Ing a Common Security Agenda for Southeast Europe New Approaches and Shared Responsibilities

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Ing a Common Security Agenda for Southeast Europe New Approaches and Shared Responsibilities SHAPING A COMMON SECURITY AGENDA FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPE NEW APPROACHES AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES September 5-6, 2003 Sofia, Bulgaria 1 The present document summarizes the discussions at the international conference “Shaping a Common Security Agenda for Southeast Europe - New Approaches and Shared Responsibilities” held on September 5-6, 2003 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The discussion benefited from the participation of NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson, Stability Pact Coordinator Dr. Erhard Busek, senior government officials from SEE and West European countries - including 8 ministers of defense and interior from the SEE region - representatives of international organizations and aid agencies, diplomatic missions, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations. The conference was a further contribution to the debate about the fundamental security challenges in Southeast Europe and the role of the countries in the region, NATO and the EU in meeting them. It highlighted the implications of NATO and EU enlargement, as well as of the transatlantic relations for regional security, emphasizing the changes in the threat environment towards the “softer”, nonmilitary spectrum. The discussions addressed the threats from trans-border crime, trafficking and corruption, and suggested innovative responses to the new security risks including the security sector reform. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Center for the Study of Democracy 97, Knjaz Boris I St., 1000 Sofia 5, Al. Zhendov St., 1113 Sofia Tel. (359 2) 980 8747 Tel. (359 2) 971 3000 Fax (359 2) 980 2438 Fax (359 2) 971 2233 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] www.fes.bg www.csd.bg 2 CONTENTS THE ORGANIZERS . 5 AGENDA . 7 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS . 17 CONFERENCE REPORT . 25 CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHS . 51 3 4 THE ORGANIZERS Friedrich Ebert Stiftung is a German foundation which aims to promote the development of democratic societies and social market economy. FES has a network of 90 offices in all continents where it pursues these aims in co-operation with local organizations mainly from the NGO sector. Already before the changes in Eastern Europe the foundation established an exchange program for scientists and journalists from Central and East Europe to visit Germany. With the beginning of the reforms in the transition countries FES supported this process through various activities like political education or exchange of experiences with reforms in East Germany and among countries of Central and East Europe. FES is giving particular attention to regional cooperation in Southeast Europe in order to foster political stability and economic development in the region. Specific regional projects are supporting EU integration and cross border programs, assisting social partners to develop sound labor relations and to develop social orientated employment policies, and strengthening local governments to make decentralization work. Founded in late 1989, the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) is a Bulgarian interdisciplinary public policy institute CENTER FOR THE STUDY dedicated to the values of democracy and market economy. The OF DEMOCRACY Center achieves its objectives through policy research, process monitoring, drafting of legislation, dissemination and advocacy activities and building partnerships, local and international networks. In the last five years CSD has focused its efforts on the linkages between a more traditional rule of law agenda and the newly emerging threats to both security and development in Bulgaria and Southeast Europe. Among these, smuggling and the international operations of organized crime pose one of the most serious threats to security and prosperity in the region and thus warrant the attention of a wider community of stakeholders. Thus CSD has been promoting the establishment of public-private partnerships in this area both in Bulgaria and internationally. Its pioneering studies of the role of corruption in the trafficking of commercial goods in Bulgaria have brought about changes in government policies increasing the effectiveness of law enforcement. Applied for a third year in Bulgaria, this method allows policy makers to identify weak spots in border controls and design responses that target the latest developments in the techniques used by organized crime. In addition to its policy analysis and recommendations work – which of late includes the mechanisms through which organized crime has impacted on the reform of the security services in Southeast Europe – CSD is providing training assistance to the government in enhancing the anti-corruption capacity in the security sector. 