Issue - 3 20151 / 01 January 1 March 8

CENTRE FOR SECURITY COOPERATION

NEWSLETTER

Ninth Meeting of the C-WMD Network

Basic and Advanced SAR Course

Dayton Article IV Orientation Course

Border Security and Management Seminar

2

Newsletter editorial staff:

Maj Marija Čičak, PA Officer, Language SpecialistMs. Sanja Romić

Rakitje, Stari hrast 5310437 Bestovje, Croatia

+385 (0)1 3330 803Tel:+385 (0)1 3330 809Fax:

info¹racviac.orgwww.racviac.org

CENTRE FOR SECURITY COOPERATION

NEWSLETTER Issue 51

Contents:

MAG

0 MAG POC Meeting2 -

NEWS

0 Azerbaijani Ambassador Visits RACVIAC3 -

0 International Women's Day4 -

ACTIVITY REPORTS

0 th Meeting of the C-WMD Network4 9-

0 Chemical Weapons Convention Workshop6 -

0 Basic and Advanced SAR Course8 -

Dayton Article IV Orientation Course11 -

Border Security and Management Seminar13 -

Open Skies Course15 -

N & FEWCOMERS AREWELLS

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

MAG POCMeeting held in

RACVIAC

A Meeting of Points of Contact of RACVIAC - Centre for SecurityCooperation Multinational Advisory Group was held on 18January 2018 with the aim to coordinate and discuss detailsrelated to the activities planned in RACVIAC Programme 2018.

At the opening of the Meeting RACVIAC Director AmbassadorHaydar Berk welcomed the representatives from Members,Associate Members and participants saying that the Centre hadan intensive 2017 having conducted 28 activities and that 2018will also be a busy period. He pointed out that RACVIAC isdetermined to increase its efforts to foster security dialogueand cooperation in SEE in 2018 as well by focusing oncontemporary security challenges such as weapons of massdestruction, foreign terrorist fighters, cyber security, bordersecurity, and different aspects of Arms Control and securitysector reform.

Following the introductory address by RACVIAC DirectorRACVIAC Programme Managers Col Servet Aya (CooperativeSecurity Environment with focus on Arms Control Pillar) and MsAna Ezhova Krzhaloska (International and RegionalCooperation with focus on Euroatlantic Integration Pillar), andActivity Manager Maj Božo Dukarić (Security Sector ReformPillar) presented the Programme for 2018 within theirrespective Pillars and projection for 2019. Ms Ivana BarbaraBlažević presented the activities planned in the RACVIAC C-WMD Network project as well as its roadmap for the future.

Later on Major Jasminka Šoić, Chief of Administration andFinance Cell, provided information regarding the currentfinancial situation while putting emphasis on the Programmepart of the Budget 2018.

133

NEWS

MAG

AzerbaijaniAmbassador

visits RACVIAC

On Thursday, 08 February 2018, H.E. Mr FakhraddinGurbanov, the newly appointed AmbassadorExtraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic ofAzerbaijan to the Republic of Croatia, visited RACVIAC -Centre for Security Cooperation.

He was welcomed by RACVIAC Director, AmbassadorHaydar Berk, Deputy Director Brigadier General GordanaGarašić, and RACVIAC staff members.

After a presentation on RACVIAC history, mission andaccomplishments Ambassador Berk provided furtherinformation related to the RACVIAC Members' role anddevelopment of the Programme of activities. Ambassadoremphasized that apart from promoting dialogue andcooperation between the SEE countries networking hasalways been a very important aspect of RACVIAC overallaims in order to harmonize the practices, rules andprocedures and build trust and confidence.

Ambassador Berk also provided additional informationrelated to some of the flagship RACVIAC activities such asthe „Energy Security Workshop“ that are contributing todialogue and cooperation in the region.

Ambassador Gurbanov thanked for the informationprovided and expressed his appreciation for RACVIACcontribution to the security of the SEE region.

In continuation the meeting focused on a discussion regarding specific aspects of the Members' and contributingpartners' participation related to the academic and financial support to activities. This opportunity was used to shareinformation on possibilities of improving the quality and visibility of RACVIAC activities by upgrading the participants'level and overall engagement. Furthermore, the current stage of ongoing preparations of the jointly organized andhosted activities was discussed.

Closing the event Ambassador Berk thanked the Members', Associate Members' and participants' representatives for thevaluable contribution made to RACVIAC so far and added that the Centre counts on their active engagement and supportin the future too.

22- 201 ,25 January 8 RACVIAC, Croatia

4

NEWS

RACVIAC marks International Women's DayOn the occasion of International Women's Day there was a strong global momentum striving for gender parity. This yearthe UN's motto was „Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women's Lives”.

With this topic the UN aims to transform a global movementfor women's rights, equality and justice into action, toempower women in all settings, rural and urban, andcelebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claimwomen's rights and realize their full potential.

