The theme of this year's conference was "Future of the World Between Globalization and Regionalization". The first opening address was given by Federico Mayor, former Director General of UNESCO and President of the EPCD Council. He reviewed the global challenges the world is facing and called for a re-foundation of the United Nations System. This should start with a reconsideration of concepts and principles, and an ethical framework for action. We need timely measures, as tomorrow may be too late.
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Federico Mayor (left centre); the conference; principal organizers

He was followed by Erhard Busek, former Vice-Chancellor of Austria, who warned about the break up of countries, the use of anxiety and fear for political success, and the danger of war. He said we should look to human rights and create a climate for political responsibility.

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Dr. Erhard Busek (centre left); speakers; some of the audience

Johan Galtung, Founder and first President of the Peace Research Institute, Norway, sent his presentation on "From Regionalization to Globalization: What Stands in the Way?" We have overcome geographical distance but not cultural distance, and are witnessing an historical transition from a world state system to a world region system. He noted that Western globalization is centralized, while Islamic globalization is localized. He called for a "soft globalization" of regional groupings of states.

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speakers and audience

Forty-four distinguished speakers from academia and government contributed to topics such as the impact of globalization on world peace and development, re-arranging the world North-West vis-à-vis South-East, regionalization versus globalization, migration threats and opportunities, and Balkans between dramatic global and regional changes. I moderated one session and presented a paper in another on "Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the Balkans".

An evening reception was held at the City Hall with a Renaissance ensemble
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Renaissance ensemble; evening reception


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