HCSS Centre for Strategic Studies

The Hague Strategic Forum - Previous meetings

16 november 2009: Mineral Scarcity

On 16 November, HCSS convened a Strategic Forum on Mineral Scarcity, with Arnoud Passenier, coordinator interdepartmental projectgroup Scarcity and Transition.

9 November 2009: Security in the Caribbean

On 9 November, HCSS convened a Strategic Forum on Security in the Caribbean, with Frank van Kappen, former commander Dutch Naval forces in the Caribbean and Mr. Candelaria, director of the cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Dutch Antilles.

19 October 2009: A New Strategy for Afghanistan

On 19 October, HCSS convened a Strategic Forum on a new strategy for Afghanistan, with Mr. Richard Smyth, member, implementation team General McChrystal.

24 September 2009: Comprehensive Approach to Reconstruction and Stabilization

On Thursday 24 September there was a The Hague Strategic Forum on Comprehensive Approach to Reconstruction and Stabilization, held with two senior officials from the U.S. State Department’s Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS). They visited the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies to meet with representatives from Dutch NGO’s regarding Dutch civil activities in reconstruction and stabilization operations. For more information, click here.

22 September 2009: South Korea and Regional Security.

On 22 September there was a Hague Strategic Forum with Mr. Soon Chun Lee, director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security in Seoul, about South Korea and regional security.

15 July 2009: Critical Perspectives on Homeland Security: a Strategic Priority.

On the 15th of July HCSS convened a Hague Strategic Forum with Mr. Hal Ravaché, president of the Stenvens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey. The topic of the forum was: Critical Perspectives on Homeland Security: a Strategic Priority.
Hal Ravaché shared his vision on national security considering the challenges modern society faces today: increased unemployment, financial insecurity, high healthcare costs and the ageing population.

5 June 2009: Water on the Tibetan Plateau: Ecological and Strategic Implications for the Region

On 5 June, the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies convened a high-level roundtable on Water on the Tibetan Plateau: Ecological and Strategic Implications for the Region. This roundtable brought together water, environmental and security experts from Asia and Europe in the presence of the Dalai Lama, Nobel Peace Prize winner 1989. The roundtable was moderated by Isabel Hilton, former BBC correspondent and director of Chinadialogue.
The report Water on the Tibetan Plateau: Ecological and Strategic Implications for the Region outlines and summarizes the discussions that were held at the roundtable session with the Dalai Lama.

30 March 2009: How to win the peace: a new strategy for Afghanistan.

On the 30th of March HCSS convened a lunch debate with H.E. Ambassador Said T. Jawad, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States. The roundtable discussed the contours of a new strategy for Afghanistan. To read the speech of Mr. Jawad, please click here. To read the speech of HCSS deputy director Christa Meindersma, please click here.

9 February 2009: Tibetan Dialogue with China: Dead End or Roadmap for Genuine Autonomy?

On 9 February 2009, the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies hosted a debate with Lodi Gyrai, Special Envoy of the Dalai Lama and head of the delegation that conducts talks with China on the prospects for genuine autonomy for Tibetans.

In December 2008, the latest of several discussions on Tibet’s level of autonomy has taken place, in which the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People was discussed. In this Memorandum, Tibet strives for full freedom with regards to education, the economy and social development. However, the discussion did not lead to a satisfactory solution for both parties.

During this HCSS debate the future of the dialogue process, as well as Tibet’s political and strategic relationship with China were discussed.

21 October 2008: Negotiations Georgia – Russia

On October 21st 2008 the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies hosted a debate with Dr. David Bakradze, the Chairman of Parliament of Georgia. The discussion concentrated on the current situation in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Georgia, and the failure of the recent Georgia-Russia talks in Geneva.

Mr. Bakradze reviewed the August events. The debate focused on the importance of Georgia’s geopolitical location, the response to the crisis from the neighboring countries and the value of continuous international efforts. The effects of the engagements of the European Union and the United States and Georgia’s role in the chain of events were looked at from economic and political perspectives. On the question of future negotiations and relations between Georgia and Russia, Mr. Bakradze called for an international investigation into the August events.

Mr. Bakradze offered some frank remarks on the legal and political changes that Georgia needs adopt in to ensure transparency, strengthen the parliament and the judicial system, as well as to provide appropriate responses to the Georgian population regarding the ongoing crisis. To read the introduction by Christa Meindersma (deputy director HCSS) please click here.