RACVIAC - Centre for Security cooperation remains fullycommitted to the promotion of gender equality andinclusiveness. In this regard the Centre continues toorganize various activities each year addressing theimplementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions onwomen, peace and security. This year, for the fifth time, weare organizing a “Gender Training of the Trainers Course”scheduled for May.

RACVIAC - Centre for Security Cooperation conveyed itsgreetings to all women on the occasion of InternationalWomen's Day.

NEWSLETTER Issue 51

RACVIAC organised the ninth meeting of the

C-WMD Network national working/drafting

groups in January 2018 based on the agreed

Roadmap for the development of national

strategies to counter the proliferation of

weapons of mass destruction. The C-WMD

Network project is about to complete its drafting

phase, which will be followed by a validation

and testing period. It was therefore suitable to

conduct a roundtable to overview the current

threat environment before discussing cyber

elements of a C-WMD Strategy, which was the

central theme of the event.

ACTIVITY REPORTS

The ninth meeting of the RACVIAC C-WMD Network nationalworking/drafting groups titled „C-WMD National Strategies -Current Threat Environment & Cyber Elements of a C-WMDStrategy“ was organized on 22-25 January 2018.

RACVIAC has been organizing the meetings since 2015 with thecontinuous support from U.S European Command (USEUCOM),U.S. Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the InternationalCounterproliferation Program (ICP), European Union, and theRepublic of Croatia.

The meeting was opened by RACVIAC Director AmbassadorHaydar Berk who said that based on the agreed Roadmap forthe development of national strategies to counter theproliferation of weapons of mass destruction the project isabout to complete its drafting phase, which will be followed by avalidation and testing period, and that he is pleased to see theprogress made so far.

RACVIAC marks International Women's Day

5

ACTIVITY REPORTS

Mr Petar Mihatov, AssistantMinister for Defence Policy,welcomed the participants onbehalf of the Ministry ofDefence of the Republic of

Croatia, and said that SEE isfacing different security

threats: interethnictens ions , quas inationalism, fragilestate institutions,underdevelopedciv i l soc iet ies ,

corruption and organized crime, as well as contemporarysecurity challenges such as migration. He stressed that theEU and NATO need to realize that a stable SEE is in theirinterest and that they need to engage more in the region.On the other hand SEE countries need to carry out thereforms and assume political responsibility to cope withthe security challenges, concluded Mr Mihatov.

LtC Charity Hartley from DTRA said that SEE is really settingthe example for regionalpartnership in the WMD arena.

Each C-WMD Network meetingcovers the different aspectsneeded for developingnational strategies andRACVIAC is trying to gatherexperts in specific fieldsand lines of work to

share their knowledge and experience. Besides theexperts from DTRA, US EUCOM , and ICP, this eventgathered also the experts from INTERPOL, Frontex, and theWorld Health Organization (WHO). Altogether more than 60participants, mostly members of the core nationalworking/drafting groups and experts workingon cyber issues, legal issues, and intelligence,attended the four-day event.

The event was divided into two parts. The firstday was organized as a roundtable aimed tooverview the current threat environment andits impact on SEE. The main objectives of theroundtable were to review the past year interms of developments and trends in WMDproliferation, to provide an overview of thedevelopments in European Security Policy andits implications for SEE, and to consider theimplications of some recent cases for counter

proliferation agencies especially with regard to policies,plans, and operations.

At the beginning Mr Andrew Dolan, DTRA's SeniorConsultant on European Affairs, gave a “Global WMDProliferation Overview” introducing the currentproliferation landscape developments that are likely tohave an impact on national strategies and policy.

The next speaker, Dr Zoltan Gyorgy Bacs from the NationalUniversity of Public Service in Budapest, Hungary, spokeabout the “Regional Security Perspective” and provided acontextual background to important securitydevelopments in Europe and their impact on SEE.

In the panel “Developments in European Security Policy:Implications for South East Europe” Dr Mohamed Elmi fromWHO's Centre of Environmental Health Action, presentedthe key security challenges in public health systems and itsCyber vulnerability.

In the afternoon Ms Kinga Wilkus from Frontex gave anoverview of Frontex's role in integrated bordermanagement and the situation regarding migrants inEurope, with an emphasis on SEE.

At the end the roundtable focused on the topic “MigrantFlows and Terror Networks: Is There a Nexus?” describingthe current problems associated with human traffickingnetworks and terrorism and assessing the conditionsunderpinning human trafficking and whether these couldsupport the elements of WMD proliferation. The panellistswere Dr Bacs, Ms Wilkus, and Mr Alan Grimmer (INTERPOL).

