TIRANA, March 15 – The Albanian Institute for International Studies and the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the support of US Embassy in Tirana, NATO Public Diplomacy Division, NOSA & Friedrich Ebert Foundation, held Saturday an international conference titled “Security and EU integration Agenda of the Western Balkans.”
The goal of the Conference was to deliberate and reflect upon the interdependency between security, economic development and Euro-Atlantic integration agendas of the countries of the region.
Balkan map changed after Kosova became its newest country, thus completing the century-old aspirations of the ethnic Albanians there.
But there are many concerns on the region’s Euro-Atlantic integration prospects and the security there.
The regional new dynamics were the main issue of debate at the international conference held from the Albanian Institute for International Studies gathering in capital Tirana a considerable number of researchers and top personalities to offer their opinion on the security issues, including Kosova problem, and other challenges and threats the Balkan should cope with.
Albanian personalities were joined from their counterparts from Serbia, Kosova and Macedonia, also with guests from the United States and the European Union.
Benrd Fischer, head of the history department at the U.S. Indiana University, and Janusz Bugajski, head of the Center of International Strategic Research and Michael Haltzel, Senior Fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations of Johns Hopkins University’s, School of Advanced International Studies.
Members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Albania, Albanian politicians, members of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, and several prominent U.S. and European scholars attended the conference.
Speakers gave their opinion on security issues and economic developments, threats and prospects of the western Balkans.
Such issues have significantly changed with the progress noted in the region and its efforts of democratization and integration towards international institutions like NATO and the European Union.
They said that economic development, the fight against organized crime and corruption remain on top of their list of priorities along the integration efforts.
Threat of ethnic conflicts and uncertainties continue to remain present in the region though at a lower level compared to a decade ago.
One section dealt much on the priorities of the western Balkan countries on the security and development topics, including its integration into EU and NATO.
The other section discussed on Kosova, its new challenges and development.
Kosova offers in the region new hope to thus give an end to ethnic tension and bring calm at last.
The third section discussed politics of integration concerning development and security. Euro-Atlantic integration has played a great role to install stability and increase democracy in the region. New there rises the question whether NATO and BE policies on the western Balkans should change or not.
Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) is a non-governmental, non-profit research and policy institute created in recognition of the need for independent, in-depth analysis of the complex issues surrounding Albania’s security.
AIIS was founded by a group of academics and analysts with extensive experience on foreign policy and policy-making issues in 1998.
Since then, AIIS has sharpened its technical capacities to become a leading think-tank trusted by Albanian policy-makers and international partners in the fields of security studies, democracy, Euro-Atlantic integration and regional cooperation.
In order to promote discussion and debate among the policy community, AIIS engages Albanian and international scholars as well as provides its products free of charge on its website.
These services are made possible by the contributions of national and international donor community to fund its activities.
As a results-oriented, methodologically interdisciplinary team, AIIS aims to produce timely advice as well as analysis to the challenges facing Albania’s policy-makers.
Given the changing nature of security threats, AIIS has turned to domestic issues such as democratization as primary challenges to a secure and stable Albania.
Having carved out a niche in the policy-making environment, AIIS has become an important partner in Albania’s road to democratization and market economy.
Following are clips or resumes of the speeches held at the conference
Prime Minister Sali Berisha declared that the foreign policy of the Albanian government is firmly built on the concept of the Euro-Atlantic integration. Berisha expressed his appreciation for the paramount importance of NATO as a common security instrument, especially during and after the Kosova crisis, conveyed the determination of the Albanian government to proceed with the justice and electoral reform, and voiced his confidence that NATO in the Summit of Bucharest, is going to extend to Albania an invitation to join the Alliance. Berisha expressed his confidence that Albania was going to be a security contributor and not only a security consumer.
U.S. Ambassador in Albania John L. Withers acknowledged the participation of the Albanian army in several NATO lead missions and Iraq, and its significant modernization and successful adaptation to NATO standards. Congratulated on the achievements of the Albanian government and pointed out that the US government considered the judicial reform, electoral reform, and the latest efforts against corruption as very positive. Mr. Withers declared that his government supported the Albanian membership in NATO and expressed his confidence that Albania was going to be invited to join NATO in the Summit of Bucharest, while calling upon the Albanian government to speed up the judicial and electoral reform.
In his speech, Prof Fischer presented a comprehensive picture of the US-Albanian security relations, mapping the US and Albanian relations during the World War II and during the Hoxha regime.
