Eighth Meeting of Working Table III
Conclusions

I. Defence and Security Issues

Participants stressed the need for greater emphasis on a regional approach to tackle the multiple challenges in the area of defence and security sector reform in SEE. In order to obtain tangible results, political will to introduce reforms, combined with cooperation and exchange of best practices among the relevant actors as well as continued financial support by the international community remain of primordial importance. Participants agreed on the need to include the fight against terrorism into future activities of WT III.

Within the area of security sector reform, participants stressed the need for assistance programs to enhance parliamentary control over the military sector and reform processes within SEE Ministries of Defence, and advocated that such assistance should qualify for Official Development Aid according to DAC criteria. By the same token, WT III agreed on the need to establish closer cooperation between the Stability Pact and other regional fora, like the SEEGROUP or the SEE Defence Ministerial (SEDM).

RACVIAC

The Director of RACVIAC forwarded a report on RACVIAC’s activities covering the period since the last Working Table III meeting. He underlined that RACVIAC is a well-established institution in SEE now. This is reflected by numerous contacts and joint activities with other organisations and institutions operating under the Stability Pact umbrella, as well as outside it. Just recently initial contacts have been established with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to explore joint training and information activities for SEE states in RACVIAC. He also informed the participants about the second “Information Meeting on Security Issues of Common Interest“, attended by RACVIAC’s international partners, which took place in October. All states from the region continue to send representatives to RACVIAC’s seminars and training courses. The scope of participants has broadened and includes now personnel from outside the narrow arms control society, from the civil society as well as parliamentarians and their staff.

The Director of RACVIAC underlined the need for continued involvement of states and organizations from outside the region in RACVIAC’s programmes, in addition to national endeavors. Coordination among the numerous organizations that are involved in assistance to SEE should be improved. To speed up progress in Security Sector Reform opinion makers, politicians and parliamentarians should be assisted to increase their expertise on the complicated issues involved. Also in a more general sense, investment in human resources, training and education should receive more importance. In this context, the Director of RACVIAC proposed the establishment of an SEE Center for Security and Political Studies.

There was general agreement that the SEE countries should increasingly assume ownership of the security sector reform process. By the same token, cooperation among the main actors, governments, civil society and the private sector, as well as between relevant regional initiatives needs to be enhanced in order to make efficient use of resources, hereby avoiding duplication of action.

Defence Economics

Encouraging progress has been achieved under the SP retraining and resettlement programmes initiated with Bulgaria and Romania. Similar programmes have started recently with Albania and FYR of Macedonia. Preliminary discussions have started with the authorities of Serbia and Montenegro concerning the retraining of military personnel, where NATO is offering expertise and technical assistance.

Regarding the conversion of bases and military sites, Romania, Bulgaria and FYR of Macedonia have already identified some pilot projects at redundant military facilities. These pilot projects are intended to help start the process of developing comprehensive base closure and conversion strategies through the practical demonstration of principles, possibilities and regional cooperation. The question of conversion of military bases is important for Serbia and Montenegro as well as substantial changes in this area are expected as soon as the Defence Strategy Document has been adopted. Management assistance as well, as financial support for such activities might be desirable. Funds to proceed with a feasibility study for a Moldovan project aimed at the destruction of dangerous chemicals and pesticides currently stored on military sites have been made available.

Participants were briefed about the outcome of the international conference on defence conversion, which took place in Berlin from 16 to 19 September 2003. The representative of the Albanian Atlantic Association informed about the national program for social adaptation and integration of redundant military personnel into civil society.

The Stability Pact is currently reviewing possibilities for more effective assistance in the defence economic file regarding Serbia and Montenegro. NATO expressed support for the establishment of a South Eastern European Center for Military Conversion in 2004. Active involvement in the conversion process by partners from the private sector is necessary and also the participation of international financial institutions would be desirable. The Stability Pact agreed to explore possibilities to organize a conference to take stock of programs in the area of defence economics and to identify gaps where regional cooperation would be useful.

The Reay Group on Mine Action

The Representative of the Chair of the Reay Group briefed the participants about a working session of the Reay Group in September 2003 in Bangkok, in the margins of the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention.

With all the SEE countries now having deposited instruments of acceptance of the Ottawa Convention, the main aim of the Reay Group has been accomplished. Participants took note of an invitation to attend a workshop in Bucharest on 2-3 February 2004 organized by the Romanian Chairmanship.

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)

The illicit spread of SALW remains at the centre of the Stability Pact's WT III security agenda and continues to be closely linked with other SP's security-related initiatives and Task Forces, in particular in the field of combating organized crime, fighting human trafficking and other cross-border illegal activities.

The Task Force leader of the South East European Small Arms and Light Weapons Clearinghouse (SEESAC) reported on progress on the multifaceted activities of the Centre and introduced SEESAC's plans for the year 2004. There was general agreement that the National Focal points should play a much more significant role in the information management process, while at the same time cooperation between relevant NGO's and CSO's needs to be improved. The SEE countries were encouraged to improve their technical standards, a prerequisite for the effectiveness and safety of any SALW intervention.