In continuation the meeting focused on facilitating thedevelopment of national C-WMD Strategies and ActionPlans as the key purpose of the project. The mainobjectives of the January 2018 meeting were to examineWMD and the cyber crisis nexus, to identify the cyberelements of a C-WMD strategy, to review how best to profitfrom information sharing in light of the cyber proliferationpathway, to consider the linkage between cyber andintangible technology transfer, and to exercise conceptsthrough a Table-Top Exercise.

6

NEWSLETTER Issue 51

05- 201 RACVIAC08 February 8, , Croatia

The CWC workshops are aimed at

promoting the implementation of

the CWC in South-Eastern Europe,

which directly enhances regional

stability, transparency and trust.

OPCW seeks to gain a clear

understanding of the measures

that are currently in place in the

different countries in the region

and of the mechanisms deployed

by them.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

(In accordance with Arrangements regarding regional representation and cooperation.)

A Workshop focusing on the provisions of the ChemicalWeapons Convention (CWC) organized by RACVIAC -Centre for Security Cooperation in partnership with theOrganization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons(OPCW) was conducted on 05-08 February 2018 in Rakitje.

The purpose of the 2018 Workshop, fifteenth in a row since2004, was to discuss relevant issues related to the CWCand provide a broad overview of the CWC implementationprocedures with specific focus on the different aspects,and measures in implementing the Convention.

This year the main focus was on the issue of„Understanding Non-Proliferation in the CWC Context.”The Workshop aimed to explore the tools to enforce non-proliferation, the issues of verification and inspection aswell as the possible means of assistance and cooperation.Furthermore, the event provided a forum for the countriesof the region to present their national CWC-implementation related programmes in and to exchangeinformation, discuss problematic issues and find possiblesolutions.

The event gathered more than 20 participants,senior/junior military or civilian recommendation-makersdealing with CWC issues and/or those responsible forescorting inspections from the Republic of Albania, Bosniaand Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia, Montenegro,Romania, Republic of Turkey, and Kosovo .*

The Workshop was opened with a Welcome address byRACVIAC Director Ambassador Haydar Berk. AmbassadorBerk stated that the main focus of this year's event was on„Understanding Non-Proliferation in the CWC Context” andwithin that comprehensive topic specifically on how toprevent the intentional misuse of chemicals and what to doin case that happens. Ambassador Berk pointed out that itis essential to have a complex picture about the issues, theways of prevention and the players as well as the possiblesolutions in case of a CWC-related emergency situation.Special gratitude was extended to OPCW for itsmultiannual cooperation and sponsorship.

The Welcome address was followed by a verycomprehensive introductory presentation by Mr GuyValente, Project Officer, Assistance and Protection Branch,International Cooperation and Assistance Directorate,OPCW, who provided an overview of the historical

7

ACTIVITY REPORTS

background of CWC anddescribed its comprehensive

nature and key features,the Articles VI and IX,

related to non-proliferation. In

h i s s e c o n dpresentation

Mr Valenteelaborated

on how capacity building can become a means of non-proliferation and in what ways it must be supported by thepolicy development process. He stated that OPCW wouldprobably be interested in the establishment of a regionalprogramme in the region. Later on Mr Valente gave anoverview of dual-use chemicals as well as a briefintroduction to Article X and its link with the emergencymanagement cycle with a focus on how to reduce thechemical threats.

This was followed by a very detailed presentation on dual-use chemicals and chemicals to be concerned about, withan emphasis on the subject of non-proliferation. In hispresentation Mr Valente pointed out the fact that non-proliferation with respect to chemicals is a huge challenge:chemicals surround us in our everyday lives and even themost common ones can be misused. National authoritiesand experts must be aware of the whole 'cycle' thatincludes the buyers, sellers, industries, transporters, andvolume. This awareness in itself can support non-proliferation to a great extent, he stressed.

The afternoon part was opened by MrJan Wuyts, OPCW Chemical WeaponMunition Specialist (Contingency Cell ofthe Inspectorate), who took part inseveral OPCW missions and highlightedsome of his mission experiences inSyria.

His presentation was followed by that ofMs Raluca Ginghina, the Head of theChemical Analysis and SpecialSynthesis Laboratory at the ScientificResearch Center for CBRN Defense andEcology in the Romanian MoD. Having

introduced the work of the Chemical Analysis and SpecialSynthesis Laboratory, Ms Ginghina provided insights onhow it became an OPCW accredited laboratory.

A second case study presented by Mr Jan Wuyts, titled “OldChemical Weapon (OCW) Problem in Belgium”, describedthe process of destroying OCW in a safe way by respectingthe environment and cleaning up environmental pollutionat the same time.

The first working day was closed by Mr Guy Valente'spresentation, titled “Effective Command and ControlSystem”, that gave an overview of the nationalimplementation of the Incident Command System (ICS) inthe United States and its worldwide applicability to CBRNincidents.

