsible civil society, and a sense of cultural alarming rate. In 2003, 33% of government employees
cohesion around which the nation may build an were women, a number which has now dropped to
identity. 21%, she noted, adding that 85% of Afghan women are
illiterate and 77% live in rural areas, sometimes with no
For the last decades, Afghanistan, one of the worlds access to drinkable water.
oldest civilisations, has been an incipient nation,
always on the verge of defining itself, stated Smith. The freedoms that Afghan women have gained are
The seemingly endless conflicts that have torn through now in danger because the government of President
the country for the last thirty years have denied Hamid Karzai has been ignoring womens rights and
Afghanistan essential processes in education, training presenting clear messages that devalue women, Gross
and professional development, resulting in a dearth of said.
professionals in all sectors, from health to agriculture Furthermore, over the last decade, extremist Muslims
and administration to engineering. have been disseminating counter-productive ideas
about the role of women in society. When Mullahs say
In order to ensure a stable and sustainable future for
it is against Islam for women to leave the house, it is
Afghanistan, investments must be made in helping to
extremely dangerous for the future of Afghanistan,
create an indigenous Afghan civil society that carries
she warned. This is not Islam but, if we Afghans who
weight with the formal government, he underlined.
believe in fundamental rights do not have good
An important element of empowering civil society lies mechanisms in place to prevent such erroneous beliefs,
in the respect of fundamental human rights. In the we are part of the problem.
case of Afghanistan, womens rights have become a
major issue, notwithstanding the countrys When considering social inclusion, it behoves Afghan
constitution, which guarantees equal rights for men decision makers and their partners in the international
and women, explained Gross. community to activate the wealth of human resources
represented by the countrys youth. For good or for ill,
Afghans youth are the people who will be running the
show in the future, noted Smith.

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 Investing in Afghanistans future

Young people have a key role the outside. Much effort has gone into addressing this
issue in the past and currently there is a lot of positive
Currently, there are numerous initiatives in place that energy on the ground to be harnessed in the fight
are trying to help youth to find their voice and achieve against corruption.
traction on social action, he informed the participants.
In dealing with the younger generations of Afghans, Progress has been made, particularly in the fight
care must be taken to avoid being patronising while at against those who grow, process, and sell narcotics, he
the same time working to empower them. noted. These commendable actions have
demonstrated that, with a concerted effort, the
In my experience, the sector of the population who Afghan justice system can be made to operate against
are the most adamant about democratic and fair the criminal actors who have been enjoying impunity
change in Afghanistan is the youth, Smith said, adding during the past decade.
that we have to find practical means to enable the
youth to put their ideas into action. Future leaders

Smith said it was imperative that the international As a final point, Smith urged the participants to
community invested in helping Afghanistan find its own consider that Afghanistan needs help identifying its
democratic governing structures that are culturally future leaders. Creating a culturally cohesive and equal
relevant. An appropriate area to begin would be the society in Afghanistan is contingent on the next
most oft-cited concern among Afghan youth, namely generation of well-educated professionals that could
the rampant level of corruption in the country, the benefit from an improved Afghan educational system.
panel agreed.
Tackling corruption in Afghanistan is a matter While Afghan school and
of enabling the justice system to evolve and university systems have come
Tackling corruption become more robust. a long way, there is still much
work to be done, he admitted.
The level of corruption in Afghanistan and how it has For example, at the current time only 5% of university
evolved in the last decade has made it totally lecturers in Afghanistan have obtained a PhD, while
disproportionate compared with the existing capacity less than 30% have a post-graduate degree at all.
to tackle it, noted Lalumire. Simply put, the Afghans
are asking for a set of checks and balances to address I believe that, if we are to use international money for
the issue of corruption. There is a lack of suitably any one developmental purpose over any other, we
robust institutions capable of validating allegations of should use it to pay the salaries of the most relevant
corruption and following through with prosecution. sectors for the future stabilisation of the country, such
as schoolteachers, civil servants and doctors, Smith
Tackling corruption in Afghanistan is a matter of concluded.
enabling the justice system to evolve and become more
robust, noted Lalumire. The system should operate
without intimidation, interruption and influence from

