13/12/2012
The Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) and the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) launched the first Forum meeting in Tirana, on 13th December 2012. The meeting is part of the three year joined project titled “Belgrade-Prishtina-Tirana Security Research Forum”, which is financially supported with Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The main purpose of this initiative is to improve the security and stability in the Balkan region, by overcoming persistent obstacles to regional cooperation as lack of communication and lack of mutual trust. Further, this project aims to foster cooperation in the security research in three capitals through joined activities and exchange of experiences.
The first Forum meeting in Tirana triggered interest among Albanian officials, practitioners, academia, and civil society.
The regional forum was made of three panels:
Panel I: Security Sector Reform in Serbia, Kosovo and Albania – Issues, Challenges and Prospects
Sonja Stojanovic, Executive Director of Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP)
Florian Qehaja, Executive Director of Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (QKSS)
Arian Dyrmishi, Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM)
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Luan Hajdaraga, former Minister of Defense
This panel discussed the reforms in the security sector in the respective countries and highlighted the main achievements and shortcomings. The main issue that was discussed was the aim to increase the accountability and transparency of the security sector as a tool for resolving the security dilemmas.
Panel II: Regional security and economic developments: costs and benefits
Kol. Thimi Hudhra, Vice Director of the Centre for Security and Defence, Ministry of Defence
Ilda Zhulali, Director General for European Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Gjegj Buxhuku, Konfindustria
Panel III: How well do we know each other? Role of academia and media in improving perceptions and relations
Dr. Fatos Tarifa, Director of the Institute for Social and Policy Studies, UET
Rudina Xhunga, Journalist, Top Channel
Ben Andoni, Journalist, Java Magazine