The first part of the second working day was reserved fornational presentations. In their national presentations theparticipants from the Republic of Albania, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Republic of Croatia, Montenegro, Romania,Republic of Serbia and Republic of Turkey gave veryvaluable insights into their national systems with a focus on“How to ensure that dangerous chemicals don't wind up inthe wrong hands”.

In the afternoon LtC Valentina Ključarić, PhD, Head ofCBRN Laboratory at the Centre for Defence and StrategicStudies “Janko Bobetko”, shared the Croatian experienceson how to establish a state of the art CBRN laboratory. Thepresentation part of the working day was finalized by anexpert lecture on the new techniques for sampling andanalysis delivered by LtC Dragutin Tušek, PhD, NBC officerfor nuclear protection at the Centre for Defence andStrategic Studies “Janko Bobetko”. The event was closedby an evaluation and a brief closing ceremony.

8

NEWSLETTER Issue 51

Basic Advanced&SAR Courses

26 February - 02 March 8, , Croatia201 RACVIAC

The Courses were a continuation of a set of activities jointly organized

by RACVIAC - Centre for Security Cooperation and the National

Protection and Rescue Directorate (NPRD) of the Republic of Croatia,

aimed at capacity building and improvements in the fields of search,

rescue and protection as part of wider cooperation in the SEE region in

monitoring and implementing civil emergency measures.

From 26 February to 02 March 2018 RACVIAC - Centre forSecurity Cooperation, in partnership with the NationalProtection and Rescue Directorate (NPRD), organised twoconsecutive Search and Rescue Courses, the “BasicAeronautical Search and Rescue (SAR) Course” and the“On Scene Coordinator (OSC) Advanced Course”.

Both activities are examples of tailor-made trainingspecifically designed for specialists involved in Search andRescue Aeronautical emergencies.

The Courses were a continuation of earlier efforts in thisdirection conducted over the course of the precedingyears by RACVIAC, and were intended as a capacitybuilding endeavour for a new generation of expertsinvolved in the subject of search and rescue.

The main purpose of the Courses was to bring togetherSAR professionals from the SEE region and encourage thefurther development of regional cooperation on variousSearch and Rescue topics. Furthermore, both Courses

9

ACTIVITY REPORTS

served as an opportunity to promote the enhancement ofthe existing national SAR structures through the exchangeof information and sharing of available trainingopportunities and relevant exercises related to SAR.

Opening the Courses Ambassador Haydar Berk, RACVIACDirector, said: “these activities will be utilized to explorepotential future steps in the field of Search and Rescue inSEE and initiate the establishment of a regional Search andRescue Functional Network with the aim to enhancemutual assistance among Search and Rescue services andoptimize the use of Search and Rescue resources in case ofdisasters. The close regional and wider cooperationamong the SEE countries through dialogue and variousforms of coordination is a strong response to today'schallenges to international security and defence policy,leading to building of confidence and security among thecountries”, emphasized Ambassador Berk.

Speaking on behalf of the co-organizer Mr DraganLozančić, NPRD Director General, said that cooperationand coordination is a key word in this area. Besides thateducation, training and exercises aimed at capacitybuilding and skills development, both on the national andregional or international level, are crucial because thereare always some aspects of the search and rescue areathat should be improved, he added. The Courses alsoprovide a very good opportunity for the participants togain knowledge and make contacts in Croatia and acrossthe border, concluded Mr Lozančić.

Both Courses were designed by the Joint AviationAuthorities Training Organization (JAATO). The lecturesand necessary expertise were delivered by the JATTOrepresentative Mr Brian Brophy, an internationallyacknowledged SAR expert pilot with over 20 years ofprofessional experience.

More than 40 participants, civilian and military personnelof the relevant institutions from the Republic of Albania,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia, the formerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Republic of Serbia,Hellenic Republic, Romania, and Kosovo** attended theCourses.

Basic Aeronautical SAR Course

The activity focused on the ways how to explore theconcrete needs of each participating SAR institutionrelated to aeronautical search and rescue situations, inorder to launch comprehensive regional SAR developmentactions.

The Course was comprised of lectures, presentations anddiscussions.

Mr Brophy presented the bestinternational practices and gave ashort briefing on “The Origins ofSearch and Rescue” following thephilosophy of Search and Rescueand main international SARconventions and laws. Inaddition, participantshad a chance tolearn more abouti n t e r n a t i o n a lSAR boundaries

and areas of responsibility as well as to elaborate on SARmanuals.

Later on he elaborated on the notion of Search andRescue, referring to the search for and provision of aid tothe citizens who are in an emergency situation andimminent danger. In order to ensure successful Search andRescue (SAR) operations close cooperation amongdifferent institutions is crucial. Institutions that are dealingwith SAR activities need to focus their efforts onidentifying and listing the potential needs of theirrespective countries (e.g., education, exercise,coordination), and encourage and develop possibleregional and cross-border cooperation through SARoperations, Mr Brophy said.