5 With the support of: Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Ministry of the Interior of Bulgaria German Government Government of Norway USAID Allianz Bulgaria Kremikovtzi AD Overgas Inc. AD 6 SHAPING A COMMON SECURITY AGENDA FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPE NEW APPROACHES AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES September 5-6, 2003 Boyana Conference Center Sofia AGENDA Thursday, 4 September 2003 Afternoon Arrival of participants 20.30 Reception hosted by Solomon Passy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Friday, 5 September 2003 08.15 Registration of participants 09.00 Opening of the conference Dr. Ognian Shentov Chairman, Center for the Study of Democracy Dr. Solomon Passy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria 7 SHAPING A COMMON SECURITY AGENDA FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPE – September 5–6, 2003, Sofia Dr. Harald Kindermann German Ambassador to Bulgaria Session 1: Enlargement, leadership and shared responsibilities in facing security challenges in Southeast Europe 09.15 Keynote speeches: Lord George Robertson Secretary General, NATO Markus Meckel MP, German Bundestag Head of German Delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly Dr. Erhard Busek Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe 8 9 Moderator: Ambassador Boyko Noev Former Minister of Defense of Bulgaria; Director, European Program, Center for the Study of Democracy 10.00-10.20 Discussion 10.20-10.40 Coffee break 10.40 Dr. Klaus Schumann Director General for Political Affairs, Council of Europe Prof. Dr. Ioan Mircea Paşcu Minister of Defense of Romania Dr. Matthias Dembinski Frankfurt Peace Research Institute SHAPING A COMMON SECURITY AGENDA FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPE – September 5–6, 2003, Sofia Moderator Dr. Fraser Cameron Director of Studies, The European Policy Centre, Belgium 11.20 – 11.45 Coffee break 11.45 – 12.00 Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha Prime Minister of Bulgaria 12.00-12.20 Discussion 12.30 Lunch hosted by Nikolay Svinarov, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria Session 2: The transatlantic relationship and its impact on regional security 15.00 Speakers: Dr. Fraser Cameron Director of Studies, The European Policy Centre, Belgium 10 11 Dr. John Hulsman Senior Policy Analyst, European Affairs, Davis Institute, The Heritage Foundation, USA Otfried Nassauer Berlin Information Center for Transatlantic Security Željka Antunovic Minister of Defense of Croatia Moderator: Arnold Wemhoerner Regional Representative, Friedrich Ebert Foundation 15.45-16.15 Discussion 16.15-16.45 Coffee break SHAPING A COMMON SECURITY AGENDA FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPE – September 5–6, 2003, Sofia 16.45 Vlado Buchkovski Minister of Defense of Macedonia Nikolay Svinarov Minister of Defense of Bulgaria Pandeli Majko Minister of Defense of Albania Moderator: Lyubomir Ivanov Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria 17.15-18.00 Discussion 20.00 Dinner hosted by Stefan Sofianski, Mayor of Sofia 12 13 Saturday, 6 September, 2003 Session 3: The risks to integration: threats from organized crime and corruption 09.00 Speakers: Vecdi Gönül Minister of National Defense of Turkey James Pardew US Ambassador to Bulgaria Prof. Georgi Petkanov Minister of Interior of Bulgaria Uta Zapf MP, Social Democratic Party, Germany SHAPING A COMMON SECURITY AGENDA FOR SOUTHEAST EUROPE – September 5–6, 2003, Sofia Moderator: Boyko Kotzev Deputy Minister of Interior of Bulgaria 10.00-10.30 Discussion 10.30- 11.00 Coffee break Session 4: Breaking with stereotypes: innovative responses to the new security risks 11.00 Speakers: Assen Assenov Director, Customs Agency, Ministry of Finance of Bulgaria Guner Ismail President of the Board, FORUM, Macedonia 14 15 Dr. Emil Tsenkov Coordinator of Contraband and Corruption Task Force, Center for the Study of Democracy Moderator: Boyko Todorov Program Director, Center for the Study of Democracy 12.00 Discussion 12.45 Closing remarks Dr. John Hulsman Senior Policy Analyst, European Affairs, Davis Institute, The Heritage Foundation, USA 13.00 End of conference 13.30 Lunch hosted by prof. Georgi Petkanov, Minister of Interior of Bulgaria Departure of participants 16 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Name Occupation Institution Abbot, Douglas Liaison Officer Office of NATO SG Acar, Umut Third Secretary Embassy of Turkey in Bulgaria Andreevski, Mitko Deputy Chief of Cabinet Ministry of Defense of Macedonia Antunovic, Željka Minister of Defense of Ministry of Defense of Croatia Croatia Assenov, Assen Director Customs Agency, Ministry of Finance of Bulgaria Atanassov, Atanas Gen. (ret.), Former Director Bulgaria of the National Security Service Ayaz, Adil Major, Aide de Camps Ministry of National Defense of (ADC) Turkey Baltzersen, Rolf Ambassador Embassy of Norway in Bulgaria Berechet, Nicolae Secretary of State Ministry of Administration and Interior of Romania Berk, Haidar Ambassador Embassy of Turkey in Bulgaria Bezlov, Tihomir Project Coordinator Center for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria Bless, Roland Spokesperson Stability Pact for
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