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International Progress Organization
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Organisation
internationale pour le progrès
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«THE
Phoenicia
ROUNDTABLE»
Maritime
Order in the Global Era
∙ In memory of Arvid Pardo and Elisabeth Mann Borgese ∙
The Phoenicia, Malta
25 September 2025
The Phoenicia,
Malta
Speakers and academic team members of
the Roundtable
Roundtable Consultation at
Green Lounge
25 September 2025
Prof. Hans Köchler, President of the
International Progress Organization, delivers introductory remarks.
Hans Köchler, moderator of the roundtable, center, flanked by academic team
members Davide Sirna (Italian Trade Agency), left, and Dr. María
Vallés González (Head of Department,
Economic and Commercial Office,
Spanish Embassy in Sweden)
Session I: Prof. Awni Behnam, Honorary Presiodent of the
International Ocean Institute, former UN Assistant
Secretary-General, shares his observations on ocean governance under
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Session I: Dr. Tirza Meyer, author of the book, "Elisabeth
Mann Borgese and the Law of the Sea," talks on
the power of individuals to change the course of history.
From left: Prof. Tullio Scovazzi (Italy), em. Professor of International Law,
University of Milno-Bicocca;
Prof. Alina Miron (France), Professor of International Law,
Co-director, Master of International and European Law Program,
University of Angers; Dr. Tirza Meyer (Germany), KTH Royal Institute
of Technology, Stockholm; Prof. Valérie Boré Eveno (France), Faculty
of Law and Political Science, University of Nantes; Prof. Bardo
Fassbender (Germany), em. Professor of International Law, European
Law and Public Law, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland; Prof.
David S. Berry (Barbados), Professor of Law, University of the West
Indies, Bridgetown; Prof. Awni Behnam (Malta/Switzerland), Honorary
President of the International Ocean Institute.
From right: Dr. Yuri Parkhomenko (Ukraine / United States),
LL.M., Harvard Law School (USA), former Attorney-Advisor, Foreign
Service of Ukraine; Prof. Kristina Siig (Denmark), University of
Southern Denmark (Odense) and Scandinavian Institute of Maritime
Law, Oslo; Mr. Bart Soens (Belgium), Consultant, Association Belge
de Droit Maritime; Prof. Bec Strating (Australia), Professor of
International Relations, La Trobe University (Melbourne), Director,
La Trobe Asia; Dr. Murat Sümer (Türkiye), Nippon Foundation
Lecturer, IMO International Maritime Law Institute, Malta; Prof.
Stefan Talmon (United Kingdom / Germany), Director, Dept. of
International Law, University of Bonn, Germany, former Professor of
Public International Lawe, University of Oxford, UK; Prof. Rauf
Versan (Türkiye), em. Professor of International Law, Istanbul
University.
Professor Stefan Talmon, Director of the Dept. of
International Law at the University of Bonn, talks about islands as
a cause and subject of international conflict.
Prof. Bardo Fassbender,
University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, delivers paper on Elisabeth
Mann Borgese and the constitutionalization of the law of the sea.
Prof. Rauf Versan of Istanbul University explains the
principles governing maritime delimitation.
Dr. Yuri Parkhomenko, international dispute resolution
lawyer (United States) talks about the antagonism between maritime
unilateralism and the vision of the sea as common heritage.
Prof. Rebecca Strating, Director of La Trobe Asia
(Australia), talks about maritime dispute resolution in the
Indo-Pacific.
Bart Soens of the Association Belge de Droit Maritime
(Brussels) talks about economic war and freedom of navigation.
Prof. Chin Leng Lim of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
addresses the roundtable on the intracacies of law of the sea
arbitration via video link from Hong Kong (due to Super Typhoon
Ragasa).
Prof. Alina Miron of Université d'Angers talks
about the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.
Prof. Tullio Scovazzi, University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy)
talks about the principle of common heritage of humankind in the
marine biodiversity agreement.