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 Programme

Evening debate 24 April 2012

Ensuring stability in Afghanistan after the planned 2014 draw-down in NATOs presence in the
country requires urgent action on an array of fronts. An improvement in domestic governance
structures is critical. Currently, a lack of commitment to the rule of law, coupled with
widespread corruption and heightened insecurity, hinder human and economic development
in Afghanistan. Stronger civilian institutions are needed. The future of Afghanistan also
depends on the strength and vitality of its people, including the ability of its reformers,
business leaders, civil society groups and women to operate without restrictions. The recent
international conference in Bonn has promised continued support for post-2014 Afghanistan.
But with aid budgets under pressure, can this pledge be fulfilled? How can the international
community best assist in developing human, institutional and regulatory capacities in the
country? What are the key challenges ahead and what role can the EU play in assisting the
transition? Can modern models of education and society survive post 2014 and can an Afghan
identity emerge and co-exist with new models of education? What lesson have we learned
about cultural needs and investment in people? Will Afghanistans civil society structures
remain influential or will they be overtaken by traditional versions?

Speakers & Moderator

Fatima Ayub Nasrine Gross

Senior Policy & Advocacy Officer Founder and President

Open Society Foundations Roqia Center for Womens rights,
Studies and Education, Afghanistan

Col. Michel Lalumire Pedro Antonio Serrano

Chief of Staff Director for South and Southeast Asia

Combined Joint Interagency Task European External Action Service (EEAS)
Force Shafafiyat, International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF)

Paul Smith Shada Islam

Country Director Head of Policy

British Council, Afghanistan Friends of Europe

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 Investing in Afghanistans future

List of participants

Lt. Col. Marco Albrizio Sandeep Bhargava

Strategic Operations Centre ISAF Team Head, Telecom Regulations
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Nokia Siemens Networks

Nabeela Al-Mulla Sergey Bludnov

Ambassador Second Secretary
Mission of Kuwait to the EU Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to NATO

Emanuel Amaral Almut Brunckhorst

Economist Deputy Head of Operations
European Commission, Directorate General for Delegation of the European Union to Afghanistan
Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid (DEVCO)
Peter Brune
Victor Angelo Secretary General
International Affairs Strategist & Columnist Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA)
Visao Magazine
Hartmut Bhl
Emanuele Angioni Publisher
Global Changemakers Team The European Security and Defence Union
British Council
Geert Cami
Carlos Arnott Co-Founder & Director
Assistant Friends of Europe
European Network of NGOs in Afghanistan (ENNA)
Pavlina Canova
Valey Arya Journalist
Senior Adviser for Building Integrity Bulgaria on Air
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Qian Cao
Eda Aygen Editor
Project Assistant Boao Review
Security & Defence Agenda (SDA)
Hanne Carl
Fatima Ayub Counsellor, Justice & Home Affairs
Senior Advocate Ministry of the Interior, Belgium
Open Society Foundation
Virginia Cezilly
Paul Baes EU Affairs Manager
Former Official British Council
Council of the European Union
Kaat Cleenewerck
Vanlalvawna Bawitlung Journalist
Counsellor (European Union) Brussel deze Week
Mission of India to the EU

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 List of participants
Cecilia Costa
Geo-coordinator, co-Desk Afghanistan Nathalie Furrer
European Commission, Directorate General for Director
Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid (DEVCO) Friends of Europe

Robert Cox Igor Garcia-Tapia

Trustee Project Manager
Friends of Europe Security & Defence Agenda (SDA)

Claire Craanen Andrea Ghianda

Policy Officer, Strategic Analysis Capability Project Manager
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Security & Defence Agenda (SDA)