DPPI

It was recognized that DPPI successfully addressed the difficulties associated with effective and timely cooperation across borders, with strong support from the international community. A number of training events with participation of DPPI member countries and international organisations has been organised in the region. The Joint Fire-fighting Unit from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro was highlighted as a very good example of the possibilities and advantages of cross-border cooperation and coordination.

Participants discussed ways on how to mainstream DPPI into development policies, while at the same time enhancing the visibility and importance of this initiative. In order to facilitate emergency humanitarian assistance, bilateral and multilateral agreements should be concluded in future.

Ohrid Border Process

Participants took note of the briefing and the report presented by Mr. Soren Jessen-Petersen on the results of the first Review Meeting of the Ohrid Border Process, from 5 November 2003 in Belgrade. They endorsed the Chair’s suggestion that regular reports, possibly every 6 months based on the EU templates, be made available to all participants of this process. The Stability Pact (WT III and MARRI) - as the clearinghouse for receiving and disseminating such reports – will serve as a centre for receipt and exchange of information or initiatives and events in the field of border security and management. The establishment of bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements and development of common training represent a positive signal of regional coherence, a coherence that has to be strengthened in the coming years. Ad hoc meetings might be convened earlier in response to specific needs. The next Review Meeting should take place in early November 2004. A host for this meeting hopefully will be identified soon.

II. Justice and Home Affairs Issues

MARRI

The MARRI Chairman presented the work of 2003, which had been based on the strong support received at the Thessaloniki Summit. He informed about the launching of the MARRI Programme of Action in July and the outcome of the latest Steering Committee of 26 November 2003. He outlined activities in the field of asylum, migration, refugees and visa and gave an update on the progress with the NAPs.

There was support by participants for the proposal to establish a regional forum for dialogue on migration, asylum and refugees, which would include capacity building and training with a regional and integrated focus. Among the issues discussed were information exchange and better access to documentation, targeted cooperation among source, transit and destination countries, housing and collective centre closure. With regard to sustainability of solutions to issues of refugees, participants supported the strategic change from refugee status to citizenship and access to rights. A note on this issue was shared with participants and the Chairman invited for further comments on the note. Finally, the Chairman informed about the plans of MARRI for 2004, including the planned transfer of MARRI to the region.

SPOC

The SPOC Secretariat in Bucharest became operational. Representatives from principal European and international law enforcement agencies started to formulate joint projects with experts from the region to tackle organized crime. The participants saluted SPOC’s role to facilitate result-oriented dialogue amongst the International, European and regional legal communities, the law enforcement agencies and the donor community.

Up-coming SPOC activities will follow-up on the conclusions of the EU-Western Balkans JHA summit held in Brussels on 28 November 2003 and other previous ministerial events focusing the fight against organized crime in SEE. SPOC will also support continuation of the dialogue between Europol and the Bucharest-based Regional Center for Combating Transborder Crime (SECI Center).

The SPOC initiative, in conjunction with other actors, encouraged SEE JHA Ministers to speed up legislative harmonization focusing inter alia on the implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo TOC). A regional campaign to translate all legal and technical aspects of the Palermo TOC into action is now urgently needed.

Police Forum

The Co-Chair reported on three projects. Police training modules, implemented by the Association of European Police Colleges (AEPC) were highly appreciated by SEE representatives. Three more modules are planned for 2004, financing still being needed for two of them. It was agreed that the SP Secretariat will continue its efforts to identify financial resources for them.

The newly launched project, Organized Crime Training Network (OCTN), was mentioned by the participants as one of the most important tools to fight organized crime in the region. The project, developed in close coordination with the SEE countries themselves, will start next year immediately after the signature of the letters of intent by the interested donor countries and the SEE Partner countries.

The Programme of Action on the Stolen Vehicle Project, recently agreed by a regional conference in Bled on 18 & 19 November 2003, should be implemented and monitored under the auspices of the Police Forum. A police training module will be implemented in Moldova by the AEPC, having the financial support from Norway, as the first follow up step.

SPTF on Trafficking in Human Beings

The participants unanimously gave strong support to the work of the Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings (SPTF), including support to the formal setting-up of sub-groups on combating child trafficking within the existing national frameworks. Concrete data on victim profiles and the level and extent of victim assistance and protection facilities throughout the region were provided in the 1st Annual Report of the Regional Clearing Point. Participants urged countries of the region to take clear responsibility in the fight against human trafficking.

At a Regional Ministerial Forum in Sofia on 10 December 2003 it is expected that government representatives will sign a Statement on Commitments focusing on witness protection with regard to victims of trafficking and combating child trafficking.

SPAI

The recently appointed Head of the SPAI Regional Office presented the strategy adopted by the Steering Group in September this year and the step-by-step process for making the Sarajevo-based Secretariat operational.

The participants reaffirmed the strong regional commitment to support SPAI as an important initiative in the fight against organized crime and corruption in SEE, one of the SP core objectives.