On day two of the seminar, within the third session titled: “Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reform agenda and political situation”, the participants of event within the first panel on “Insider and outsider perspectives”, moderated by Mr Vitalino Canas (Portugal), Chairperson of the Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security of the NATO PA, were addressed by Mr Khaldoun Sinno, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, on “Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European Reform Agenda” and Mr Srećko Latal, Independent Political Analyst, on “The Complexity of Inter-Ethnic Relations in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. This was followed by a discussion during which participants discussed the reform activities undertaken in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past and plans for the upcoming period, with special emphasis on issues of complexity of the political situation in the region as well as the complexity of inter-ethnic relations.
The continuation of the gathering was marked by a discussion on the topic “Perspectives from Bosnia and Herzegovina”, moderated by Mr Asim Sarajlić, member of Delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the NATO PA, and the following spoke on this occasion: Mr Denis Zvizdić, Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Nedeljko Čubrilović, President of the National Assembly of the Republika Srpska and Mr Bariša Čolak, Speaker of the House of People of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the discussion that followed, the panellists pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina had a unique attitude and consensus on the Membership Action Plan (MAP), while the question of membership in the North Atlantic Alliance has been opened at this stage, so the discussion was devoted to recognizing the importance of resolving the issue of registration of military property and strengthening of regional cooperation at the political, economic, infrastructural, social and other levels.
After this, the fourth discussion followed, titled: “Addressing outstanding political issues in the Western Balkans”, moderated by Julio Miranda Calha (Portugal), Rapporteur of the Sub-Committee on NATO partnerships, while the following spoke on this topic Ms Marta Szpala, Senior Fellow, Central European Department, OSW, Warsaw on “Belgrade Pristina Relations” and Mr Marko Kmezić, Expert, Centre for Southeast European Studies, University of Graz on “Developments in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.
After this, participants of the 94th Rose-Roth Seminar & Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group NATO PA were addressed by Ambassador Istvan Gyarmati, President, the International Centre for Democratic Transition, Hungary, on “The Involvement of Third Powers in Political Developments in the Western Balkans”.
During the third day of the Seminar, Mr Paolo Alo, President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, delivered introductory remarks on “Instability in the MENA region and the Western Balkans”, during the session moderated by Mr Faik Oztark (Turkey), Chair of the Committee on Economy and Security.
After this, Mr Andrea Manciulli, Head of the Italian Delegation to the NATO PA and Rapporteur of the Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group, presented the GSM Report “The terrorist threat in the Balkans and Europe”.
As for the topic “Challenges from the South”, the participants were addressed by Mr Srđan Cvijić, Senior Policy Analyst on EU External Relations, Open Society European Policy Institute on “Migration and Refugees” and the Deputy Chairperson of the Council of representatives of Iraq on the topic: "The situation in Iraq". During the discussion that followed, delegates made reference to the migration flows in recent years and the changing demographic situation in this regard with particular emphasis on current developments in this field and the expectations for the upcoming period.
The continuation of the event, moderated by Menno Knip (Netherlands), Chairperson of the Economics and Security Sub Committee on Transition and Development, was marked by a discussion on “Implications for the Western Balkans - terrorism and radicalism”, during which delegates were addressed by Mr Dragan Mektić, Minister of Security, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Ms Valery Perry Senior Associate, Democratization Policy Council on Initiatives to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism in South East Europe and then Mr Vlado Azinović, Professor, Faculty of Political Science-University of Sarajevo on “The Current Status regarding FTF from Europe/Returnees from the War Zone/Home Grown Terrorists”.
The event was organised by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) in cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The seminar brought together over 100 participants, from NATO member states and partner countries, senior officials mainly from the host country and representatives of international organisations, non-governmental sector, universities and the public.
The joint seminar was aimed at providing a forum for discussion at parliamentary level on security issues among main legislators of NATO countries and their counterparts from partnering countries, as well as providing current information from the said field.
Parliament of Montenegro Standing Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly was presented at the 94th Rose-Roth Seminar & Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group by Mr Obrad Mišo Stanišić.
The seminar will end today.