Atu Darko Daniela Gioffre

Communication Officer Public Affairs Assistant, Chairman's Office
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Robin Davies Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic

Head of External Relation Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy,
British Council Public Diplomacy Division
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Alfonso De Cea
Writer Nasrine Gross
CafeBabel.com President
Roqia Center for Womens rights, Studies and
Marta de la Cera Education in Afghanistan
Coordinator
European Network of NGOs in Afghanistan (ENNA) Said Haider
Student
Diana De Vivo Kent University
Administrator
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Lt. Col. Thomas Hanley
CENTCOM-CCJ3 Interagency Action Group, US Army
Olivier Desarzens International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
Officer, Defence and Security Economics, Political
Affairs and Security Policy Division Sylvie Hermerel
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Employee
EUROCONTROL
Patricia Diaz
Project Manager Andre Hoefel
Friends of Europe Assistant to Elmar Brok, MEP
European Parliament
Hippolyte d'Ursel
Project Manager Enduring Partnership and Building Shada Islam
Integrity Head of Policy
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Friends of Europe

Julie Fournier Akhshid Javid

Assistant, Civilian Crisis Management Commercial Attache
Permanent Representation of France to the EU Mission of Afghanistan to the EU

Alexandre Jully
Assistant, Policy and Communication

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 List of participants
Michal Kaplan
Head of Unit, EU External Relations Viktorija Laurinaityte
Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to Project Assistant
the EU Friends of Europe

Ewelina Kawczynska Zoe Leffler

Freelance Journalist Attach, Justice and Police Reform
Euronews Delegation of the European Union to Afghanistan
Adrian Kendry
Aymeric Leruste
Senior Defence Economist and Head Defence and
Consultant
Security Economics
Aspect Consulting
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

Nawab Khan Lt. Col. Chirstophe Lhomme

Correspondent Military Assistant to SACEUREP
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

Gauri Khandekar Martin Libiseller

Researcher, Head of Asia Programme Assistant
Fundacion para las Relaciones Internacionales y Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU
el Dialogo Exterior (FRIDE)
Capt. (N) Tapio Maijala
Margarita Kkara Deputy Military Representative
Counsellor, Justice and Home Affairs Mission of Finland to NATO
Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU

Eva Kordova Ricardo Martinez De Rituerto

Policy Advisor Defence, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
European External Action Service (EEAS) El Pas

Kadri Kukk Pauline Massart

Brussels correspondent Senior Manager
Estonian Public Broadcasting Security & Defence Agenda (SDA)

Emma Kvennberg Zurab Matcharadze

Assistant European Correspondent
European Parliament Resonance Daily Newspaper

Col.Michel Lalumire Natalia Melnyk

Chief of Staff Second Secretary
Combined Joint Interagency Task Force Shafafiyat, Mission of Ukraine to NATO
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
Thomas Mergenthaler
Louise Langeby
Third Secretary
Program Associates
Permanent Representation of Germany to the EU
The German Marshall Fund of the United States

Peter Lanssens Nadja Milanova

Attach Head, Bilateral and Regional Cooperation Department,
Ministry of Justice, Belgium Defense Policy Directorate
Ministry of Defence, Bulgaria
Laura Houlgatte
Project Assistant Branislav Milinkovic
British Council Ambassador
Mission of Serbia to NATO

17
 The British Council: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
The British Council celebrates its 78th birthday this year. From modest beginnings we now boast over
220 offices in over 100 countries and territories across the world. Although we receive a core govern-
ment grant to underpin our on-the-ground presence we earn the 72% of our resources by teaching Eng-
lish, winning and delivering education and development contracts and working in partnership with public
bodies, donors and the private sector. In total, for every 1 of government funding received, we earn an
additional 2.65 from other sources.

We have consistently proven successful at turning this investment into impressive impact. Last year
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reached more than 600 million people around the world through direct, indirect or media engagement,
that is one in ten of the worlds population.

