Debate - Tuesday 10th March 2009

Oksana Antonenko, Bernard Jenkin MP (in the chair) and General Sir Garry Johnson

Oksana Antonenko is a Senior Fellow and the Programme Director for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The IISS Russia and Eurasia programme provides analysis of domestic, foreign and security policy issues in Russia and in other countries of the Former Soviet Union. Oksana joined the IISS in 1996 as Research Associate. From 1998-2000, she was the Director of the IISS research and seminar programme on military reform in Russia and the CIS. From 1999-2003, she headed a research and seminar programme on Russia’s regional perspective on foreign and security policy focusing on Russia’s relations with Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. In 2004-2005, she worked on a research project on Russian-EU relations and co-edited the book ‘Russia and the European Union: Prospects for a New Relationship’. In 2005-2006, she facilitated track two meetings between Georgian and South Ossetian senior officials and experts with the aim of promoting conflict resolution in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict. In 2006-2007, she directed research project on Shanghai Co-operation Organisation and Security Challenges in Central Asia. As Senior Fellow and Programme Director for Russia and Eurasia, she oversees all IISS work on Russia, Central Asia, South Caucasus and Western NIS states. She travels to the Caucasus, Central Asia and Russia to provide expert advice to policy-makers in the region as well as in Europe and the US on conflict resolution issues. General Sir Garry Johnson held a wide variety of appointments in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia during his service in the British Army between 1955 and 1994. As a general officer he served as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff in the Ministry of Defence; commanded British Forces in the Far East, where he was also a member of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Government; and played a leading part in modernising the British Army following the end of the Cold War. As Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Northern Europe in 1992-1994, he initiated NATO contacts and outreach activity in Russia, Sweden, Finland and the Baltic States. Since retiring from active duty he has been extensively involved in the field of stability enhancement and conflict prevention, with particular emphasis on high level reform and modernisation across the wide security sector in countries of the former Soviet Union. Sir Garry led an intensive programme in the Baltic States between 1995 and 1999, and has worked in Central Asia and been heavily involved in the Caucasus for several years. From 2002-2006 he was President of the De Burght Foundation, a Dutch-based foundation with a long record of successful initiatives aimed at lowering tension and improving relations in international issues where official relationships find difficulty in making progress. De Burght has been particularly active in issues involving Russia and the West. In addition to his national honours and awards, (KCB, OBE, MC), Sir Garry has been awarded state honours by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and The Netherlands.

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