As the Middle East is in flames, it is
essential that we plan for new security
measures for the area over the next
twenty years, specifically focusing on new
energy infrastructure and assets.
Our purpose is to identify the new
opportunities that will allow us to unify the
Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East
regions, creating new infrastructure
projects and commercial routes that will
assist us in doing away with all the old and
worn-out mentalities that feed war and
strife in our region.
There was a large turnout at the Conference co-organized by the Greek and Israeli chapters of the US Republican Party, the EastMed Institute for Strategic Studies and the Hellenic Institute for Strategic Studies on the topic of “Geostrategy, Energy and New International Power Redistributions”, at the “Mikis Theodorakis” Conference Center of the Municipality of Elliniko-Argyroupoli.
The event was opened by the President of the Greek Branch of the Republican Party (Republicans Overseas Hellenic Chapter) and Director of the EastMed Strategic Studies Institute, Jonathan Constantinou, and welcomed by His Eminence Metropolitan of Tamassos and Orini (Cyprus) Mr. Isaias, the President of the Branch of the Republican Party in Israel Mark Zell, and the Kurdish activist Sherzad Memzani.
The Conference focused a. on geopolitical dynamics in the Mediterranean and the Middle East and b. on the protection of energy infrastructure. The first section was addressed by Professor Emeritus of Economic Geography and Geopolitics and President of HJ-40 AHEPA Filotheis-Psychiko, Ioannis Mazis – who was the scientific coordinator of the Conference – on the topic “Geostrategic balance in the Greece-Turkey-Cyprus triangle”, Jonathan Constantinou on the topic “New energy corridors and challenges of the next decade”, Markos Troulis, lecturer at the Department of Turkish Studies and Contemporary Asian Studies of the National University of Athens and at the School of National Security, on the topic “American-Turkish relations under the weight of geopolitical changes in the wider Middle East”, Lieutenant Colonel (I) re.a. and deputy Doctor of Geopolitics of the Air Force, Stefanos Karavidas on the topic “The ‘Turkism rift’ in the emerging security architecture and the role of the three ‘frontline states’ Greece-Cyprus-Israel” and the lecturer at the Department of Turkish Studies and Contemporary Asian Studies of the National University of Athens, Michalis Sarlis, on the topic “The geopolitics of the Middle East after the fall of the Assads in Syria”.
In the second section, the following spoke: Lieutenant General of the Hellenic Navy, Dr. of International Relations and member of the Board of Directors of ELISME, Hippocrates Daskalakis, on the topic of “Protection of energy installations and infrastructure from aerial threats”, the lawyer and international scholar Theodoros Katsoufos on the topic of “The uncertain legal status of attacks or sabotage on submarine cables and pipelines”, the data protection officer and operational coordinator of the Hybrid Threat Analysis Observatory of the Ministry of Digital Governance, Athanasios Kosmopoulos, on the topic of “Multidisciplinary cyber-attack activity on critical infrastructures of vital importance” and the Vice Admiral of the Hellenic Navy, Honorary Commander of the Naval Cadet School and Vice President of ELISME, Vasilios Martzoukos.
At the end of the presentations, questions were asked by the audience, which were answered by the speakers. The event was moderated by journalist Nikos Hidiroglou.
The Conference was attended by our fellow citizens from the fields of politics, local government and literature, executives of the Security Forces and our Armed Forces, journalists, as well as representatives of associations and social organizations.
