Transform, Transcend, Translate

Welcome to TransConflict, an organization undertaking conflict and post-conflict transformation projects and research throughout the Western Balkans

Monday 16th November, The Partnership for Peace Programme – Opportunities for Serbia?

TransConflict Serbia, in conjunction with the Youth Dialogue Programme, held its second workshop in Fruska Gora on November 14-15th, entitled 'The Partnership for Peace Programme – Opportunities for Serbia?'. The event was again generously supported by Jagello 2000 - Association for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, the foremost Czech actor in the field of communication strategies concerning membership of NATO and security policy in general.

The workshop was opened by Ms. Mirjana Kosić, executive director of TransConflict Serbia, and Mr. Vanja Milanović, a project manager with the Youth Dialogue Programme. Ms. Kosić emphasised how “the decision to focus on this topic at this particular time was not solely based on the originally defined programme of thematic areas, but instead rather imposed itself as a topic which needs to explained and expounded upon if we are to better understand Serbia's official stance towards, and political decisions relating to, NATO”.

Ms. Kosić went on to explain how “the Partnership for Peace Programme, in addition to other partnership programmes, is a certain bridge between those countries that, for a variety of different reasons, chose not to be full member states of NATO, yet are aware of the potential benefits attained through intensified cooperation and communication with NATO”. In addition, Mr. Milanović, emphasized the importance of continuous dialogue with and amongst young professionals on issues related to Euro-Atlantic integration.

To read more about the workshop, please visit 'The Partnership for Peace Programme – Opportunities for Serbia?'.

2nd November 2009

Building Secure Communities in the Western Balkans

TransConflict, in conjunction with Global Giving, has launched an on-line fundraising campaign in order to secure support for a project entitled, 'Building Secure Communities in the Western Balkans'.

Community insecurity, whether real or perceived, is a major source of tension and mistrust between various ethnic groups in the Western Balkans. In order to build secure communities, this project aims to tackle a range of 'soft' security problems, including vandalism, petty crime and neglected public spaces, by mobilizing and empowering local communities; enabling them to identify and assess security problems and to initiate practical activities to address issues of local concern.

If you are interested in supporting this initiative, please visit http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/pr/4100/proj4028a.html

For further information, please click here (http://www.transconflict.com/Security/Community_Security.php) or contact Ian Bancroft (ian.bancroft@transconflict.com).

28th July 2009

The Evolution of Collective Security: NATO in the 21st Century

TransConflict Serbia, in conjunction with the Youth Dialogue Programme, held a workshop in Fruska Gora on July 25-26th, entitled 'The Evolution of Collective Security – NATO in the 21st Century'. The event was supported by Jagello 2000 - Association for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, the foremost Czech actor in the field of communication strategies concerning membership of the North Atlantic Alliance and security policy in general.

The workshop was opened by Ms. Mirjana Kosić, executive director of TransConflict Serbia, and Mr. Srđan Vezmar, executive director of the Youth Dialogue Programme. Ms. Kosić stressed the importance of holding such a workshop at a time when NATO itself has recently announced the launch of an intensive consultation process to devise its new Strategic Concept – which will define NATO’s strategy priorities and outlook for the next decade.

Ms. Kosić also emphasized that 'even though Serbia declared its military neutrality, it still chose to become a part of the Partnership for Peace Programme. Active engagement in and contribution to the forthcoming debate on the new Strategic Concept is, therefore, extremely important for Serbia, should Serbia want to have a say in future deliberations and decisions...It is not the matter of choosing between military neutrality and NATO membership, but rather distinguishing Serbia’s future position and its role in collective security arena'.

Read more about the workshop on 'The Evolution of Collective Security - NATO in the 21st Century'.

The Community for Mutual Trust

The active engagement of civil society in security-related issues is a key element of sustained democratic governance of the security sector. The growing acceptance of a broader, de-militarized and more subtle conception of human security – namely, the provision of security as a public good; responsive, transparent and accountable to all citizens – has supplanted the traditional notion of security as the sole preserve of political, security and military structures. As the end-users of public services, citizens are therefore entitled to voice their opinions on security, as well as other issues of concern, to ensure that public resources are efficiently and effectively allocated to meet their priorities. In Serbia, however, there remains a pressing need to systematically involve civil society organisations (CSOs), who have a key role to play in terms of aggregating and voicing such opinions, in security-related affairs.

Accordingly, to improve community relations with the security infrastructure of the Ministries of Defence and Interior in southern Serbia, TransConflict Serbia will recruit a network of CSOs, the Community for Mutual Trust (CfMT), to act as a focal point for both local communities and the respective security elements, in order to improve the level of communication and co-operation between these various actors. The CfMT represents a broad spectrum of constituencies, including Roma, women and the elderly, thereby ensuring that all sectors of society, particularly those traditionally marginalized groups, are given an opportunity to voice their concerns and perspectives, thus broadening both the responsiveness and legitimacy of security policy.

Read more about the Community for Mutual Trust.