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2013 Halifax International Security Forum

2013 Halifax International Security Forum

Date
November 22-24, 2013
Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Participants
300

Agenda & Speakers

Friday, November 22
Saturday, November 23
Sunday, November 24

7:00

5K Run with Canadian Minister of National Defence Rob Nicholson

LOCATION: Westin Lobby

9:00-10:15

Breakfast Sessions

Afghanistan 2014: Withdrawal Symptoms
LOCATION: Atlantic Ballroom

SPEAKERS: General (Ret.) John R. Allen, Distinguished Fellow, The Brookings Institution; Mr. James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, North Atlantic Treaty Organization; Mr. Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Senior Correspondent and Associate Editor, The Washington Post; The Hon. Sabrina Saqeb, Co-Founder, Institute for Rethinking Policies, Research Institute for Women, Peace and Security, Afghanistan
MODERATOR: Ms. Sarah Chayes, Senior Associate, Democracy and Rule of Law Program and South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

 

Premier of Greenland
LOCATION: Harbour B

SPEAKERS: The Honourable Aleqa Hammond, Premier of Greenland

 

Power to the People: New Energy Sources from Democratic Nations
LOCATION: Harbour B

SPEAKERS: Mr. Jason Bordoff, Professor of Professional Practice in International and Public Affairs & Director, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia School of International and Public Affairs; Dr. Gal Luft, Co-Director, Institute for the Analysis of Global Security; The Hon. Tom Perriello, President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for American Progress Action Fund; Dr. Vaclav Smil, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Environment and Geology, University of Manitoba
MODERATOR: Mr. Steve Clemons, Editor-at-Large, The Atlantic

Press Conference: Aleqa Hammond, Premier, Greenland

The Premier of Greenland, the Honorable Aleqa Hammond, made a special, on-the-record address at the Halifax International Security Forum.

10:30-11:45

Plenary 7: Free Radicals (With Return Tickets): Boston, Nairobi, and the Future of Terrorism On the record

Speakers

Director, International Affairs, Henry Jackson Society
Moderator
Mr. Robin Shepherd

Mr. Robin Shepherd

Mr. Robin Shepherd is director of international affairs at the Henry Jackson Society, the non-partisan, London-based think tank. He is also a senior fellow of the Central European Policy Institute (CEPI), based in Bratislava, Slovakia. Mr. Shepherd has held senior fellowships with several top think tanks in the United States, Britain and Europe. Before entering the think tank world a decade ago, he was a foreign correspondent, firstly for Reuters and subsequently The Times of London, where he was the Moscow bureau chief. He is also the owner/publisher of Britain’s fastest growing new media outlet, The Commentator. He has been associated with Halifax International Security Forum since its inception.

Minister of Public Safety, Canada
The Hon. Stephen Blaney

The Hon. Stephen Blaney

Minister Steven Blaney was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006 and re-elected in 2008 and 2011. In July 2013, Mr. Blaney was appointed Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Previously, he was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs in May 2011, and to the additional position of Minister for La Francophonie in February 2013. Mr. Blaney was appointed Vice-Chair of the Conservative Quebec Caucus and in October 2008 he became Chair of that Caucus. He served on the standing committees on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and on Environment and Sustainable Development. In May 2007, Mr. Blaney became Chair of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, which strives to promote linguistic duality throughout the country. After he graduated from the Université de Sherbrooke, Mr. Blaney became a civil engineer in 1988 and then obtained a Master of Business Administration in 2002 in Lévis. Mr. Blaney is married to Marie Bouchard and has two children.

Chair, Subcommittee on Security and Defence, European Parliament
The Hon. Arnaud Danjean

The Hon. Arnaud Danjean

Mr. Arnaud Danjean is the Member of the European Parliament (France, EPP/UMP) Chairman of the Subcommittee on “Security and Defence” Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He’s also, since 2010, an elected member of the Regional Assembly of Burgundy Member of the French centre-right party UMP, where he’s in charge of the European Defense policy. Elected to the European Parliament in June 2009, he’s a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense. After an assignment in Geneva to the French Representation to the United Nations (2002-2005), he joined the cabinet of the French Minister for Foreign Affairs as a personal adviser for South-Eastern Europe and Afghanistan (2005-2007). He served as a civil servant within the French Ministry of Defence from 1994 to 2002, with numerous postings in the Balkans (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo) and as adviser to the head of French External Intelligence Directorate (DGSE) from 2000 to 2002.