Below are the links to all the speeches and presentations in the conference:
Conference introduction by the Chairman of the Republicans Overseas Hellenic Chapter
and Director of East Med Strategic Studies Institute: https://youtu.be/xj0IYQXZ73E
Speech by Metropolitan Isaiah Kykkotis
Metropolitan Bishop of Tamassos, Cyprus : https://youtu.be/TXlZ8pLKOFU
Speech by Mark Zell, Chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel : https://youtu.be/vXIXqIpiabQ
Commentary on Zell’s speech by N. Hidiroglou: https://youtu.be/WEuz7O8qhFY
Speech by Elad Cohen: https://youtu.be/U0EDzT__jRk
J. Constantine’s intervention and prayer for massacred Christians in Syria: https://youtu.be/pQjWWYG4gTw
Speech by Kurdish representative Sherzad Memzani: https://youtu.be/F0Op3RDI56M
Presentation of the Republicans Overseas Hellenic Chapter activites: https://youtu.be/ev7t07QmcAw
First Panel:
“Geostrategic Equilibrium in the Triangle of Greece, Turkey, Cyprus”
First Presentation, Mazis Ioannis
Emeritus Professor of Economic Geography and Geopolitics at NKUA
President of HJ-40 AHEPA Filothei – Psychiko
“New Energy Corridors and Challenges of the Next Decade”
Speech by Professor Emeritus of the National University of Athens Ioannis Mazis: https://youtu.be/BcZQPjuDSbk
Second Presentation
Speech by ROHC President Jonathan Konstantinou, Chairman Republicans Overseas Hellenic Chapter and Director of East Med Strategic Studies Institute titled “U.S.-Turkish relations under the weight of geopolitical changes in the
wider Middle East” : https://youtu.be/cVSiMEWhM-s
Comments by N.Hidiroglou on J.Constantine’s presentation: https://youtu.be/Myo2WTdpmeg
Third Presentation
Troulis Markos
Lecturer in Department of Turkish Studies and Modern Asian Studies at
NKUA, as well as at the National Security School.
The “Turkism Rift” in the Emerging Security Architecture and the Role of the
Three “Frontline States” Greece-Cyprus-Israel
Speech by Markos Troulis: https://youtu.be/FC4vo95ofrI
Fourth Presentation
Karavidas Stefanos, Squadron Leader (Ret.)
MA in International Relations
Ph.D. Candidate in Geopolitics of Air Power
“The geopolitics of the Middle East after the fall of the Assads in Syria”
Speech by Stefanos Karavidas: https://youtu.be/jEUrZINSuSk
Fifth Presentation
Sarlis Michalis
Lecturer in Department of Turkish Studies and Modern Asian Studies at NKUA, “The geopolitics of the Middle East after the fall of the Assads in Syria”
Speech by Michalis Sarlis: https://youtu.be/vbw4m2NLIbc
Speakers’ answers to audience questions: https://youtu.be/eK9q-O2MAF4
2o PANEL:
«Protection of Energy Infrastructure» :
First Presentation
“The Uncertain Legal Status of Attacks or Sabotage on Submarine Cables and Pipelines”
Katsoufros Theodoros
Jurist, International Relations Expert
Speech by Theodoros Katsoufros: https://youtu.be/JUlYyLO1pAE
Second Presentation
“Protection of Energy Installations and Infrastructure from Aerial Threats”
Daskalakis Hippocrates
Major General (Ret.), PhD in International Relations, Board Member of HEL.I.S.S.
Hippocrates Daskalakis’ speech: https://youtu.be/f600adPCmDs
Third Presentation:
“Multidomain Cyber-Attack Activity on Critical Infrastructure of Vital Importance”
Kosmopoulos Athanasios
Data Protection Officer, Operational Coordinator of the Hybrid Threats Analysis
Observatory, Ministry of Digital Governance
Speech by Athanasios Kosmopoulos: https://youtu.be/kKJHQoGAOOI
Fourth Presentation:
“Protection of Critical Maritime and Submarine Energy Infrastructure in the Eastern
Mediterranean in the Context of Geopolitical Developments”
Martzoukos Vasileios
Vice Admiral (Ret.), Honorary Commander of the Naval Support Command, Vice President
of HEL.I.S.S.
Speech by Vasilios Martzoukos: https://youtu.be/aJY6tcD1wP0
Closing Intervention by Petros Tassios: https://youtu.be/zE0-F79Oz5E
Closing of the conference by ROHChairman Jonathan Constantine: https://youtu.be/cNsjV1M9zdE
below is the link to the live broadcast (in Greek but with cc enabled):
https://youtube.com/live/MByDK1QR-wA?feature=share
Speakers: Jonathan Constantine