In cooperation with NATO, RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation organised and conducted a conference entitled “NATO Enlargement – Integration and Security in SEE region” in Raktije, from 15 to 17 November 2011.
The purpose of the conference was to examine the prospects of NATO enlargement in the region by informing the SEE countries about past and current developments concerning NATO integration and security in the region, especially in the light of the conclusions of the 2010 Lisbon Summit. Furthermore, the activity provided NATO member and candidate member states from the region with an opportunity to exchange views and lessons learned relating to the progress in NATO integration.
NATO’s new Strategic Concept, adopted at the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, reaffirmed the Allies’ commitment to keep NATO’s door open to any European country in a position to undertake the commitments and obligations of membership and contribute to the security in the Euro-Atlantic area. It also paved the way for full NATO integration of South-East European (SEE) countries, as potential NATO member states from SEE have demonstrated willingness to take the necessary steps and meet the benchmarks set for their possible future membership.
More than 30 participants representing Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Security from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as representatives from NATO, EUFOR, the Institute for International Relations, the Atlantic Council of Serbia and Faculties of Political Science from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia participated in the event. The keynote speech on the Emerging Security Challenges under NATO’s New Strategic Concept was delivered by Brigadier General Massimo Panizzi, Public Affairs and STRATCOM Advisor to the Military Committee Commander, NATO HQ Bruxelles. In his speech, the General pointed out that “NATO current security challenges are more uncertain and potentially more complicated than ever before. NATO is addressing these new challenges and risks with a fresh perspective, a comprehensive approach that encompasses broad political, military economic and social dynamics to enable eligible agile and blended solutions to the root causes of these security challenges”. Highly comprehensive presentations were delivered also by Mr Pjer Simunovic, State Secretary, Croatian Ministry of Defence, Mr Fabien Lemonier, Political Advisor to EUFOR Commander in Sarajevo and Colonel Foto Duro from the Albanian Ministry of Defence.
Source: Link (November 2011.)