Minister of Defense, Kingdom of Spain
H.E. Pedro Morenés

H.E. Pedro Morenés

Mr. Pedro Morenés Eulate Morenés has been serving as Minister of Defence of Spain since 2011. In 1996 he was appointed as Secretary of State for Defense in the Ministry of Defense. Then in 2000 he was appointed as Secretary of State for Security in the Ministry of Defense. In 2002 he was Secretary of State for Scientific and Technological Policy in the Ministry of Science and Technology. Following this, from 2005 to 2010, he became the General Secretary of the Businessmen Association. From 2009 to 2011 he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Construcciones Navales del Norte.” Morenés began his professional life as a lawyer in 1979 with a focus on Maritime Law, becoming a Corporate Lawyer in 1988 at Astilleros Españoles, S.A. where he headed the International Contracting Department. In 1991 he became Head of the Legal Services of the Shipbuilding Division at the National Industries Institute (NII).

Yemen’s Colleague, Resonate Yemen
Mr. Farea Al-Muslimi

Mr. Farea Al-Muslimi

Farea Al-Muslimi is a 23 years old Yemeni writer and consultant. He is also one of Yemen most prominent youth activists and have co-founded and led many youth initiatives since 2007. Last April, he gave a testimony about the human consequence of US Drone strikes in Yemen before US Senate. Al-Muslimi graduated with a BA in public policy from the American University of Beirut in January 2013.

The session examined whether terrorist threats remain present, in what form and how they are combatted. Panelists agreed that terrorism is an ever-present threat and discussed anti-terrorism strategies including surveillance. Panelists discussed how terrorism and the war on terrorism has mutated and globalized. The success of anti-terrorist activities was considered difficult to measure in comparison to the failure of those activities, but anti-terrorism is a now a critical part of the post 9-11 world. Panelists indicated that governments must prepare for new versions of terrorist threats, such as cyber-terrorism, to be effective in the evolving world of terrorism.

“As a society, we have to send a strong signal that if you are to use violent means to reach your goal, this is not acceptable. We will ensure that we take preventative action.”

— The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety

“One terrorist attack is too many and we ought to take everything we have to prevent it.”

— The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety

“We never exaggerate when it comes to security. You have to prepare yourself for the worst, always. This is a principle of providing security to society.”

— H.E. Pedro Morenés, Minister of Defense, Kingdom of Spain

“Terrorism is any activity that can destroy the society we want to lead.”

— H.E. Pedro Morenés, Minister of Defense, Kingdom of Spain

“Counterterrorism has been a cash cow and legitimacy cow to the Arab rulers. And that needs to end.”

— Mr. Farea al Muslimi, Yemen’s Colleague, Resonate Yemen

“We should not underestimate the geopolitical changes effecting the terrorists themselves.”

— The Hon. Arnaud Danjean, Chair, Subcommittee on Security and Defence, European Parliament

“Now the frustration is big, is huge, and I don’t know if we rightly dealt with the situation in Egypt.”

— The Hon. Arnaud Danjean, Chair, Subcommittee on Security and Defence, European Parliament

11:45-12:15

Coffee Break

13:30-14:30

Closing Lunch

LOCATION: Atlantic Ballroom

12:15-13:30

Plenary 8: WMD: Whose Moral Dilemma? On the record

Speakers

Senior Fellow, George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute
Moderator
Ms. Jeanne Meserve

Ms. Jeanne Meserve

Ms. Jeanne Meserve is a senior fellow of the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute and the Aspen Institute’s Homeland Security Advisory Group. An award-winning journalist, Ms. Meserve was a CNN anchor and served as the homeland security correspondent following September 11, covering a broad array of stories about terrorism, law enforcement, security and preparedness. On the ground in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, she was the first to report on the devastating flooding inundating portions of the city. CNN’s coverage of the storm and its aftermath won a Peabody Award. Ms. Meserve received a B.A. in English Literature from Middlebury College.

Director, Strategic Affairs, Ministry of Defense, France
H.E. Philippe Errera

H.E. Philippe Errera

Senior Fellow and Director for South and Central Asia, Hudson Institute
The Hon. Husain Haqqani