During the Course participants also discussed nationalSAR plans, systems and procedures while sharing theirexpertise concerning the responsibilities and duties of asenior SAR manager.

Mr Brophy also raised a question on the importance ofOperational Control of SAR and Rescue CoordinationCentres that play a crucial role in any emergency situationfrom initial search procedures to rescue planning for thefuture (followed by concrete, real examples from the field).The participants had an opportunity to find out more aboutthe latest versions of SAR satellites and radio distress

* Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.

** This Designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

10

NEWSLETTER Issue 51

beacons and see a short documentary on SAR agencies,facilities and assets and aircraft ditching and ditchingassistance.

On-Scene Coordinator Course

The “On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Course” was planned asa consecutive activity to the “Basic SAR Course” and hadthe same participants on board.

The purpose of this advanced Course that supports thefurther development of regional cooperation and buildscapabilities in the search and rescue area was to provideknowledge and additional skills for trainees to administer,supervise and monitor SAR on scene coordination, in

accordance with their professional competence. Morespecifically, the activity focused on the ways how toexplore the concrete needs of each participating SARinstitution related to the general role of the On SceneCoordinator (OSC), the OSC's role in a mass rescueoperation (including communications with the casualty),the Search Mission Coordination and SAR facilities on thescene.

The OSC Course primarily focused on the InternationalAeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR)Manual for SAR Coordinators.

Since the IAMSAR Manual defines the OSC as “a persondesignated to coordinate search and rescue operationswithin a specified area”, especially under circumstanceswhen two or more SAR units are working together on thesame mission, the participants were in a position to learnmore about how OSC may have to assume all the dutiesand actually plan the search and/or rescue in an actualsituation of distress and communicate with all the partiesinvolved. During the presentation many related issueswere tackled in this regard. The wide scope ofresponsibilities includes the provision of operationalcoordination of all SAR facilities on the scene, thedevelopment of an SAR action plan, modification of theaction plan based on the prevailing environmentalconditions and keeping the mission coordination centreadvised, providing relevant information to other SARfacilities, etc.

11

In its initial phase the Course

was co-organized by RACVIAC

and the Office of the Personal

Representative of the OSCE

Chairperson-in-Office for Article

IV of Annex 1B of the Dayton

Peace Accords but in 2014

Signatory Parties took ownership

of the Regional Arms Control,

Dayton Article IV Agreement thus

assuming responsibility for its

further development in

cooperation with the

international partners.

The “Agreement on Sub-Regional Arms Control (DaytonArticle IV) - Orientation Course”, hosted by the Ministry ofDefence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was held in Sarajevo,Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 04-09 March 2018.

This Course, based on the provisions of the Agreement onSub-Regional Arms Control pursuant to the GeneralFramework Agreement for Peace in BA, Annex I-B, ArticleIV, has been organized by RACVIAC - Centre for SecurityCooperation since 2001 with the financial support of theFederal Republic of Germany.

The purpose of the Course was to instruct the designatedindividuals on how to successfully perform their duties asinspectors and/or escorts pursuant to the Agreement onSub-Regional Arms Control and to establish a commonunderstanding of the Agreement in order to foster mutualtrust and confidence as well as transparency during theperformance of inspections.

ACTIVITY REPORTS

DaytonArticle IV

Course

DaytonArticle IV

Course

DaytonArticle IV

Course

DaytonArticle IV

Course

04-09 March 2018

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

12

The Course was attended by participants, lecturers andspeakers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic ofCroatia, Hellenic Republic, Romania, Republic of Serbia,Republic of Slovenia, South Korea, Kingdom of Spain,Republic of Turkey, and OSCE. It consisted of a theoreticaland a practical part.

The Course started with the Opening remarks by LtColServet Aya on behalf of RACVIAC Director, AmbassadorHaydar Berk. LtCol Servet Aya stressed that this Courserepresents one of the most important annual activities ofRACVIAC since it evidently makes a significant contributionto regional stability, transparency and trust.

The Opening remarks were followed by a Welcome addressby Mr Zoran Šajinović, Assistant Minister for InternationalCooperation (BA). In his address Mr Zoran Šajinovićstressed the importance of the Agreement for peace inBosnia and Herzegovina and the significant role of theinternational community in the process of verification andratification of the Agreement.

This was followed by speeches given by therepresentatives of the signatory countries and OSCE. Therepresentatives of the signatory countries providedexplanations on the political background concerning the

history and development of the Agreement and the phasesof its implementation. Although some challenges werefaced in the process of its implementation, the Agreementis still in use thanks to the clear political commitment of allsignatory countries.

Mr Robin Mossinkoff, Head of the FSC Support Section inthe Conflict Prevention Centre of the Secretariat of theOSCE, addressed the participants in regard to the role ofthe OSCE within the Agreement. He presented the work ofthe OSCE, both in general in ensuring stability andconfidence building, and in regards to its role in the ArticleIV implementation process.

