On September 16-17, 2011, Riga, the capital of Latvia, hosted one of the leading security forums in Northern Europe – the Rīga Conference. The conference brought together leaders of political, business and science circles, world thinkers and journalists to discuss on the most important and current security, defence and international affairs challenges.

This year the first session of the Riga Conference was opened with participation of Prime Ministers of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland and Poland with debates focused on the changing economic climate and the security of the EU and NATO during a time of lesser and lesser resources.

During the other session more than 100 participants of the Conference were discussing the following issues:  Russian modernization- is society ready for, and will it bring Russia closer to the west; Can Turkey bridge a gap between Asia and Europe; Que vadis Belarus; Power politics in Central Asia and Afganistan; Where will Western commitments in the Middle East and North Africa Lead to etc.

From the International Centre for Geopolitical Studies (ICGS) Tengiz Pkhaladze – Chairman of ICGS and Nato Bachiashvili – Member of Board took part in the debates of the Conference.

Tengiz Pkhaladze also participated on a discussion about Georgia’s relation with NATO – problems and prospective on the first Rīga Conference Young Diplomacy Professionals Forum, which was held in the framework of the Riga Conference.

For the second year running The Rīga Conference 2011 was broadcasted live online.