REGIONAL SECURITY COOPERATION

The project is implemented by four think tanks, BCSP, CEPI from Bratislava, and D4D and KCSS from Prishtina, with the support from the International Visegrad Fund (IVF) founded by the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Republic of Poland, and the Slovak Republic.

The Agreement on normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina represents a positive step in Serbian-Albanian relations. However, its implementation depends on the political will of both sides and their success in resolving internal political issues. These are the main conclusions reached at the second Security Research Forum.

Representatives of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) participated in the conference "Serbia and Albania: Do Perceptions Equal Reality?" which took place in Tirana, on May 23 and 24, and which was organised as part of the project that BCSP implements in partnership with the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS).

The relations between the Albanian and Serbian communities remain of key importance to the security and stability of the Balkan Region. Despite the improved relations and the engagement in the European Union integration, the relations between Belgrade, Prishtina and Tirana are still hampered by unresolved issues from the past. These are main conclusions reached at the first Security Research Forum.

Besides speaking at the plenary panel about the connection between decision making and research experience, during "open space training" BCSP Director Sonja Stojanovic Gajic moderated lively discussion about whether Serbs and Albanians can resolve the issue of Kosovo.

Regional cooperation, European integration and fight against overwhelming crisis were key topics of the second Belgrade Security Forum (BSF), held September 20-22 at Hyatt Regency hotel.

Together with its partner organizations the BCSP will present results of "People’s Peacemaking Perspective" project to the European Parliament, DG Enlargement and European External Action Service. The results will be also presented to the representatives of think-tank organizations in Brussels.

In this case study BCSP Researcher Zorana Brozovic has explored people’s perspective on territorial and boundary issues in South Serbia, near administrative boundary with Kosovo and Metohija. Data for this research were collected in the town of Bujanovac.

There has been significant progress regarding security sector reform in the region, but there are still many challenges, such as: politicization, criminalization and not enough civilian control in practice - these are the conclusions of the round table that promoted "Almanac on Security Oversight in the Western Balkans".