CONFERENCE ON BALKANS HIGHLIGHTS ROLE FOR SLOVAKIA

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000449 SIPDIS FOR EUR/SCE and EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL LO SUBJECT: CONFERENCE ON BALKANS HIGHLIGHTS ROLE FOR SLOVAKIA ¶1. Summary/Introduction: On May 20-21 the Research Center of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (SFPA) hosted a conference on "Assessing Developments in the Western Balkans: Problems of Today, Ideas for the Future." Co-sponsors of the conference were the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the EU Institute for Security Studies in Paris and the U.S. German Marshall Fund. ¶2. Slovakia considers the Balkans one of its "niche capabilities" in foreign policy, and most of its foreign assistance is disbursed in the region. Slovakia aims to serve as a role model of transformation, and strongly supports integration of Balkan countries to NATO and the European Union. The conference brought together policy makers, think tank and academics, and representatives of international institutions to present ideas on ways forward in the Balkans. The collection of papers and presentations will be published in a special fall 2005 issues of the journal "Slovak Foreign Policy Affairs," and we will forward a copy to EUR when it becomes available. End summary. Slovakia as Role Model; EU and NATO Accession as Goal -------------- -------------- ¶3. During the introduction, State Secretary of the Slovak MFA Magda Vasaryova said Slovakia would like to serve as a role model for transformation in the Balkans. OSCE SYG Jan Kubis explained the history of the OSCE role in the region. Mladen Ivanic, Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that the idea of a "High Representative" was good, and could also be appropriate in Kosovo, but only if there is a pre-determined end to his rule. Ten years after the war, it is time for the High Rep to go, and for Bosnia and Herzegovina to rule itself. Ivan Vejvoda (Executive Director of Balkan Trust for Democracy advocated for Serbia to be accepted into Partnership for Peace (the "kindergarten of NATO") as this process would help Serbia to open the doors also to EU and other international institutions. ¶4. The first panel dealt with "The Future of the Stabilization and Association Process" and included the following speakers: Chair, Vladimir Bilcik of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association; Franz-Lotha Altmann of Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politic; Vladimir Gligorov of the Institut fur Internationale Wirtschaftsvergleiche in Vienna; Mladen Stanici, the Director of the Institute for International Relations in Coratia; and Predrag Boskovic, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro. The speakers advocated for eventual EU membership for the countries of the Western Balkans, and discussed obstacles to overcome such as ICTY conditions. No Answers for Kosovo -------------- ¶5. The second panel addressed the final status of Kosovo as the most pressing challenge for the Western Balkans. The panel was moderated by Slovak MFA Political Director Miroslav Lajcak. Speakers included Veton Surroi, Chief Editor of Koha Ditore from Kosovo; Aleksander Simic, Vojislav Kostunica's Advisor for Kosovo; Judy Batt, Research Fellow at the EU Institute for Security Studies; and Filip Tesar from the Institute for International Relations in Prague. The panel looked at what major obstacles still remain to resolving Kosovo's final status, and under what conditions an agreement could be reached on this issue. There was criticism from Serbia that the Kosovar Albanians cannot identify leaders who are able to discuss concrete, practical issues. Coming to Terms with History in Bosnia and Herzegovina -------------- -------------- ¶6. The third panel analyzed unresolved statehood issues in Bosnia and Herzegovia (BH) including levels of federalism, minority rights, and sustainable economic development. Igor Radojcic, an MP from the Alliance of Independent Socialist Democrats Party in BH, asserted that the Office of the High Representative (OHR) has been very efficient in "running everything", but that it is time for parliament to become a larger player in BH's future. He recommended three changes; first, the EU must convert from "governors into advisors", second, structural changes must take Serbian culture into consideration, and third, emphasis must be placed on economic development or none of the democratic institutions will be lasting. Jakob Finci, President of the Jewish Community in BH, commented that in BH there are no citizens, just ethnic minorities. As a result, the OHR must persist for the present while dialogue continues between all the parties and an acceptable federalist system is established. He further stated that this cannot happen until the country comes to terms with its history and ceases to "negotiate it". The "Bratislava Process" Continues -------------- ¶7. Foreign Minister Kukan, a former UN special envoy to the Balkans, was the key-note speaker in the last panel focused on Central European Assistance to the Western Balkans. He highlighted that this panel, and the conference in general, finally gave needed recognition to the important role of Slovak diplomacy in the Balkan democratic transition. He used the phrase "the Bratislava Process" to refer to the transfer of know-how from Slovak NGOs experienced in civic education and get-out-the-vote campaigns to Serbian opposition groups under Milosevic. The GOS supported these activities in Belgrade and also invited activists to Bratislava. Kukan commented that Slovakia hoped to be as engaged in the Kosovo experience and negotiations. Kukan answered questions pertaining to Slovakia's policy on Croatian EU accession. Regarding Slovak assistance projects in the Balkans, Kukan repeated that Slovakia means what it says about making the Balkans its foreign policy priority. ¶8. Other members of the panel included Harald Kreid, Central European Initiative Director General; Katarina Vajdova of the Bratislava-Belgrade Trust Fund; and Jelica Minic of the European Movemement in Serbia. They analyzed current Slovak assistance efforts to Serbia through its newly established official development aid (ODA) program. Projects funded through the Bratislava-Belgrade fund focus on regional development projects, small and medium enterprises, and Serbia's European transition. Minic stated that Slovakia has a proven ability to affect change on a local level. Its accomplishments are largely due to its ability to adapt models and schemes to the local context quicker than large foreign donors. She added the most of the impetus for European integration is coming from the NGO sector, which could garner much information from the Slovak system. They also appreciated attempts for common lobbying for Balkan nations among new member states. ¶9. Comment: One of the recurring themes throughout the conference was the complementary roles that America and Europe play in the Balkans. As one speaker noted, "The Europeans are compassionate, the Americans are efficient, and what is needed is compassionate efficiency." UNCLASSIFIED3 SIPDIS UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED ED NNNN