The rest of the theoretical part was devoted to thepresentations regarding the Annual Exchange ofInformation and Protocols on Reduction and on ExistingTypes, Instructions about Protocols on Inspections and theintegration of OSCE Guest Observers. The theoretical partwas finalized with the preparation for the traininginspection and division of participants into two groups,consisting of the inspection and the escort team.

The practical part was conducted in two parts. In the firstpart, performed in the military unit of the Armed Forces ofBosnia and Herzegovina in Visoko, all lecturers assumedthe roles of escorts/inspectors and demonstrated how aninspection looks like while the participants remained in theroles of observers contributing with questions andremarks. In the second part that took place in a military unitin Kiseljak, the participants were divided into two teamsand the roles were reversed to prompt participants todemonstrate what they had learned. The participantsassumed the roles of inspectors, escorts, and OSCE guestobservers, with instructors acting as observers.

The Course was closed by an evaluation and a brief closingceremony. As has been announced, henceforward, eachyear, the practical part of the Course will be conducted inanother signatory state. Republic of Serbia expressedwillingness to host it in 2019.

NEWSLETTER Issue 51

13

ACTIVITY REPORTS

12 14 March 8, , Croatia- 201 RACVIAC

Although the intensity of migrant flows that have

significantly affected Europe during the past

several years has diminished, irregular

migrations have changed the European

demographic map and still pose societal and

security challenges to the European countries.

The challenges to the law enforcement and

migration authorities caused by the developing

dynamics of migration are becoming

increasingly diversified, thus coming under

increased pressure while controlling and

balancing the migration streams through the

affected countries.

As a form of continuation of the border security andmanagement event series the “Border Security andManagement Seminar”, organized by RACVIAC - Centre forSecurity Cooperation, in partnership with DCAF Ljubljana,was held in Rakitje on 13 March 2018.

The purpose of the Seminar was to continue addressingthe challenges in border security and management, toidentify current and future challenges and to support theimplementation of the Border Security and ManagementConcept of the OSCE Participating States in South East

Europe as well as the DCAF Integrative Internal SecurityGovernance Concept and its Western Balkan BorderSecurity Initiative. This Seminar successfully addressedthe most important border security issues such as riskassessment, return and readmission, the role of themilitary in border management, and interviews withmigrants.

The participants were police officers and civil servantsresponsible for border security and management from theministries of interior, ministries of foreign affairs, ministriesof defence, ministries of security and the customsadministrations. In addition, there were speakers andlecturers from the Austrian Ministry of Interior, the GermanFederal Police, the OSCE Border Security and ManagementUnit, DCAF Ljubljana, Slovenian Police and the CroatianMinistry of Defence.

The Seminar was opened by H.E. Ambassador Haydar Berk,Director of RACVIAC, who emphasized in his Openingspeech that cross-border security challenges nowadayscan be effectively prevented and tackled throughinteragency and international collaboration only. In thatsense sharing of good practices, cross-bordercooperation, transparency and confidence-buildingconstitute the first logical steps towards generatingsolutions for the benefit of all.

In his introductoryspeech the AustrianMinistry of InteriorAttaché to Croatia andSlovenia Mr AndreasPichler stressed theimportance of bordersecurity and

14

NEWSLETTER Issue 51

management as a key factor for European security today.After that the Liaison Officer of theGerman Federal Police toCroatia and Slovenia MrMarco Weiser informed theaudience about Germanexperiences related toirregular migrations from thelegal and practical pointof view. Speaking onbehalf of the co-o r g a n i z e r D C A FLjubljana DirectorMr Anton Travnerpresented theconcept of theIntegrative Internal Security Governance (IISG) in theWestern Balkans. He stressed that IISG is an approachinitiated by the EU and owned by WB beneficiaries, EUactors, and regional and international donors, aimed atfacilitation of internal security policy reforms. Thedevelopment of this joint process was a response to thelack of sustainability and long-term planning, lack ofefficiency, challenge of terrorism and related phenomenain Europe and the need to ensure an efficient EU approachtowards Western Balkans as a region of strategicimportance.

On behalf of the OSCE Transnational Threats DepartmentMr Simon Deignan expounded on the importance ofpassenger data exchange in border management andirregular migration, and on guidelines on how to establish aPassenger Data System. He stressed that the API (AdvancePassenger Information) and PNR (Passenger NameRecord) systems are crucial in preventing irregularmigrations. Mr Deignan also noted that implementing aneffective API/PNR system requiresclose inter-agency co-operation.

