EAU CLAIRE - The third annual Symposium on East Europe will be held April 3 and 4 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

The symposium, which is presented by UW-Eau Claire and the L.E. Phillips Memorial PublicLibrary, is titled "The Security of the Baltic States and the Stability of Europe at the End of the Century."

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 made possible the reasserting of independence by East European states. Their security and stability appear imperiled by the instability of Russia and a resurgent Russian nationalism. The existence of a diplomatic and political vacuum in the area is unsettling for Europe and the world. The symposium will bring together five experts to offer insights on the past, present and future of this area.

The symposium will begin at 2 p.m. April 3 with remarks by Paulis Lazda, UW-Eau Claire professor of history and symposium co-chair. UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Larry Schnack will then welcome participants. The sessions will be held in room 100 of Schneider Social Sciences Hall.

At 2:15 p.m., a program titled "Problems of Lithuanian Foreign Policy" will begin. Alfred Senn, professor of history at UW-Madison, will lead that session.

Juris Dreifelds, professor of political science at Brock University in Canada, will lead the 3:15 p.m. session titled "Latvia's Security Concerns: NATO and Russia."

"Estonia and the Security of the Baltic Region and Europe" is the title of the 4:15 p.m. session. It will be led by Toivo Raun, professor of history at Indiana University in Bloomington.

The April 3 evening session will begin at 7 p.m. with a welcome and introductions by Mildred Larson, associate director of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library and symposium co-chair. The evening program will be held in room 100 of Hibbard Humanities Hall.

Paul Goble, associate director of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, will deliver the 7:05 p.m. keynote address. The address is titled "A Geography of Instability: The Baltic States After NATO Expansion Begins."

The symposium continues April 4 with a 10 a.m. plenary address in room 100 of the Hibbard Humanities Hall. Mark Beissinger, professor of political science at UW-Madison, will give a presentation titled "Thinking About Security in the Shadow of Empire."

A panel discussion will follow at 11 a.m. featuring the five symposium presenters. Lazda and Larson will moderate the discussion.

The symposium is offered through a partnership between UW-Eau Claire and UW-Extension with funds from the Wisconsin Humanities Council on behalf of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support came from the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, UW-Eau Claire's departments of history and political science, the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, the Center for International Education, and Arts and Sciences Continuing Education/UW-Extension.

For information, contact Paulis Lazda, UW-Eau Claire department of history, (715) 836-5501.
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Updated: April 4, 1997