The Hon. Husain Haqqani

Ambassador Husain Haqqani served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States from 2008-2011 and is widely credited with managing a difficult partnership during a critical phase in the global war on terrorism. He is currently Director for South and Central Asia at Hudson Institute in Washington DC and Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University. He has been a journalist, academic and diplomat in addition to serving as advisor to four Pakistani Prime Ministers, including the late Benazir Bhutto. His 2005 book Pakistan Between Mosque and Military was acclaimed for explaining the roots of Pakistan’s foreign and domestic policies and sold more copies than any other acaJane Harman resigned from Congress February 28, 2011 to join the Woodrow Wilson Center as its first female Director, President and CEO. Representing the aerospace center of California during nine terms in Congress, she served on all the major security committees: six years on Armed Services, eight years on Intelligence, and eight on Homeland Security. During her long public career, Harman has been recognized as a national expert at the nexus of security and public policy issues. She received the Defense Department Medal for Distinguished Service in 1998, the CIA Seal Medal in 2007, and the CIA Director’s Award and the Director of National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2011. She is a member of the Defense Policy Board, State Department Foreign Policy Board, the Director of National Intelligence’s Senior Advisory Group, the Homeland Security Advisory Committee. She was a member of the CIA External Advisory Board from 2011 to 2013. Harman is a Trustee of the Aspen Institute and the University of Southern California. A product of Los Angeles public schools, Harman is a magna cum laude graduate of Smith College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and Harvard Law School. Prior to serving in Congress, she was a top aide in the United States Senate, Deputy Cabinet Secretary to President Jimmy Carter, Special Counsel to the Department of Defense, and in private law practice. She has four adult children and four grandchildren.demic book on Pakistan in the last decade. His next book Magnificent Delusions: US, Pakistan and an Epic History of Misunderstanding is due in November 2013.

Minister for International Security Strategy, United Kingdom
The Rt. Hon. Andrew Murrison

The Rt. Hon. Andrew Murrison

In September 2012 Dr. Andrew Murrison became the Minister for International Security Strategy. In May 2010 he was asked by the Prime Minister to review and make recommendation on healthcare for members of the Service community. The principal recommendation in the subsequent reports ‘Fighting Fit’ and ‘A Better Deal for Military Amputees’ are now being rolled out by the government. In November 2011 Dr. Murrison was appointed by the Prime Minister as his Special Representative for the Great War Centenary Commemorations. Dr Murrison served for 18 years as a Medical Officer in the Royal Navy leaving in October 2000 as a Surgeon Commander. He was recalled in 2003 to serve in Iraq. Dr. Murrison was first elected in 2001 and re-elected for the constituency of South West Wiltshire in May 2010. Mr. Murrison studied medicine at Bristol (MD, MB CHB) and public health at Hughes Hall, Cambridge (DPH).

Executive Director, the McCain Institute for International Leadership
The Hon. Kurt Volker

The Hon. Kurt Volker

The Honorable Kurt Volker is executive director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership, part of Arizona State University and a senior fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. He is a member of the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Advisory Group, serves on the board of the Wall Street Fund and is a trustee of the Institute for American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, France. He was a career member of the US Senior Foreign Service, with over 23 years of experience working on European policy under five US administrations. He served as ambassador to NATO, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, and acting senior director for European and Eurasian affairs at the National Security Council. He holds a BA from Temple University and MA from the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. He is a member of the Halifax International Security Forum Agenda Working Group.

 

With a deal having been reached just hours earlier on the freezing of Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the limited relief of sanctions, panelists engaged in a particularly timely discussion about weapons of mass destruction. There was relative consensus on the panel that an interim deal has been reached, and the success or failure of the agreement will reflect equally on Iran as it does on the other signatories. Panelists and audience members felt the outcome of the process will demonstrate if Iran has truly abandoned its nuclear ambitions. Panelists also considered the intent of the current program in Iran and indicated that, if the singular intent is to remove particular weapons, it may be proceeding well. Panelists also weighed the relative injury on humankind of nuclear weapons versus other kinds of more conventional warfare.

Panelists debated the viability of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. They disagreed on the importance of trust in the relationship with Iran; some panelists argued that a deal with consequences for breaking the agreement does not require trust. The “right” to enrich nuclear material was discussed given that Iran believes it to be a natural and inalienable right. The concept of a Pax-Iranica was raised with trepidation. Panelists concluded that much remains to be seen with the six-month deal with Iran and the outcome will have a lasting impact on the future of the region and relations with the West.

“The only thing worse than weapons of mass destruction is people who are willing to use them.”

— The Hon. Kurt Volker, Executive Director, the McCain Institute for International Leadership

“We have to be practical and realistic of what the Iranian regime is prepared to accept.”

— The Rt. Hon. Andrew Murrison, Minister for International Security Strategy, United Kingdom

“Nobody has clean hands in the Middle East.”

— H.E. Hussain Haqqani, Senior Fellow and Director for South and Central Asia, Hudson Institute

“What we need to do is try to create the conditions for further nuclear disarmament.”

— Mr. Camille Grand, Director, The Foundation for Strategic Research

Closing Press Conference

The closing news conference marks the successful conclusion of engaging discussions amongst democratic thinkers at the 2013 Halifax International Security Forum. For the past three days, democratic leaders, business leaders, military strategists, security experts and members of the media joined together in an intimate setting to discuss international relations and pressing security challenges. Peter Van Praagh, President of the Halifax International Security Forum, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, made remarks.

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