Kaliningrad in focus: policy recommendations in the perspective of problem-solving

Abstract

"During 2002 there was a growing inter-national realisation that the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation (KO) needs more attention than it has received in recent years. The aim of this paper is to contribute to a more frank and innovative debate among politicians, experts and the public by elaborating options for European actors, Russia included, on how to tackle constructively the Kaliningrad challenge. The paper was prepared by a group of independent Kaliningrad experts of dif-ferent professions from seven European countries, including Russia, and the USA. At the invitation of the Schleswig-Holstein Institute for Peace Research at the Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel (SHIP), the group met for two workshops in April and October 2002 for intensive discussions of their analyses, which led to the adoption of this joint statement. This statement is based on the in-depth analyses, which are provided in an additional book. In jointly presenting their views, the members of the group give expression to their personal commitment towards con-tributing to a sound and sustainable development of pan-European relations, including the Russian oblast. Despite different perspectives on some details, they reached agreement on many concrete ideas on how political actors should conceptualise their particular Kaliningrad policies and on how they might start taking concrete and reasonable actions, which are in line with both the peace project on European integration and the Russian proposal for developing KO into a pilot-region for EU-Russian co-operation. The recommendations identify tasks to be undertaken by Russia, the EU, many other state and non-state actors and inter-national organizations, not least actors in the Russian exclave itself. The recom-mendations also point out what particular actors can do jointly. However, the group's members do not regard the paper itself as the 'last word' on the future of Kaliningrad. Rather, the paper is an invitation to all concerned actors to partici-pate in a continuing dialogue that will, however, focus on finding practical, problem-solving means of overcoming the many obstacles to development and enhanced security in the KO." (author's abstract)