This brief outlines the challenges that the British Council has confronted in the past, is engaging with
today and our expected areas of focus in the future.

Yesterday
We were established in 1934, with the support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as The British
Committee for Relations with other Countries, to actively promote an understanding of Britain across
the world through our lan1448 Copenhagenand increasing aggressive competition between European
powers. The 2nd World War provided impetus for cultural relations to become a tool to strengthen rela-
tionships with allies, heal political tensions with foes, and identify with those seeking refuge in the UK
all of whom would shape our post war future.

Throughout the Cold War when links between Whitehall and the Kremlin were frozen, the British Council
continued to develop relations with the people of the USSR. Through cultural activities such as opera
exchanges, music tours and educational visits we kept the communications channel between civil sec-
tors open. This cultural foundation was a firm basis on which the UK could build relations once the politi-
cal ice began to thaw in the 1980s.

The chaotic break up of Yugoslavia, tensions in the Middle East and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghani-
stan have all been opportunities for the British Council to build trust and mutual understanding between
peoples of different cultures, and to prepare the ground for a return to normality once conflict subsides.

Thus, people to people engagement through cultural relations, particularly in times of conflict and when
there has been a deficit of political trust between countries, has been a constant thread to our work
throughout our history. Of course, we dont need to be at war to witness conflict. We are constantly sur-
rounded by threats to our social cohesion and these societal rifts are our day-to-day battle ground.
The British Council continues to engage in the challenges of today.

The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide.
A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland).
18
Today
We engage in cultural activities in support of UKs strategic endeavours to enhance prosperity and in-
crease stability. In peaceful times and times of crisis we develop relationships with communities around
the world. Where international relations create temporary barriers between countries, we seek to swiftly
re-establish cultural relations and create a channel for peaceful cooperation and for the development of
opportunities and solutions to shared problems.

We increase opportunities for the UK in the big emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil.
We support security and stabilisation in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. We help to bring
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liver sustainable international development by improving skills and education systems and helping to
secure good governance, and promote anti-corruption and social inclusion.

We also have a long-term track record in building people-to-people relationships, as well as linking
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Focusing much of our attention on the next generation tomorrows decision-makers we provide op-
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Tomorrow
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come through our worldwide English language teaching programmes and exams, sponsorships and
partnerships.

We will constantly shape our activities and structures to ensure that we remain relevant, and that we in-
crease our impact as an asset for the UK.

We will continue to work with UK educators, artists, language specialists, scientists, sports people, pol-
icy-makers and young people to create international opportunities and connect them with their peers in-
ternationally.

British Council EU Office, Brussels

Our office in Brussels is the hub of British Councils activities around the world, as seen through the
prism of the European Union. We ensure that our programmes, whether in support of social cohesion,
social integration, further education, sustainable development, or conflict prevention and resolution, re-
flect the broad objectives of the European Strategy EU 2020.

We seek co-funding and service contract opportunities from the European Commission and we align
our work with other like-minded institutions. Of special note is our leading role in EUNIC the European
Union National Institutes for Culture a network with increasing significance for the EU and the Euro-
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tural component to EU foreign policy structures and developments.

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 List of participants
Giulia Pasquinelli
Stanislava Mladenova Programme Assistant
Business Analyst European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO)
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Lt. Col. Jean-Claude Payssan
Giulia Vittoria Monti Strategic Operations Centre ISAF Team
Project Assistant North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Security & Defence Agenda (SDA)

Atanasios Moschos Helder Pereira

Director, Quality and Control Policy Advisor
Leonidas South Asia Democratic Forum

