Brussels   —  An important step was taken today in the transformation of the Regional Arms Control Verification and Implementation Assistance Centre (RACVIAC) from a purely arms control training centre into a Centre for Security Co-operation, which will continue to address key issues of Defence and Security Sector Reform, but expand to a forum addressing also civil-military relations and defence conversion, thus supporting European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

At a ceremony in Rakitje, Croatia, where RACVIAC, created in 2000 as an initiative of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe in the field of regional security, is located, Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Erhard Busek underlined that “NATO would like to see RACVIAC becoming an educational tool in SEE on defence and security sector reform for the NATO/Partnership for Peace”.  It is now up to the countries from SEE to ‘maximize the potential’ of RACVIAC to serve as a platform for discussing politico-military affairs from an SEE regional perspective.  RACVIAC’s future relevance will depend on its ability to achieve a high-level of professional competence and to produce practical results for its beneficiaries, thereby ensuring its credibility and standing towards important international partners.  This is why strengthening the co-operation with NATO and the EU is of paramount importance, Dr Busek stressed.

On the occasion, Ambassador Nedzad Hadzimusic of Bosnia and Herzegovina took up position as Director of RACVIAC.  Gen.-Maj. Stergios Papotis was congratulated for his outstanding job during his last three years as Director of RACVIAC.  Colonel Ion SAVCIUC from Moldova was appointed as the new Chairperson of the Multinational Advisory Group (MAG).

RACVIAC is a multi-national centre, which was created in 2000 as a forum for regional dialogue and co-operation in different Arms Control and Confidence and Security Building Measures, as well as to provide assistance in all matters of Arms Control and its implementation.  RACVIAC contributes to the aims of the Stability Pact, supports and complements the activities of the OSCE, as well as other organizations working in similar fields in SEE, in particular NATO and the EU.  There are now 24 nations involved in RACVIAC (Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey and United Kingdom), and military and civilian members from 15 of the above nations, staff this multinational body.

The decisions concerning the transformation of RACVIAC have been taken at the extraordinary MAG meeting 27 June 2007, as well as at the last MAG meeting, 3-5 October 2007.  The decisions taken cover issues such as the membership, the legal status, the relations with the future Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) as well as with other international partners, the scope of activities and human resources.  A new mechanism for the financing of RACVIAC was also approved.

For further information, please contact Stability Pact's Spokesperson Mr Georgi Gotev at the SP Secretariat in Brussels (Tel: +32 2 401 87 25 or press@stabilitypact.org).
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PR2007/022