Bugajski from CSIS discussed some of the contemporary security issues in the wider context, arguing that the end of the cold War and the disappearance of the tangible Soviet threat weakened the glue of the Alliance. He added that the US and European Union have generally similar perceptions about the most vital security challenges, but they differ markedly on how best to deal with them. Bugajski argued that nevertheless, the Alliance was mutually necessary. The US needs a strong, unified, economically competitive Europe with a more coherent foreign and security policy. Europe needs the strategic alliance with the US and benefits from the American commitment to European security. Bugajski argued further that Kosova is not intrinsically vital to the Russian interests. The Russian veto aimed to raise Russia’s international stature in several ways. Bugajski concluded that NATO enlargement with invitations for Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia would help undercut Russia’s aspirations in the region and provide a greater sense of security.
Albert Rakipi examined the internal security issues and their implications for the cooperation/conflict in the Western Balkans, airing the idea that all the Balkan states should be interested to help each other to develop their internal security mechanisms. A weak state lacks its institutional capacity to develop its human and economic resources and to become an economic and security partner. On the contrary, a weak state is prone to corruption, organized cross-border crime, and to become a security problem to its own neighbors.
Veton Surroi, former member of the Albanian Negotiating Team in Kosova, made a short presentation of the situation in Kosova after the declaration of independence. Surroi argued that the situation in Kosova is far from satisfying because of the Serb interference. The Serb government is using the Serb minority to undermine the legitimacy of the Kosovar government and the security in Kosova. Surroi declared that organized crime had also found its niche in the northern part of Kosova controlled by the Serb militia. Surroi argued that NATO was the only international actor in Kosova that had a consistent and active policy and called upon UN, EU, and OSCE to follow its lead.
Aristotelis Tziampiris from Eliamep debated the security problems in the Balkans after the declaration of independence of Kosova. Tziampiris was concentrated especially in the possibility of a further fragmentation of former Yugoslav republics. He discussed also the Greek- Macedonian relations and blamed the crisis on the Macedonian provocations and lack of understanding for the Greek identity concerns. However, Tziampiris admitted that there were no security issues between Greece and Macedonia and Greece had no reason to feel threatened by Macedonia.
Paolo Quercia from Military center for Strategic Studies, Italy explained the peculiarities of the Italian debate about the independence of Kosova. Quercia revealed that the Italian troops were stationed in Kosova since 1999 and the Italian government considered the recognition of the independence as a natural step and a security precaution for its troops in Kosova.
Prof. Enver Hasani of Prishtina University and Veton Latifi spoke about the security concerns of respectively, Kosova and Macedonia and the forthcoming enlargement of NATO. They shared the same idea that NATO is a necessary security instrument and that Macedonia first, and Kosova latter should join the Alliance.
Momcilo Radulovic spoke about the importance of the independence of Kosova in the Western Balkans. Mr. Radulovic acknowledged the role of NATO as a security guarantee in the Western Balkans. However, he concluded a similar EU enlargement should follow the NATO enlargement.
Milan Jazbec spoke about Slovenian experience in joining NATO and European Union. Jazbec argued that Euro-Atlantic integration diminishes the security concerns of a small nation and allows it to concentrate its own efforts on economic development and cooperation.
Jelica Minic expressed her concern about the current political situation in Serbia and the possible spill over effects to Kosova. Minic was worried that Serbia was still looking back unable to find its own way to join NATO and European Union.
Michael Haltzel concentrated on the US view of the NATO enlargement, claiming that US was the only country that had a meaningful debate about the first NATO enlargement. Haltzel argued that NATO was not only a mutual security instrument, but also a political organization committed to freedom and democracy. Haltzel expressed his confidence that Albania had fulfilled the basic requirements and that it should be invited to join the Alliance in the Summit of Bucharest. He congratulated Albania for its participation in Iraq and Afghanistan and saw no reason why the conflict about the name of Macedonia should effect the invitation of Albania to join NATO. Haltzel declared that his understanding was that US was going to support the candidacy of Albania.
Antonella Cerasino conveyed that NATO was ready to invite Croatia, Albania, and Macedonia. Cerasino congratulated Albania for its progress in the judicial and election reform. Cerasino declared that the Albanian army was very successful in reaching NATO standards. However, Cerasino admitted that the political decision to invite Albania to join NATO was going to be taken by consensus in the summit of Bucharest. Cerasino answered that the Alliance does not exclude the possibility of a further enlargement; however, no political decision is taken on this issue.
Dorarta Hyseni reported on the latest AIIS research project, which aimed to asses the attitudes and the level of knowledge of the Albanian elite on NATO and NATO membership. Hyseni concluded that the Albanian elite in general supports NATO membership and appreciates its role as a political and security instrument.
