Research: SPbU at International Youth Forum in Serbia
SPbU’s Professor Vladimir Kolotov has presented a project ‘Eurasian Arch of Instability’ at the International Youth Forum ‘Current Problems of the Eurasian Safety and Security’, which is supported by the Collective Security Treaty Organization and Ministry of Defense of Serbia.
Professor Kolotov, at the research session on non-traditional security threats and their consequences for military and political stability of Eurasia, told about a research project carried out at SPbU since 2012.
“The Arch is a “non-standard” mechanism to define the geopolitical climate in the region. The main concern of its beneficiaries is to ensure security in some states by making others more vulnerable. Today, the Arches of Instability cover the regions from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean”, — said Vladimir Kolotov. Some segments of the Arch pose a threat to a number of integration projects globally, he says.
In ensuring security in Eurasia, our main concern is to neutralize the Arches of Instability.
SPbU’s Professor Vladimir Kolotov
The conference also discussed how to struggle terrorism, Illegal drug trafficking, educational policy in security and defense. Along with the Russian and foreign researchers, the conference was visited by the students from 6 countries that are the members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization: Armenia, Belorussia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Kirgizia, and Serbia.
The young people who take part in the forum are future leaders of the states, said CSTO’s Secretary General Colonel General Iurii Khachaturov. “The aim of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is to prevent military operations in these 6 countries. I appeal to you, young generation, to contribute to global peace and security every day”, — said Iurii Khachaturov.
The research manager of the conference, CSTO’s coordinator of the analytics association Igor Panarin told about a high level of education of the young specialists. “Young enquiring minds are audacious and can spot a problem which we have no idea about. It is vital to allow young analysts to delve into the security and safety problems”, — said Igor Panarin. The next meeting for young people will be held in St Petersburg, he added. “Hopefully, we are expecting SPbU to take part. We have an excellent view of the University”, — he said.
At the forum, we have an excellent chance to share our experience in research. Our University has a strong school to study safety and security problems - we could share our experience and get to know something new.
SPbU’s student Gleb Petrunov
Apart from the events that focus on research, the forum had cultural and sport programmes. They visited the Serbian Orthodox church (the Church of Saint Sava), took part in the chess competition, basketball, and mini-football. To commemorate the first CSTO's youth forum the students planted plum trees at the Belgrade Military Academy.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization is a regional international organization that aims to enforce peace, ensure global and regional security and stability, defend sovereignty of the state-members. The CSTO agreement was signed in 2002 and came into force next year.
The forum also took part in the 73-anniversary of the Belgrade Offensive during the WWII. The CSTO’ delegation that comprised the students from the 6 countries laid wraiths at the Cemetery of Belgrade Liberators and visited, together with Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, a parade “Liberty-2017” at the Batajnica Air Base.
Organized by the CSTO’s Secretariat and Ministry of Defense of Serbia that is an observer state in the CSTO’s Parliamentary Assembly, the forum at Belgrade welcomed researchers and student from 19 universities from the state-members, with St Petersburg University represented by the student delegation of the Oriental Studies and International Relations.