The Balkans have played a significant role in European and world history. Over the last 10-20 years the Balkans have experienced cycles of instability ranging from ethnic conflicts to civil wars on the one hand, and a rapid progress towards stability on the other. The trend of stability has, thus, to be consolidated. Today there is a window of opportunity to form a strategy leading to an enduring comprehensive stability and security in the region. Thus, the focus is on the long-term cooperation between the Balkan countries.

The approach aimed at stabilizing the region and ease ethnic tensions should not be confined to merely stopping the bloodshed, but should have a larger perspective with a view to creating a conducive climate for a durable understanding across the region, convincing people at every level that living together in peace is better than living apart in hostility.

The crucial issue, therefore, is to create a conducive atmosphere as well as enhancing and restructuring the existing mechanisms for cooperation in the political, economic and security fields, in which every Balkan country would like to be involved. Various experiences of 20th century and particularly the last decade’s ongoing activities among all the Balkan countries are promising the creation of this atmosphere.

The membership perspective of the EU and NATO is a historically key element in providing stability and security throughout its geography. Integration into the European political, economic and security architecture will no doubt contribute to a better cooperation among the Balkan countries. Enhanced and coordinated involvement of the Balkan countries in the EU, NATO, OSCE and other international organizations and formation of a common approach on regional issues, in searching for a lasting solution to the problems of the region is of vital importance. In this context, Balkan countries strategic or other research centers may find out a common approach in order to influence their governments in handling the issues in line with a Balkan perspective.

Given this broader framework, this Conference may serve for the materialization and coordination of cooperation, primarily among the strategic and other research centers of the Balkan countries.

The Balkans have played a significant role in European and world history. Over the last 10-20 years the Balkans have experienced cycles of instability ranging from ethnic conflicts to civil wars on the one hand, and a rapid progress towards stability on the other. The trend of stability has, thus, to be consolidated. Today there is a window of opportunity to form a strategy leading to an enduring comprehensive stability and security in the region. Thus, the focus is on the long-term cooperation between the Balkan countries.

The approach aimed at stabilizing the region and ease ethnic tensions should not be confined to merely stopping the bloodshed, but should have a larger perspective with a view to creating a conducive climate for a durable understanding across the region, convincing people at every level that living together in peace is better than living apart in hostility.

The crucial issue, therefore, is to create a conducive atmosphere as well as enhancing and restructuring the existing mechanisms for cooperation in the political, economic and security fields, in which every Balkan country would like to be involved. Various experiences of 20th century and particularly the last decade’s ongoing activities among all the Balkan countries are promising the creation of this atmosphere.

The membership perspective of the EU and NATO is a historically key element in providing stability and security throughout its geography. Integration into the European political, economic and security architecture will no doubt contribute to a better cooperation among the Balkan countries. Enhanced and coordinated involvement of the Balkan countries in the EU, NATO, OSCE and other international organizations and formation of a common approach on regional issues, in searching for a lasting solution to the problems of the region is of vital importance. In this context, Balkan countries strategic or other research centers may find out a common approach in order to influence their governments in handling the issues in line with a Balkan perspective.

Given this broader framework, this Conference may serve for the materialization and coordination of cooperation, primarily among the strategic and other research centers of the Balkan countries.