20 October 2008

A debate was organised with Dr. Dan Shueftan, director of the National Security Studies Centre at the University of Haifa, about the Middle East peace process and the threat posed by Iran. For Christa Meindersma’s (deputy director HCSS) introduction, please click here.

6 October 2008: The China-code deciphered

A Hague Strategic Forum with Henk Schulte Nordholt, author of The China-code deciphered: Economic Superpower Yes, Global Empire No (2006), about the political and economic developments in China. To read the introduction by Christa Meindersma (deputy director HCSS) please click here.

25 September 2008: Developing an effective European Security and Defence Policy

A debate with Ms. Ágnes Vadai, Senior State Secretary of Defence in Hungary, was organised about the development of an effective European Security and Defence Policy.

12 March 2008: Embedded Journalism

A presentation of the provisional findings of an analysis of the Dutch embed policy’s consequences for press coverage concerning Afghanistan. This policy allows journalists to report from inside the military on operations in Afghanistan, and build on earlier experiences of the United States and United Kingdom, and experiments by the Dutch military in Iraq. The conclusions of this meeting have been included in a final report published on this topic in April 2008. To read this report, click here.

11 March 2008: Implications of the Independence of Kosovo for Europe

The independence of Kosovo was the only option. The former Special Envoy for the United Nations, Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, was very clear about the outcome of the cumbersume negotiation process. During a closed-door meeting organised by HCSS, the former Finish President provided a look behind the scenes of the year-long talks that eventually led to the unilateral declaration of Kosovo on 17 February 2008. He congratulated the Netherlands with its recognition of the former Serbian province. Read the Strategic Note Kosovo here.

For Mr. Ahtisaari, the declaration marks the end of a difficult period. However, for the European Union and its new Rule of Law mission, the challenges are just starting. The so-called Ahtisaari plan – even though not accepted by both parties – is now a key reference in the new constitution. The plan gives crucial executive powers to the EU and the new international civilian presence, Mr. Peter Feith. Mr. Ahtisaari left no doubt that it is now up to Kosovo’s authorities to prove that they are in charge of the newest Balkan state. But even more importantly, it is up to the EU member states and Serbia’s to-be-elected leadership to focus on practical solutions in the months ahead.

3 March 2008: Beyond 2010, European Grand Strategy in a Global Age

On 5 March, the Hague Strategic Forum debated a recently launched report of the ‘Venusberggroup’, a high-level group of security and defense experts from across Europe, brought together by the Bertelsmann Stiftung to examine the future of EU security policy.

The study Beyond 2010, European Grand Strategy in a Global Age outlines a “grand strategy” for a Common European Foreign and Security Policy in a globalised world. The report shows how the EU can transform itself into a ‘one stop security shop’ for Europeans and argues that Europeans, Member States and EU institutions should jointly develop a long-term strategic vision beyond 2010.

15 October 2007: Mr. Hekmat Karzai on the situation in Afghanistan

On 15 October the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) organized a Hague Strategic Forum with Mr. Hekmat Karzai, director of the Kabul based Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies, to discuss the role of the international community in Afghanistan.

The security situation in Afghanistan has been deteriorating over the last couple of months. The major reasons for this, according to Mr. Karzai, were to be found in the increase in narcotics trade, the slow rate of development, and the difficult relations with Pakistan. Another important factor was the growing ability of the Taliban to adapt their ways of resistance to the international military presence.

In order to improve security, Mr. Karzai stressed that firm action was above all the responsibility of the Afghan authorities. In his opinion, the international community could and should play a facilitating role in this regard. Contrary to what the perception outside Afghanistan might have been in the Western public debate, Mr. Karzai emphasised that 70-80% of the local population still supported the international community in their efforts to assist Afganistans nation-building process.

In Uruzgan, Mr Karzai admitted, the situation remained difficult and stabilising the area would no doubt prove a formidable challenge. Still, the Dutch ISAF participation in the troubled province continued to be a key condition to maintain the credibility of the international community. Mr. Karzai was convinced that there was a window of opportunity for the Dutch to make a significant difference in the coming period. What was needed however was a more thorough understanding of Afghan culture and a more intensive engagement with local actors and institutions.

Watch Mr. Karzais appearance on the Dutch political televisionprogramme NOVA.