NIZAMI GANJAVI INTERNATIONAL CENTER
A center for learning, tolerance, dialogue, understanding and shared societies
Global Baku Forum
NGIC annually holds Global Baku Forum, which in 2024 organized the 11th version, convened more than 400 heads of state and government, leaders from the public and private sectors, Nobel Laureates, and civil society. “Global Baku Forum” has already become the premier event in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East, providing an oppotunity for distinguished leaders and thinkers to discuss the ways and means to overcome some of the world’s most pressing challenges ranging from “Building Trust for a Wider Europe”, to “a New World Order” to desingning more effective programs for “Shared Societies”, “Towards a Multipolar World”, “Addressing/Challenging Radicalization and Extremism with Interfaith Dialogue for Peace, “Bridging Gaps to Create Inclusive Societies”, Peace and Security in the Middle East”, to “Geopolitics in the Age of Sustainable Development”
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XXXII High-Level Meeting was held in partnership with the "Friends of Western Balkans" in Slovenia
The Nizami Ganjavi International Center in partnership with the Friends of the Western Balkans held its XXXII High-Level Meeting under the title “The New Geopolitics and The Western Balkans” from 24–25 April 2025 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The gathering came at a pivotal moment, as the Western Balkans region faces growing political and security challenges amid waning confidence in the European Union’s enlargement process.
The meeting reaffirmed its role as the foremost international forum dedicated to the Western Balkans, bringing together 34 distinguished speakers from 18 countries. Among them were 7 former Presidents, 4 former Prime Ministers, and 3 former Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly. The conference aimed to generate concrete strategies to enhance peace, stability, and a renewed European vision for the region.
The two-day conference featured the following thematic sessions:
- The New Global Geopolitics – In Which Direction is the World Changing and the Impact on the Western Balkans?
- How Do the New U.S. Administration of Donald Trump and the New European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen Influence the Western Balkans?
- Assessing the EU Enlargement Strategy and Its Effectiveness under the New European Commission
- Spheres of Interest and the Western Balkans – What is the Impact of the Russian Federation, China, and Türkiye?
During the conference, distinguished speakers provided frank assessments of the European Union’s enlargement process and its implications for the Western Balkans.
The XXXII High-Level Meeting underscored the urgent need for a renewed, united, and pragmatic approach to the Western Balkans, grounded in shared responsibility and a clear European vision for the future.
As part of the meeting, the NGIC presented its special publication"The Magic of the Pen: Selected Miniatures from the Khamsa of Nizami Ganjavi” to Tanja Fajon, celebrating the enduring cultural heritage of the region and the values of dialogue and inclusion. In addition, Minister Fajon was presented with a gold coin featuring illustrations inspired by Khamsa— Nizami’s five legendary epic poems—each representing the enduring ideals of wisdom, love, justice, and the pursuit of knowledge.
24 April 2025
