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WT I Task Force Coordinators Meeting
The Working Table I Task Force
Coordinators meeting was held on July 20, 2000, in Bucharest.
The meeting was hosted and organized by the current Romanian Co-chairmanship.
The meeting was
chaired by Mr. Panagiotis Roumeliotis, the WT 1 Chairman, and
Mr. Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, Secretary of State, WT I Co-chairman
and National Coordinator of the Stability Pact.
Other Participants
included Mr. Donald B. Kursch – Principal Deputy Special
Coordinator and Mr. Marcel Tremeau - representative of the French
EU Presidency, as well as the coordinators of the WT I Task Forces.
The meeting agenda
included the following points:
-
A brief presentation
by each Task Force coordinator summarizing the activities
carried out thus far, proposals for improving the overall
effectiveness of the Working Table, future activities and
perspectives for each of the Task Forces, and ways to develop
cooperation with donors.
-
The (adoption)
of a NGOs Charter: Presentation made by the WT 1 co-chairman.
-
WT 1 (identifying
initiatives and actions, where the participation of the FRY
(Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbian opposition) can be particularly
encouraged evaluation of priorities.
The meeting was
opened by Mr. M. R. Ungureanu, who presented the priorities and
objectives of the Romanian WT 1 Co-chairmanship (see the Romanian
Co-presidency Action Plan). During his introductory
remarks, Mr. P. Roumeliotis emphasized, the following elements,
which could contribute to the efficiency and better coordination
of the WT 1 activities:
-
The setting
up of an ongoing information exchange system between the Stability
Pact Secretariat and the Task forces coordinators, to monitor
the implementation of projects in the Quick Start Package.
-
Regular meetings
between the Task Force coordinators and the WT 1 Chairman,
as well as the representatives of the SP Secretariat, in order
to review progress in achieving the objectives of the Task
Forces.
-
The production
of activity reports every two monthsby Task Forces’ coordinators
for the Chariman and the SP Secretariat.
-
The importance
of developing higher visibility for WT 1 activities by more
effective dissemination of the information to the public.
-
The drafting
and adoption of the NGOs Charter as a major political commitment
of the Romanian Co-chairmanship.
-
The development
of the inter–religious dialogue is another element that
demands further attention. In this context, Mr. Roumeliotis
mentioned his and Mr. Kursch’s intention to visit The
Vatican in the near future. . The role of the churches must
be maixized in promoting understanding, reconciliation and
tolerance throughout South Eastern Europe..
-
The further
assistance and support of the SP participants for the Serbian
opposition (political leaders, mass media, civil society)
will encourage the democratization process in FRY.
-
The SP willingness
to actively include the Republic of Moldova into the SP activities,
an idea which was already expressed by the Special Coordinator
as well. The proposal to organize one or more SP meetings
in Chisinau was also mentioned.
-
The interconnection
of various processes under the WT 1 aegis by creating a an
effective network linking Task Forces and other participants.
Mr. Donald Kursch,
the Principal Deputy Special Coordinator, mentioned the following
significant aspects:
-
The next six
months must be used to prove that the WT 1 has a major contribution
to the democratization process in South Eastern Europe. WT
1 should stimulate the consolidation of the importance of
the civil society, using the projects in the Quick Start Package
as key elements.. This process should serve as a pillar for
the return to genuine democratic values in this region.
-
The role of
the NGOs should be strengthened by their further involvement
into the WT 1 activities, as well as by the recognition of
their positive contributions to the construction of civil
society
-
Among the three
SP WT, the WT 1 has the largest number of projects, included
in the Quick Start Package. It is of major importance to commence
these projects as soon as possible. Donors must respect their
commitments engaged during the Brussels Financing Conference.
It is recommended that all the meetings, seminars or conferences
organized under the WT 1 aegis will be presented to the chairman.
He should be informed in advance about all important meetings,
in order to ensure a good coordination.
-
The following
main partners of the SP will enjoy special attention:
-the young representatives of the Serbian democratic opposition
– who should be involved in more projects within the
WT 1;
-the network of the cities in Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo,
having twinning partnerships with cities from democratic countries
should be enlarged through the Szeged Process;
- The Republic
of Moldova – Mr.Hombach, the Special Coordinator gives
a special attention to including this country into the SP
processes.
Mr. Marcel Tremeau,
the representative of the French EU Presidency, emphasized the
leadership role played by the European Union in the Stability
Pact and the importance of a unique vision among the EU common
foreign policy and security leaders: Mr. Javier Solana, Mr. Christopher
Patten and Mr. Bodo Hombach, the Special Coordinator of the Stability
Pact. Mr. Tremeau suggested
that both the EU Presidency and the member states should be well
informed about the activities and the initiatives launched by
the Stability Pact and urged for a better co-ordination among
the EU and the Stability Pact. In the past, an unfortunate example
was the launch of the NGOs Charter Project, which was not presented
in a clear legal format to the EU and thus induced a reserved
attitude.
The conclusions of the WT 1 Chairman:
-
To obtain political
support, the WT 1 coordinators must produce and disseminate
comprehensive information. This does not imply increasing
the size of a central bureaucracy, but rather setting up a
three-pillar communication network: first, between the task
forces themselves, second, between the task forces and the
SP Secretariat and third, between the Task Forces and the
Governments of the states involved.
-
The Chairman
asked for better co-ordination and an increased emphasis on
major events to increase the visibility of WT 1 activities.
Major WT 1 future events include the Parliamentary Speakers’
meeting (Zagreb, 11-13 September 2000) and the Conference
on Education Reform and Modern Technologies in SE Europe (
Romania, October 2000). We also anticipate
one or more events to promote an inter-religious dialogue.
-
The establishment
of a comprehensive activity report of each task force. This
report will be produced every two months and will include
the implementation phase of the projects, as well as the difficulties
encountered during the development and financing of these
projects. The first activity report will be released before
the end of September.
The Principal Deputy
Special Coordinator said that the a possible second Stability
Pact Financing Conference would note meet earlier than next year.
A second round of projects would only be considered at that time..
He suggested the setting up of an effective network for the Task
Forces’ donors to coordinate activities in areas of common
interest. The remarks on
the last point of the agenda (FRY - Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia)
stressed the necessity for more substantial involvement of the
FRY civil society in the WT 1 activities:
-
The diversification
of the co-operation with the NGOs in the FRY; these should
be included in the preparation works of the NGO Charter.
-
Another priority
area that could assist the FRY population is "Youth and
Education". Currently, 40% of the projects initiated
by the "Youth and Education Task Force" includes
young people from Kosovo and the Montenegro.
-
WT 1 can contribute
substantially in the debate regarding the effectiveness of
sanctions imposed to the FRY.
-
The preparation
of a complete list including the towns in the FRY having twinning
partnerships with other cities in Stability Pact member countries.
This list represents a useful tool both for providing practical
assistance as well as moral support to the Serbian population.
The initiatives
to support the democractic opposition should provide practical
assistance that will underscore the benefits of developing closer
ties with Euro-Atlantic institutions |
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