1st International Conference on Mediterranean and Middle East CONTENTS Introduction Gen. Brig. Anselmo Donnari, Head of the International Relations Department, Military Centre for Strategic Studies, Italy 7 Programme and Participating Countries 9 Welcome Address Gen. S.A. Vincenzo Camporini, President of the Centre for High Defence 11 Studies, Italy Opening Remarks Sen. Francesco Bosi, Undersecretary of State for Defence, Italy 13 Welcome address Amb. Claudio Moreno, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy 15 Presentations by participating Countries • Albania 17 • Algeria 21 • Bosnia and Herzegovina 25 • Croatia 31 • Egypt 35 • France 41 • Greece 43 • Israel 45 • Italy 47 • Jordan 53 • Malta 59 • Mauritania 69 • Morocco 71 • Palestinian National Authority 75 77 • Portugal • Serbia and Montenegro 83 • Slovenia 87 91 • Spain • Syria 95 97 • Tunisia • Turkey 101 Closing remarks Sen. Alfredo Mantica, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Italy 107 Presidency’s Conclusions Conclusions (English Version) 115 Conclusions (French version) 119 1st International Conference on Mediterranean and Middle East Proceedings elaborated by Maria Egizia Gattamorta with the collaboration of: Lorena Di Placido Nunziante Mastrolia Elisa Nicodano researchers for Military Centre for Strategic Studies 1st International Conference on Mediterranean and Middle East Introduction In the past Italian Presidency Semester of the European Council (1 July – 31 December 2003) our Country was involved in a great number of initiatives aimed at giving new impetus to the dialogue between the North and South shores of the Mediterranean. In this context, Italian Ministry of Defence has been playing a high profile and proactive role. This permanent and active support to all the initiatives taken by the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance, can be seen also in the creation of a new International Forum for Mediterranean and Middle East Countries by the Centre for High Defence Studies (CASD) in Rome (April 2004), disposed by Italian Defence Minister in order to guarantee a continuum at the activities undertaken. It is with this spirit that the 1st International Conference on Mediterranean and Middle East has been indicted at the Centre for High Defence Studies (CASD) in Rome (26-28 October 2005). “Security, stability and co-operation in the Mediterranean Region: building a vision” is the main theme of the Conference that, from this year on, will alternate with the annual Regional Seapower Symposium for the Navies of Mediterranean and Black Sea Countries, suspending a five years lasting appointment. Italian Ministry of Defence, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, decided to involve all the 24 Countries that, for different reasons, have interests at stake in the Mediterranean Region, and the representatives from NATO, EU and OSCE (as observers). The Conference will become a high-level discussion forum on political, military, economic and cultural issues that are related to the area, with the main aim of reaching – when possible – a common and shared vision. In other words, the intent was to offer to each single participating Country an important stage where express its own vision on Mediterranean issues and opportunities on the table, avoiding closed or fixed positions. In particular, this first edition of the Conference has been an important chance to evaluate the current policies in the Mediterranean (Euro- Mediterranean Partnership, NATO Mediterranean Dialogue, Istanbul Co- operation Initiative, European Neighbourhood Policy, etc.), outlining successes, limits, difficulties and possible positive interactions. Officials, diplomats, researches and analysts have been discussing (under the Chatam House rules) all these issues, merging different approaches and creating a better co-operation between our countries. 7 1st International Conference on Mediterranean and Middle East The result has been an important document (Presidency’s Conclusions), approved by all the participants, which underlines the strategic relevance of the Mediterranean Region, wishes to foster the cross regional co- operation and welcomes any efforts to strengthen a broad concept of comprehensive security, articulated with good governance, political stability, economic and social development. This publication, elaborated by a CeMiSS team (E. Gattamorta, L. Di Placido, N. Mastrolia, E. Nicodano), takes full note of the statements made by all participants and of different national positions expressed, underlining the general attitude of co-operation throughout the works of the Conference. Anselmo Donnari Head of the International Relations Department Military Centre for Strategic Studies 8 1st International Conference on Mediterranean and Middle East WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26 Opening session Welcome Address Vincenzo Camporini, President of the Centre for High Defence Studies Opening Remarks Francesco Bosi, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Defence Presentations by invited countries Chairmanship Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Presentations by: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestinian National Authority, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 Chairmanship Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Working groups session (representative of each Country + 1 EU representative + 1 NATO representative + 1 OSCE representative) Chairmanship Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Plenary session FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28 Presentation of the “common vision” by the Chairmanship Closing remarks Alfredo Mantica, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 9 1st International Conference on Mediterranean and Middle East Participating Countries 1st INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDITERRANEAN AND MIDDLE EAST (October 26-28, 2005) 1. Albania 13. Libya 2. Algeria 14. Malta 3. Bosnia and Herzegovina 15. Mauritania 4. Croatia 16. Morocco 5. Cyprus 17. Palestinian National Authority 6. Egypt 18. Portugal 7. France 19. Serbia and Montenegro 8. Greece 20. Slovenia 9. Israel 21. Spain 10. Italy 22. Syria 11. Jordan 23. Tunisia 12. Lebanon 24. Turkey 10 1st International Conference on Mediterranean and Middle East Welcome Address Gen. Vincenzo Camporini, President of the Centre for High Defence Studies Ministry of Defence Italy Last year took place the biennial Regional Mediterranean Symposium for the Middle East, Mediterranean and the Black Sea organized by the Italian Navy in Venice. The Italian Ministry of Defence in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to sponsor a new Initiative in order to involve 24 countries that for different reasons have interest at stake in the Mediterranean Region, included the Balcan States (Adriatic dimension of Mediterranean). The Conference is intended to become a high level discussion forum with an academic flavour on political, military, economic and cultural issues that are related to the area with the main aim hopefully to reach as quiet as possible a common and shared vision. In other words, the intent is to offer the participants coming from so different countries an important stage where express its own vision on Mediterranean issues and opportunities in the free environment of the “Chatam House Rules” in order to be able to speak freely and without any specific limit. With the presence of observers of representatives from EU, NATO, OSCE, the Conference is also an important chance to check the status of the current policy on the Mediterranean (Euro- Mediterranean Partnership, NATO-Mediterranean Dialogue, Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, European Neighbourhood Policy and so on) outlining successes, limits, difficulties and possibly positive interactions between different issues. In particular, referring to these positive interactions between the different initiatives in the region, the Conference aims to reach a common and shared vision among the participating countries able to merge the different approaches in create a better cooperation between North and South, and between North and North, and South and South of the Mediterranean. The Conference could also be an opportunity to share and exchange among leaders, researchers and analysts a clear point of view for a better understanding to our countries. The choice to develop the Conference at the Centre for High Defence Studies, in this building, is that the opinion expressed in this forum should be more frank because they do not involve the official position of Governments. 11 1st International Conference on Mediterranean and Middle East It is a great honour for me and for Ambassador Claudio Moreno to chair this Conference and with this spirit we welcome you in this historic building, sure that all off us will do our best for the success of the symposium event. I thank you for your attention. Now with great pleasure I give the floor to the Undersecretary for Defence, Senator Francesco Bosi. 12 1st International Conference on Mediterranean and Middle East Opening Remarks Senator Francesco Bosi, Undersecretary of State for Defence Italy Autorità civili e militari, Signore e Signori, è un grande piacere porgere il saluto del Governo, del Signor Ministro della Difesa e mio personale ai rappresentanti delle 23 nazioni, qui convenuti, accogliendo l’invito italiano a partecipare a questa conferenza. Un saluto particolare agli inviati della NATO, dell’Unione Europea e dell’OSCE. Un vivo ringraziamento al Ministero