Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SOFIA1000
2005-06-03 14:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

STABILITY PACT FOR SOUTH EAST EUROPE PRESSING

Tags:  EAID ECON PREL PHUM PARM BU 
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UNCLAS SOFIA 001000 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL PHUM PARM BU
SUBJECT: STABILITY PACT FOR SOUTH EAST EUROPE PRESSING
REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO ASSUME GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR
REGIONAL COOPERATION

REF: 04 Skopje 2038

UNCLAS SOFIA 001000

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL PHUM PARM BU
SUBJECT: STABILITY PACT FOR SOUTH EAST EUROPE PRESSING
REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO ASSUME GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR
REGIONAL COOPERATION

REF: 04 Skopje 2038


1. SUMMARY: The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe's
semi-annual Regional Table Meeting May 17-18 in Sofia pushed
countries in South East Europe to make a greater political
and resource commitment to the Pact's regional initiatives.
The meeting was the first serious discussion countries have
had about what they need to do to take over leadership of
Stability Pact initiatives, rather than relying on donor
countries to drive the reform agenda. Speakers from the EU
and governments praised the progress made under the Pact's
auspices, but argued for a clearer definition of goals over
the year ahead. The countries of the region agreed to report
back at the next Regional Table in November 2005 on which of
the 25 Stability Pact initiatives are of greatest priority
to them, so that the Pact can focus its resources. Key
elements of the May 17 Working Table discussion included the
problem of the brain drain from the region, regional
infrastructure, and endorsement of the Pact's defense
conversion initiative, which seeks to address the economic
and social dimension of defense reforms in the region.
Albania and Macedonia asked for the Pact to support them in
arguing against the possible EU move to downgrade the
priority of the European transport corridor VIII, running
from Albania to the Black Sea. The Regional Table's oddest
moment came toward the end when Russian representative
Azimov, while expressing support for the Pact, lectured the
hall against dictating to the region and asserted the role
of "great Russia" in Europe. End Summary.


2. Regional Table - Discussion of Regional Ownership

The Stability Pact's semi-annual meeting came at an
important juncture, when progress in South East Europe,
marked by Bulgarian and Romanian signing of EU accession
treaties in April, had fostered donor interest in seeing a
medium-term closure strategy for the Pact, which was
established in June 1999 following the Kosovo air campaign.
During the three working tables and the Regional Table
meeting, Stability Pact Special Coordinator Erhard Busek
conveyed a clear message that the Pact would have to

recognize that it was never meant to be permanent and the
countries of Southeast Europe needed to take over "regional
ownership" and "regional leadership" of Pact initiatives.
Busek, the European Commission, and several European states
called for the South East Europe Cooperative Process
(SEECP),currently chaired by Greece to lead the effort of
the region to take over leadership of Pact initiatives.
Among the donors, the United States, German and Swiss
representatives stressed the need for the countries of the
region to identify which initiatives were of sufficient
priority that the countries were prepared to assume
leadership. The Czech national coordinator stressed that
new EU members had a lot of transitional experience to share
with the region. The Greek representative, speaking as
SEECP chair, confirmed Greece's commitment to the SEECP's
evolving leadership role, although he signaled no additions
to the basic direction continued by the previous chair,
Romania. Since UNMIK/Kosovo is not even an observer to the
SEECP, the United States noted the need to ensure that the
move to regional ownership does not undermine the effort to
increase the integration of UNMIK/Kosovo into Stability Pact
initiatives. The countries of the region, led in particular
by Serbia and Montenegro, pledged to work together and with
the Pact, to identify priorities and possibilities for
regional ownership in order to permit a more focused
discussion on priorities at the key Regional Table meeting
in Prague in mid-November 2005.


3. Working Table I (Democracy and Human Rights):

WT I stresses regional cooperation with regard to local
democracy and cross border cooperation, parliamentary
cooperation, media reform, and will now address challenges
involving the region's youth and education. On the latter,
the Pact will focus on increasing awareness of EU education
programs and available funds, youth activities and
supporting science and research institutes. Cooperation
with EU-member institutions and countries will be key to the
effort to support science and research in the Balkans. The
Gender Task Force described how it already exercises a
degree of regional leadership, since countries of the region
fund operating costs and set the reform agenda, although the
Task Force depends on donor funding of projects. The session
confirmed the appointment of Radomir Diklic, founder of the
independent Beta News agency in Serbia as the new chair of
the media task force, and underscored the need to promote
the economic viability of an independent press and media in
the region.


4. Working Table II (Economic Development):

In addition to the focus on regional infrastructure, the
Table heard presentations on Stability Pact initiatives
regarding "social cohesion," involving the range of issues
not directly addressed by the acquis communitaire (health,
labor policy, etc.) and on the link between foreign direct
investment and job creation. On infrastructure, WT II
chairman Saccomanni reported that some 45 of 54 projects
(valued at euros 5.2 billion) under consideration were
underway, and a further six are due to start before year's
end. At the WT, and subsequently at the Regional Table,
countries of the region, especially Albania and Macedonia,
criticized the recommendation to the European Commission by
the special high level group on transport links (chaired by
former Commissioner de Palacio) that the SW to NE Corridor
VIII from Albania to the Black Sea, would slip from the list
of EU transportation priorities. The affected states
recognized that the economics of the corridor lag those of
other corridors (the main east-west routes linking Western
Europe to Turkey and points east),but noted the political
importance of the corridor to those countries' inclusion in
an integrated Europe. The Stability Pact and the European
Commission promised to convey Albanian and Macedonian
concerns.


5. Working Table III (Security Issues):

WT III highlighted the issue of regional defense conversion,
and the mandate given the Stability Pact and the Regional
Arms Control and Verification Center (RACVIAC) to work on
the issue via regional working groups on officer retraining,
base conversion, and defense industry, as well as looking at
further activities to address excess weapons (including
small arms and light weapons) and munitions. The Swiss-
based NGO DCAF (Centre for Democratic Control of Armed
Forces in Geneva) reported on its work on officer
retraining, and expressed interest in working on the issue
with the Pact. WT III Chairman Janez Premoze stressed the
social and economic effects of defense reform, and the need
for the defense conversion initiative to connect with other
Pact efforts, especially with the range of economic
development activities under WT II. WT III also discussed
the Pact's refugee and migration initiative, which has moved
to the leadership of the SEECP, and opened a new regional
center in Skopje. The switch to regional leadership can be
seen in the changed focus of this initiative, which now
includes cooperation among regional consular officers to
facilitate legitimate travel and combat human trafficking.
Another initiative moving to the region is the Disaster
Prevention and Preparedness Initiative (DPPI),which will
transfer its secretariat to the region in order to
facilitate cooperation among countries to prepare for cross-
border disasters like seasonal wild fires, floods, and
potential earthquakes.


6. COMMENT: Pushing the SEE Region to Do More

One of the livelier Stability Pact Regional Table meetings,
the Sofia session placed the central themes of "regional
ownership and regional leadership" squarely on the table.
Special Coordinator Busek and Pact staff will focus their
efforts over the next six months on working with regional
governments to identify the constraints and possibilities
that exist to move additional Stability Pact initiatives
under the direct auspices of regional governments, which
would require regional governments to provide greater
support in terms of staff and funding, and leadership in
setting the reform agenda. A clearer roadmap for the Pact's
work for 2006 and into 2007 should emerge from this effort
and allow a more refined vision to be reviewed in November
in Prague. End Comment.