BALKAN MOSAIC
First Sofia Meeting
CHANGING SECURITY CONCEPTS IN
CENTRAL AND SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE
The First Sofia Meeting within the framework of the Central and South Eastern Europe Security Forum (CSEESF) took place on February 17 – 19, 2005 in Sofia. It gathered participants from the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA), Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Romania and UNMIK – Kosovo. It was organized by the NATO Information Centre in Sofia, the Euro Atlantic Education Initiative,the Open Society Institute and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in cooperation with the Atlantic Treaty Association, the Danish Atlantic Treaty Association, Casa NATO - Romania and the Euro-Atlantic Club of Macedonia. The welcoming address was read on the part of Solomon Passy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The meeting proceeded in two panels. The first panel of the meeting was devoted to the issue of Network Partnerships and Institutional Relationships: Perspectives of Regional Dialogue Based on a Strategic Understanding of European and Transatlantic Integration. The second panel addressed the issues concerningSecurity Environment: New Challenges and Future Development.
The First Sofia Declaration, which encompasses the tasks for everyone involved in the CSEESF (Balkan Mosaic), was put on discussion before the concluding remarks. The draft had several changes concerning the stress put on the interethnic and inter-religious dialogue, including the money laundering, as a concern in the point of strengthening the rule of law and underscoring the essential role of civil society and public opinion. With the clarification of the formula’s participants in 2+3+2+1 combination and final stylization, the first Sofia declaration on Changing Security Concepts in central and South Eastern Europe was adopted.
SOFIA DECLARATION I:
Changing Security Concepts in Central and South Eastern Europe
Under the auspices of the Atlantic Treaty Association and the NATO Information Centre in Sofia the first Conference of the Security Forum for Central and South Eastern Security was held in Sofia on February 18th 2005.
At the conference gathered representatives of the Euro-Atlantic associations, research institutes and civil society organisations from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro. Also representatives from UNMIK-Kosovo attended the conference.
The conference marked a unique opportunity to launch a public diplomacy platform among a broad set of stakeholders from the region for creating a strong public opinion based on common security and democracy concepts and for forming a civil and military leader network from within.
The creation of the CSEESF, in its very essence, serves as a regional network on common security providing a platform for developing a new dialogue on security concepts by participants in the region based on a 2+3+2+1 coalition where priorities are formed from its own dynamics in the region[1].
The fragmented and uneven pace of development in the region adds a particular dimension to this endeavour. A new agenda on common security in Central and South Eastern Europe not only has to address the usual consequences of transition in regard to civil and military affairs, but also has to deal with the creation of regional stability. In particular the aftermath of the Bosnia and Kosovo conflicts continues to burden regional insecurity. On top of this the new challenges facing the members of the Euro-Atlantic community are demanding new capabilities and alliances. This adds an even higher complication to the achievement of common security in the region.
The persistence of the unresolved peace has forged a strategic partnership between NATO and the EU in crisis management bringing an end to conflict and stabilizing the region. But the Western Balkans is still characterized by inter-ethnic tensions including unresolved cross-border issues.
In economic, social, and political terms the Western Balkans is a highly diverse region but the serious structural development problems are common to the region as a whole. The decline of old industries and the only slow recovery of the economy need to be accelerated. An equally serious challenge is the existence of large areas of rural underdevelopment. The pervasive presence of organized crime and corruption continues to fester with governments and communities.
The presence of NATO in the region has already changed the security climate for the better, which combined with notably Partnership-for-Peace (PfP) and Membership Action Plan (MAP) activities is creating a new dynamics towards integration of security concepts in the region. Under the SEEI, the SEE group is a unique ad hoc format involving both Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are presently outside the PfP process. Major issues regarding defence and security sector reform, military conversion, arms control and removal of small arms, border security and management as well as preventive measures of handling the threat of terrorism still needs to be resolved.
NATO and the EU together with other international organisations have a shared common vision for the future of the Western Balkans: a self-sustaining capability based on democratic and effective government structures and a viable free-market economy, with the aim of furthering the countries of the region towards integration in the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. The EU and NATO partnership has been key to bringing an end to conflict and stabilizing the region. NATO’s effective military presence and the EU’s increased engagement have contributed to strengthening regional security and continue to do so. NATO and EU activities are mutually reinforcing as illustrated by the close cooperation of both on the Macedonian peace process and the Istanbul Declaration in respect to Bosnia-Herzegovina and by the EU and NATO concerted approach to the Western Balkans.
The work performed by the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and the priorities set up in the Working Tables has complemented this effort. Together with the South Eastern European Cooperation Process (SEECP) these two structures have gradually become the voice of the region in a mutually complimentary fashion.
The Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) of the EU remains the framework of the European course of the Western Balkans on their way to future association. The Thessaloniki Summit paved the way for furthering Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA) although the pace of progress has created some uncertainty as to whether by 2007 there will even be ratified SAA’s between the EU, Serbia Montenegro, Albania, or Bosnia-Herzegovina. This is why the economic and social cohesion needs to be solidly anchored into EU policies.
For the Sofia conference it was imperative to underline the need for creating full transparency and public debate around this complicated process. Due to the uneven developments in the region there is a simultaneous need to continue the positive work regarding conflict prevention, to consolidate peace and stability, and to create sustainable development. The need for maintaining public pressure in the region based on a joint regional network approach will be a litmus test for the social, economic and military cohesion of the region. This makes the role of civil society and public opinion an invaluable and necessary democratic pillar of strengthening the institutional and military reform from within the societies in region.
