The GCSP’s New Issues in Security Course (NISC) is turning 20 this year. The course “maps today’s security environment to meet tomorrow’s challenges.” We caught up with our NISC alumni to see what they have been up to. In 2016, Lasha Darsalia was a NISC participant, today he is Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. Watch the interview and discover his key takeaways, the impact the course has had on him and where he sees opportunities for the GCSP to continue contributing to global peace and security.

The GCSP organised, on Thursday 4 April 2019, an executive breakfast with H.E. Mr Lasha Darsalia, Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, and Head of the Georgian Delegation to the Geneva International Discussions, on the topic — Russia-Georgia Conflict in the context of European Security. Lasha Darsalia is also GCSP alumnus of the 2016 New Issues in Security Course (NISC).

This event assembled more than 20 participants, with a majority of Ambassadors and Secretaries from various Permanent Missions to the United Nations Office at Geneva. The participants enjoyed being updated on the current context of the crisis, all the whilst participating in the discussion.

The aim of this executive breakfast was to provide an update on the current situation in conflict-affected territories of Georgia, on the current dynamics between Georgia and Russia during the Geneva International Discussions and on the steps undertaken by the Georgian Government in the field of conflict resolution. He also provided his vision on how the unresolved conflicts undermine the entire European security.

With the Russia-Georgia Conflict entering its eleventh year, implications for human security and human rights are considerable, with local populations baring the main costs of the uncertainty surrounding the future of the wider region; despite many attempts at peaceful conflict resolutions. Such attempts add up to a total of 200 ceasefire agreements since August 2008. The lack of conflict resolutions mainly derives from the lack of diplomatic dialogue between the two states.

The participants enjoyed sharing the various point of views and questions during the discussion, with the possibility to taste Georgian delicacies.

Watch his interview