Valrie Moutal David Peterson

TEN-T Project Manager Senior Fellow
European Commission, Trans-European Transport Brigham Young University (BYU)
Network Executive Agency (TEN-TEA)
Jessica Petter
Bettina Muscheidt European Affairs Manager
Desk Office, Afghanistan British Council
European External Action Service (EEAS)
Jawid Najumyar Stefanie Poulton
Assistant Personal Assistant to EU Europe Regional Director and
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Research Officer
British Council
Brig. (Ret) Patrick Nopens
Senior Associate Fellow Alan Povey
Royal Higher Institute for Defence, Belgium Wing Commander GBR F, Staff Officer CIMIC Planner 3
Operations Directorate
Andrey Ognev Nato Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Diplomat
Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to NATO Mohammad Naeem Poyesh
Counsellor
Yan Omelchenko Embassy of Afghanistan to Belgium
Minister Counsellor
Embassy of Ukraine to Belgium Anke Richter
Nienke Onnen Associate Professor, Naval Postgraduate School
Assistant, PSC Department Defense Resources Management Institute
Permanent Representation of the Netherlands to the
EU Morten Ringheim
Assistant Director General, Department of
Rebekka Opfermann Management and Financial Governance
EU Policy Ministry of Defence, Norway
Peacefulfish Productions
Lt. Col. Joseph Rodrigues
Abeda Osman
Staff Officer, Intelligence Division
Counsellor
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
Mission of Afghanistan to the EU

Davide Osti Eleanor Ruddy

Assistant Political Analyst
European Commission Nato Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Gloria Paridi Sid Sala
Assistant Assistant
European Strategic Intelligence & Security Center European External Action Service (EEAS)
(ESISC)

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 List of participants
Giovanni Salici
Official Ian Smith
European Commission, Directorate General for SME
Interpretation - Conference Organisation North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

Wim Samson Paul Smith

Attach Country Director
Ministry of Justice, Belgium British Council Afghanistan

Ren Steiner
Anne Savey
Administrator
Assistant, Africa Programme
European Commission, Directorate General Human
Search for Common Ground
Resources and Security
Bart Schelfhout Homayoun Tandar
Senior Manager European Affairs Ambassador
Philips International Embassy of Afghanistan to Belgium

Peter D. Schellinck Nagayo Taniguchi

Chairman Journalist
Schellter Strategy Consultants Sentaku/SEKAI

Maj. Marc Segers Umberto Rossi

Political Analyst Military Advisor
Nato Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) European Commission, Directorate General for Mobility
and Transport
Jos Antonio Segura Lize Van Dyck
Counsellor Journalist
Embassy of Spain to Belgium MO*
Jeannette Seppen Ulrich van Essen
CIVCOM Delegate Head of Unit, Information Assurance
Permanent Representation of the Netherlands to the Council of the European Union
EU
Maryse Van Wonterghem
Barbora Seredyczov Briefing Program Coordinator and Grants Manager
Assistant to Libor Roucek, MEP Mission of the United States of America to the EU
European Parliament
Robert F. Vandenplas
Pedro Serrano International Affairs Consultant
Director for South and Southeast Asia
European External Action Service (EEAS) Kostyantyn Voytovsky
Counsellor
Shantana Shahid Mission of Ukraine to NATO
Assistant
Council of the European Union Tidhar Wald
EU Conflict & Humanitarian Policy Advisor
Alex Shearman Oxfam International Advocacy Office (Brussels)
Africa/European Programme Assistant
Peiran Wang
Search for Common Ground
Visiting Scholar
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Ramin Shirzay
Assistant Guillaume Xavier-Bender
Heinrich-Bll-Stiftung Program Associate, Economic Policy
The German Marshall Fund of the United States

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List of participants

Alba Xhixha
Consultant
Aspect Consulting

Park Yeong Hyeon

Project Assistant
Korean International Trade Association (KITA)

Muzaffer Yksel
First Secretary
Delegation of Turkey to NATO

Renata Zaleska
Consultant
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

Jessica Zimerman
Coordinator, Parliamentarians Network for Conflict
Prevention
EastWest Institute

Michael Zumot
Program Coordinator
EastWest Institute

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