During the deliberations and presentations by outstanding and eminent representatives/persons from the region the conference focused on the following eight priorities. Each of these priorities reflects a deep concern for the active involvement of civil and military actors in achieving peace and stability in the region. Already major progress has been made regarding the introduction of the democratization process, democratically elected governments, public administration reform and decentralization, social dialogue and the involvement of civil society.
- Conflict prevention and crisis management
The conference fully endorsed the requirements for the presence of a military crisis management capability by NATO and EU, able to both prevent and contain future crisis. Meanwhile the positive steps taken to assure the full implementation of Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council, the Dayton/Paris Accords and the Ohrid and Belgrade Agreements must be kept strongly in the public awareness. The CSEESF agreed to monitor the continued developments of these commitments and further build awareness not least among youth with the aim of training a new generation of leaders to deal with the future NATO and EU integration.
Particular issues in regard to the political and social security are right and return of refugees, the right of minorities, and the inter-ethnic and inter-religious dialogue would be a commitment for each of the members of the forum.
- Defence and security sector reform
Defence and security sector reform remains a key component for the countries of the region to move closer towards the EU and NATO. The EU’s work in police reform and governance issues and NATO’s work on PfP and MAP activities have paved the way for specific activities with regard to defence conversion (notably in co-operation with Working Table III of the Stability Pact). The forum members are committed to continue their public information and public opinion work in these areas assuring full transparency and openness regarding the further development of the defence and security sector in the countries of the region.
- Social and economic cohesion
There is a pressing need for new strategies to promote structural reform across the region, which is essential for to reversing more than two decades of economic decline. Initiatives to reduce the costs of public administration, liquidating loss-making companies and initiating the social dialogue and retraining of workers left stranded by the collapse of old companies are key to developing a real market economy and attract foreign direct investment. Liberalisation of the trade regime and development of trade among the SEE countries, development of regional energy and transport infrastructure should be set in accordance with the EU strategies. There is no need to invent anything new; the instrument that are presently used in a candidate country such as Bulgaria already show the direction in which such policy should go, being an integral part of the EU Thessaloniki commitment for regional cohesion policies. This is separate from the pre-accession session rendered to Romania and Bulgaria.
The participants in the conference consider the democracy, democratic reforms and political stability to a large extent on economic stability and developed infrastructure. Unemployment, the lack of investments and low productivity, as well as poor competitiveness, all have a negative impact on the possibility to attain stability and developed infrastructure. The conference agree to work for further advancing political agreements on the general strategy in the area of infrastructure based on common interests and a common approach to the IFI’s for raising the necessary funds.
The conference expressed the concern for maintaining social cohesion in regard to social protection, health services and housing policies and underlined the need for civil society in the region to play an active role in discerning the social consequences of structural reform.
- Strengthening the rule of law
Most issues regarding the strengthening of the rule of law and the judicial system has rightly focused on combating organized crime, corruption, money laundering, illegal migration, and trafficking in human beings, as well as building an effective and accountable police force and an independent judiciary. The involvement of civil society organisations is a prerequisite to overcome these threats to personal security in the region. At the same time it seems equally important to foster a conducive framework for free-market practices, long-term credit and economic safety. The continued development of economically viable entities are key to foster equal collaboration between all stakeholders in the region.
- Border security and management
Based on the Ohrid conference steps have been taken to develop a coherent and concerted approach to border security and management in the Western Balkans, especially in the parts of the region where exceptional occasions, and for temporary reasons military, units are deployed. The free movement of goods and persons is one of the key challenges to peace and stability in the region. A special emphasis should be put on the development of the structures of border checkpoints. A number of members of the forum committed themselves to awareness building and developing of public opinion.
- Arms control and removal of small arms
Arms control is an essential element of stabilisation in the region. SALW are widely available and focus should continue on locating illegally possessed weapons, removing weapons from circulation and disrupting their trafficking throughout the region. The forum decided to further investigate ways to mobilise local communities and civil society organisations to overcome this continued scourge in the region.
- Threat of terrorism
There is an urgent need to develop appropriate national legislation to deal with threats and potential threats of terrorism in the region, combating the financing of terrorist organisations and developing police capacities to deter and combat terrorism. The most vulnerable communities where the threat of terrorism can develop are normally poor and destitute. An additional key instrument for a sustainable prevention effort will therefore be to strengthen local participation and social and economic opportunity. The forum committed itself to further investigate this interrelationship.
- Improvement of the environment
One of the legacies of industrial development policies of the former Yugoslavia is the lack of environmental protection of primarily mining and chemical industries that continue to pollute rivers and waters of the region. The lack of ecological security still has deep impact on the live span of people. An integral part of the efforts to achieve sustainable peace and stability in the region continues to be the reduction of pollution in a number of key places in the region. The mobilisation of national and local environment protection mechanisms will continue to be a key concern of the forum.
The conclusions of this conference form the basis for further developing an agenda for public opinion on common security and democracy in the region. Members of the forum in the coming months further substantiate the activities pertaining to a more detailed agenda that will be adopted at the 2nd Sofia Conference to take place on May 9 - 10, 2005.
The Bulgarian hosts offered crucial support to make this conference a milestone in conceptualizing internal networks and a public policy platform for peace and stability for Central and South Eastern Europe.
[1] Bulgaria and Romania as members of NATO, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia as MAP countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro as PfP candidates, and finally UNMIK-Kosovo without status.