Mr Rok Derenčin, Project Managerin DCAF Ljubljana, presented theRisk Analysis in mitigating irregularmigration. He stressed that thelack of capacities for datagathering, inadequate personnel,poor resources planning and lateidentification of threats such aschanges in migration routes, are alla part of everyday reality. However,he pointed out that the wayf o r w a rd i s t h e l o n g - t e r mdevelopment planning of a

national police interoperable information system that willrequire decades to create but is a priority.

Mr Peter Skerbiš, Head of Border Management Section atthe Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Slovenia,presented readmission agreements, unsuccessful andsuccessful returns, and significance of good cooperationwith neighbouring authorities.

As a legal adviser in the Croatian Ministry of Defence MrJosip Mandić explained the role of the Croatian ArmedForces (CAF) in border security and management from thelegal point of view. He highlighted Croatian Navy'sparticipation in the EU operation Triton that resulted in arescue of 2500 migrants arriving from Libya and theMiddle East.

Col Suntešić, Deputy Commander of the Croatian ArmedForces Command Operations Centre, presented someexamples of CAF's role in the migrant crisis such asestablishing the temporary migrant camps. The WinterCamp “Bijeliš” in Slavonski Brod was taken as a valuableexample of successful mission in which CAF providedaccommodation, food, transport and medical support tomigrants. The camp was built from scratch and it consistedof a check point, hospital, restaurants, toilets and allnecessary objects fit to host migrants.

At the end Mr Peter Skerbiš also explained the method,purpose and role of migrant interviews.

The presented national and international policies andmechanisms in mitigating irregular migration proved to bean excellent framework for sharing of experiences.According to the feedback received the participantsproposed that the topics such as the role of customs inirregular migrations and the role of military in bordermanagement be widened in the future editions of thisactivity.

15

ACTIVITY REPORTS

Open Skies AerialObservation Course

Open Skies AerialObservation Course

The Open Skies courses have beenorganized in RACVIAC since 2002 and

represent some of its most distinctivetraining events. The 2018 Course was co-

organized, sponsored and hosted byHungary, that provided the Open Skies

aircraft, the AN-26, to carry out an AerialObservation Mission.

The “Open Skies Treaty Aerial Observation Course”, co-organized by RACVIAC - Centre for Security Cooperationand the Hungarian Ministry of Defence, was conducted inHungary from 20-29 March 2018.

The Federal Republic of Germany and the Italian Republicalso supported the event with the provision of lecturers.

The purpose of the Course was to train personnel from SEEcountries to plan, organize and execute an AerialObservation Mission based on the provisions of the Treatyon Open Skies (OST), thus increasing the administrative

capacity in the field of security cooperation. The objectivesof the Course were to recall the historical background andthe development of the OST, to overview the specifiedelements of the OST, highlighting the most comprehensiveand commonly followed rules and procedures of itsexecution, to provide information about the currentsituation in the development and implementation of theOST, to enable participants to prepare and conduct missionplanning, to carry out a training Aerial Observation Missionthus providing practical experience, to deepen contactsand build trust and confidence between representatives ofnational organizations and agencies engaged in theaccomplishment of Arms control and/or security-and

Open Skies AerialObservation Course

Open Skies AerialObservation Course

20-29 March 2018 Jakabszállás,,

Kecskemét and Budapest, Hungary

16

NEWSLETTER Issue 51

confidence-building measures, and to set an example ofsecurity cooperation on a regional and international level.

Opening the Course on behalf of RACVIAC DirectorAmbassador Haydar Berk, LtC Servet Aya, ProgrammeManager in RACVIAC CSE Pillar, said that “the Open SkiesTreaty, developed during the last years of the Cold War as amechanism to increase transparency between NATO and

the Warsaw Pact, together with the Vienna Document, hasgained a newfound relevance in the recent years”. Hecontinued by saying that this Treaty “is one of the mostimportant and effective military-political instrumentsaimed at building trust and increasing transparency. TheSouth East European region is also a part of it and most ofthe countries are members of the Open Skies Treaty andbenefit from it. It provides important means to gain agreater understanding about military activities and couldcontribute to a de-escalation of a crisis”, pointed out LtCAya. At the end he extended his deepest gratitude toHungary for hosting and co-organising the Course as wellas for providing the observation aircraft.

Speaking on behalf of the co-organizer Major GeneralLászló Domján, Head of Hungarian MoD Defence PolicyDepartment, recalled for the participants the history of theOpen Skies Treaty and reflected on its importance.Referring to the changed security environment andincreasing security challenges not only in Europe but allover the world as well Major General said that this Treaty isan important instrument that is able to provide greateropenness and transparency and to enhance confidence-and security-building measures. He also underlined thesignificance of belonging to a family of experts on the OpenSkies regime and sharing of experiences, which is essentialto develop and strengthen capabilities and cooperation.

