World Political Focus: Black Sea Challenge. 150th Anniversary of Treaty of London – 21 May 2021 Conference

On May 21 at the "Admiral" Conference Hall of the hotel "Sevastopol" a Conference dedicated to the outstanding victory of Russian diplomacy of the second half of the 19th century will take place. The attendees include representatives of the authorities of the city of Sevastopol and Crimea, professors of Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, foreign professors and political scientists from research centers and universities in Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and Sweden, international lawyers with experience of working with the UN structures and the European Court of Human Rights, professors and students of universities of Sevastopol and Crimea.

Exactly 150 years ago, in 1871 in London, Russia showed a striking example of successful diplomacy, regaining the strategic position, which it had lost after the Crimean War - the denunciation of restrictive provisions for Russia in the Paris Peace Treaty of 1856. After the defeat in the Crimean War of 1853-1856 Russia was denied by the community of major European states the right to have a navy on the Black Sea, create naval armories and forts on the coast, a number of other restrictions were introduced. This was a blow to the international prestige of Russia.

For the next 15 years, Russian foreign policy was subordinated to ensuring large-scale domestic reforms (suffice it to mention the abolition of serfdom) and to balancing the contradictions of the world's leading states. The most important role in execution of this policy was done by Russian Foreign Minister A. M. Gorchakov. He regarded the abolition of the humiliating provisions of the Paris Treaty as one of his most important tasks.

Main objectives of the conference:

To illuminate certain matters of history, somewhat neglected both at home and abroad. We must pay tribute to the Russian diplomacy of the second half of the 19th century, that attained a major strategic objective by peaceful means. The return of the fleet and military bases in the Crimea not only strengthened our defense capabilities, but also seriously affected the economic development of Southern Russia as a whole. Sebastopol and other port cities which had fallen into disrepair after 1855 began to revive rapidly. Sea-economic complex was recreated and improved, including shipbuilding and ship repair industry. Within 4 years from the railroad was constructed from Kharkov to Sevastopol; agricultural production and construction industry, fisheries, trade (including export), social infrastructure were extended. Fundamental science began to develop: in 1871 Sevastopol Biological Station there was founded - the first in Russia and the third in Europe marine biological station (now - the Institute of Biology of Southern Seas, Russian Academy of Sciences).

The conference will not only deal with the problematic part of the geopolitical situation around Crimea and pressing economic and humanitarian issues, but will also necessarily touch upon issues of political forecasting, pragmatic steps to overcome the negative consequences of sanctions, as well as the development of international humanitarian relations in modern environment.

The Conference will host the Exhibition "The Role of Russian Diplomacy led by A. M. Gorchakov in Achieving of the Most Important Diplomatic Victory of the Second Half of the 19th Century and the Present Times".

Contacts: Michael Yurlov ymission@mail.ru