Euro-Atlantic Experiences - Balkan Visions - Annotation
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MONTENEGRO ON THE WAY TO EURO-ATLANTIC FAMILY Crna Gora Ministarstvo inostranih poslova Regional Conference Euro-Atlantic Experiences and Balkan Visions Think Euro-Atlantic, Act Responsibly Final Conference 8 – 10 June 2009 Hotel Bianca, Kolasin, Montenegro Annotation The conference is considered to be one of the most important events held in the region in the first half of this year dealing with issues of Euro-Atlantic perspectives of the Western Balkans. Montenegro and other countries of Western Balkans have decided to join their future with other countries integrated in the Euro-Atlantic structures. This decision is a key factor for their further development on the road to the stability, security and prosperity of the region. This process is very complex and challenging. Therefore Slovakia - celebrating this year its 5th year of membership in NATO and EU, fully supports this integration efforts, since it itself experienced all benefits of integration as well as opposites being excluded from the integration process – is willing to transfer its own knowledge and experiences as well as other new member states to other countries to help them avoid mistakes and accelerate their progress. The conference gives an opportunity to share views of the Euro-Atlantic integration of the region and its challenges from the perspective of possible future member state as well as from the perspectives of new member states. The panellists can discuss the importance of this issue for the development this area and also for the whole Europe. The participants will discuss the role, importance of the regional cooperation and its impact on their integration ambitions. Since the conference is taking place in the year, when NATO celebrates its 60th anniversary, one of the topics will be the future of NATO, its transformation and the following discussion about the strategic concept. The representatives of the region can therefore contribute to the creation of this strategic document and the future direction of NATO. The closing regional conference to which high-rank official representatives from NATO and EU non-member and member states were invited should offer the opportunity to share experience, opinions and to discuss new possibilities and visions. The conference will promote strengthening regional cooperation and could also serve as an example of the open door policy towards the Balkan region explaining the new context of NATO changes. MONTENEGRO ON THE WAY TO EURO-ATLANTIC FAMILY Crna Gora Ministarstvo inostranih poslova Auspices The conference is organised under the joint auspices of Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic and Milan Roćen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro. Participation The conference will be opened by 3 ministers - Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Milan Roćen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and Sven Alkalaj, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We expect presence of Mr. Robert Simmons, NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Security Cooperation and Partnership and high level representatives of Ministries of Foreign Affairs from 15 European countries: Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Bulgaria, Republic of Croatia, Czech Republic, Hellenic Republic, Republic of Hungary, Italian Republic, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Republic of Serbia Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia and Republic of Turkey on the level of Deputy Ministers or Political Directors of MFA. Project The conference is a part of the project “Montenegro on the way to Euro-Atlantic Family” co- financed by the SlovakAid and implemented by the Slovak Atlantic Commission with close cooperation with the Coordination team for Implementation of Communication Strategy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic. The aim of the project is support Montenegro and the region in the preparation for euro- atlantic integration by providing them with experiences of the Slovak Republic and also other NATO member countries with the integration process and benefits of the membership in NATO and EU. As a result we expect to contribute to better understanding of reasons and benefits of integration and raising public support for this strategic goal. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and With support of: Coordination team for implementation Communication Strategy Ministry of Defence of Montenegro Ministry of Interior of Montenegro .