The Course participants were junior and senior officersinvolved in the planning or the execution of OST Missionsand national institutions planning staff with OSTresponsibilities, and came from: Bosnia and Herzegovina,Republic of Croatia, Hellenic Republic, Hungary, ItalianRepublic, Republic of Slovenia, Republic of Serbia, Republicof Turkey, and Kosovo . There were 17 participants*

altogether.

The Course was conducted with the assistance of nine OSTspecialists and experts from the Federal Republic ofGermany, Hungary and Italian Republic.

The Course was designed as a combination of a theoreticaland a practical part.

The theoretical part was conducted in Jakabszállás as acombination of presentations and a classroom exercise ona mission plan as a preparation for the accomplishment ofthe training observation flight. The presentations coveredthe provisions of the Treaty on Open Skies, the OSCEDecisions and Chairman's Statements augmenting theoriginal text of the Treaty, notifications and the usedformats, OS platforms and sensor suits used by the MemberStates, certification procedures, pre-flight inspection, filmprocessing, duplication and procedures of access toinformation, mission planning, mission rundown and tasksrelated to receiving an OS mission, mission plan negotiationand preparation of the mission report.

During the classroom exercise, participants were dividedinto teams and practiced preparation and review of amission plan by conventional methods, under thesupervision of lecturers.

During the second week, in the Airbase in Kecskemét, theactivities were carried out in compliance with the OST,closely similar to the time schedule of a real OS mission.This phase included the training in point of entry (POE)procedure, real life meteorological and ATC briefings, pre-flight inspection, mission plan negotiation and mission planreview, preparation for the observation flight, and theobservation flight over the territory of Hungary with theOpen Skies aircraft AN-26. During the training flightparticipants practiced performing their duties, both asmembers of the observation and escort teams.

The development of the aerial photographs was completedin a photolab in Budapest. The participants had a chance tofamiliarize themselves with the film processing equipment,analysis and duplication, as well as to take part in thedevelopment of the aerial photographs taken during theobservation flight and examine the results.

The Course was completed with the preparation andsignature of the mission report.

* This Designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

17

NEWCOMERS

SGM Krešimir Galić was posted to RACVIAC - Centre for SecurityCooperation on 15 February 2018 as a Driver/Administrator (ServiceBranch). Prior to this he was the NCO for KI security at the G-6Department in the Army Headquarters. He began his military career in1991 and was posted to different NCO and command duties as well asthose at the company, battalion and brigade level as staff NCO. Heserved twice in a foreign NATO-led mission in Afganistan (ISAF and RS).He obtained a degree from a technical high school, direction electrician,and he is an advanced university student at the Faculty of Kinesiology(University of Zagreb).

In his free time he is a beekeeper and grows fruits and his great passionis sea fishing.

SGT Ivan Mršić joined RACVIAC - Centre for Security Cooperation on 15February 2018 as a Driver/Administrator (Service Branch). Prior to thishe served as a logistics NCO in the Support Command. He began hismilitary carrier in 2009 and was posted to different NCO duties atcompany and battalion level in the Military Police Regiment. He servedtwice in foreign NATO-led missions in Afganistan (ISAF and RS). He has adegree from catering college, direction caterer- waiter.In his free time he enjoys sports and his hobbies are martial arts andcycling.

Mr Sergej Dedić joined the RACVIAC team as an intern in Internationaland Regional Cooperation Pillar in March 2018. Currently he is a thirdyear student at the University College of International Relations andDiplomacy Dag Hammarskjöld in Zagreb. His future educational andprofessional goals will be focused on international relations andinternational security. He applied for a Master's degree programmerelated to international security and risk managment in Denmark.

Ms Martina Špoljarić joined the RACVIAC team as an intern in SecuritySector Reform Pillar in February 2018. Ms Špoljarić is currently in hersecond year of Bachelor's studies in political science at the Faculty ofPolitical Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia. Before RACVIAC she wasvery active at Model European Union and Model United Nationsconferences and volunteered and participated in many national andinternational youth projects such as Global-In Fellowship, World YouthAcademy and Croatian Youth Movement. After her internship in RACVIACends she will start preparing for a bilateral exchange programme at theUniversity of Cincinnati, USA where she will be studying political sciencewith focus on international relations and international security.

18

NEWSLETTER Issue 51

After three years of service in RACVIAC asadmins/drivers we bade farewell to ourcolleagues andSFC Boris Vacka CplDamir Miholic at the end of January 2018.They will be remembered for their selflessdedication and willingness to assist allmembers of staff whenever necessary. Weare thankful to them for their reliability,punctuality and devotion. Boris and Damirwill continue their military careers in theInternational Military Operations Centre ofthe Croatian Armed Forces. We wish themall the best for the future!

FAREWELL

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

NOTES

19

„ ostering dialogue and cooperation...f onsecurity matters ...in South East Europe “

Follow us at:

CENTRE FOR SECURITY COOPERATION

twitter: ¹RACVIAC