Prof. Kristina Siig of the University of Odense, Denmark,
talks about a new approach to coastal state jurisdictionin the
Exclusive Economic Zone.
Prof. David S. Berry of the University of the West Indies
talks about competition of the high seas and its
implications for marine biodiversity.
Dr. Murat Sümer of the IMO International Maritime Law
Institute (IMLI) explains the impact of islands on maritime boundary
delimitation. At his right: Prof. Stefan Talmon (University of
Bonn); at his left: Prof. Bec Strating (La Trobe University,
Melbourne).
Prof. Valérie Boré Eveno of the University of Nantes,
France, addresses issues of sea level rise as common concern of
humankind.
Davide Sirna, Trade Analyst (Italian Trade Agency), member of the I.P.O. academic
team, prepares notes for the Executive Summary of the meeting.
Dr. María Vallés Gonzáles (Ph.D., Human Rights, Democracy
and International Justice, University of Valencia, Spain), member of
the I.P.O. academic team.
During session break: group
photograph in the Phoenicia gardens
Hans Köchler, center, with
speakers and team members
First row, from left: Dr. Tirza Meyer
(Norway), Prof. Awni Behnam (Malta),
Prof. Hans Köchler (Austria);
Dr. María Vallés González (Spain);
Prof. Valérie Boré Eveno (France).
Second row, from left: Prof. David S. Berry
(Barbados); Prof. Alina Miron
(France); Dr. Murat Sümer (Malta);
Prof. Tullio Scovazzi (Italy);
Prof. Bec Strating (Australia);
Prof. Kristina Siig (Denmark);
Prof. Rauf Versan (Türkiye);
Mr. Bert Soens (Belgium). Upper row,
from left: Mr. Davide Sirna (Italy);
Dr. Yuri Parkhomenko (United States);
Prof. Stefan Talmon (United Kingdom /
Germany); Prof. Bardo Fassbender
(Switzerland). (N.B.: Countries of institutional affiliation)
Welcome Reception in the
Phoenicia Gardens
24 September 2025
Hans Köchler, President of the International Progress
Organization, hosts welcome reception in the gardens of Phoenicia
Hotel.
Right: Dr. Murat Sümer, International Maritime Law Institute.
From left: Prof. Alina Miron, Prof. Valérie Boré Eveno,
Prof. Kristina Siig, Dr. Yuri Parkhomenko.
Gala Dinner at
Domus Zamittello
25 September 2025
The President of the International Progress Organization
hosts banquet for participants and special guests.
Gala Dinner at Sala Nobile, Domus Zamittello, a 17th
century palazzo in Valletta. Right upper corner: Maltese
classical harpist Jacob Portelli.
Awni Behnam, Honorary President of the International Ocean
Institute (Malta) (left), and Professor Bardo Fassbender, University
of St. Gallen (Switzerland).
Prof. Rauf Versan (left) and Prof. Stefan Talmon.
Hans Köchler in conversation with Prof.
Stefan Talmon (University of Bonn).
Visit at International Ocean Institute and IMO
International Maritime Law Institute
26 September 2025
Remembering Elisabeth Mann
Borgese
International Ocean Institute, Malta, established by
Elisabeth Mann Borgese (portrait on the wall)
From right: Prof. Awni Behnam, Honorary President of the
International Ocean Institute (IOI); Prof. Hans Köchler, President
of the International Progress Organization; Ms. Antonella Vassallo,
Managing Dirctor of IOI; Dr. Tirza Meyer, Prof. Alina Miron, Prof.
Stefan Talmon.
Remembering Arvid Pardo
IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) -- Library,
archive room dedicated to the work of Ambassador Arvid Pardo
From right: Ms. Elda Kazara-Belja, Head of Administration of
IMLI; Dr. Tirza Meyer; Prof. Hans Köchler; Prof. Stefan Talmon;
Prof. Alina Miron; Dr. Murat Sümer.
News Release
Executive Summary of roundtable consultation
Photo at top of page: Hotel
Phoenicia, seen from the fortifications of Valletta.