Brussels, Dec.13,1999

As now some three months have passed since the Regional Table endorsed the overall Workplan it seems appropriate to inform participants of the Stability Pact about the state of play of activities undertaken. This Office will from now on circulate, on a regular basis, a factual newsletter on the activities of the three Tables.

CONTENTS

Cross Table issues

- Next Regional Table and Working Table Meetings

• Regional Funding Conference
• Anti Corruption Initiative
• Contacts with Serbian Democratic Forces
• Approval and implementation of agreed texts
• Inventory
• Website

Update on WT II

Update on WT III

Telephone list

Next Regional Table and Working Table Meetings

The Regional Table will take place in Thessaloniki, in the first half of April 2000.

The next meeting of the Working Table on Democratization and Human Rights will be held in Budapest around the middle of February 2000.

The next meeting of the Working Table on Economic Reconstruction, Development and Cooperation will be held in Skopje around the middle of the month of February 2000.

The next meeting of the Working Table on Security Issues will be held in Sarajevo 15^th/16^th of February 2000.

Regional Funding Conference

The High Level Steering Group, which met at Working Group level in Brussels on the 16^th of November, agreed that the regional funding conference should be held within the first quarter of 2000. It should not only cover Working Table II matters but also receive input from the other Working Tables. The assessment of project proposals in the framework of Working Table II should be concluded in January next. The results will be reported to the High Level Steering Group and to the Chairman of WT II. Early next year the High Level Steering Group, of which the Special Co-ordinator is a member, will have to decide on the priority initiatives to be retained for submission to the regional funding Conference. At that point in time the Special Coordinator will, after consultation with the Chairmen of Working Tables I and III, have to be in a position to submit project proposals concerning human rights, democracy and security issues.

Anti-Corruption Initiative

Sponsors: OCSP/Council of Europe

Key contact: OCSP: Didier Fau Tel +32 2 4016895 Fax +32 2 2347105; email:didier.fau@nci.be; Bernd Hemingway: Tel +32 2 4016892, fax +32 2 2347105, email bernd.hemingway@nci.be

Council of Europe, Guy Devel, Tel: ++33-3-88412001, fax: ++33-3-88413739

Action

The OCSP has called a brainstorming meeting for the 16^th of December between European Commission, CoE, OECD, OSCE, WB, SECI, US to move forward on a comprehensive Stability Pact initiative building upon the initiatives currently under consideration in various fora. The meeting will focus on the discussion paper and the logframe matrix distributed to all participants on the 3^rd of December. Within this framework, the Council of Europe will concentrate on measures to increase the transparency and efficiency of the police and judicial systems in the countries of the region.

Contacts with Serbian Democratic Forces

Members of the Stability Pact Office explored ways of associating the Serb democratic forces (SDFs) to the Stability Pact and its activities. They met representatives of all Serbian/FRY democratic forces: political parties, local authorities, NGOs, media. Among these Prof Avramovic, Zoran Djindjic, Miroljub Labus, Mladjan Dinkic, Milan Pajevic (G17), Zoran Zivkovic (Mayor Nis), Predrag Filipov (President city Council Novi Sad) Dragoljub Micunovic (coordinator opposition round table), Ognjen Pribicevic, advisor to Vuk Draskovic.

A pragmatic way forward was found. No institutional structures or mechanisms are foreseen. The Special Co-ordinator will invite representatives of the SDFs to the Regional Table and to the Working Table meetings, with a status to be decided upon (Guests of the Chair?). Representatives of the SDFs could be present and participate as appropriate in the activities, i.e task force meetings, working groups, other programs as appropriate.

Prof. Avramovic, as widely accepted lead figure among the Serbian democratic forces, will be the contact person between the SDFs and the Stability Pact. He would be informed of upcoming events, meetings, sessions of working groups etc and requested to indicate a representative that could participate on behalf of the SDFs. Letters addressed to Prof. Avramovic would be copied to other prominent SDF personalities.

In all meetings with SDF leaders there was strong interest in and unconditional support for participation in the Stability Pact by the democratic forces. All leaders expressed their personal commitment to ensuring full and constructive participation in the Pact. The SDF leaders underlined that the Tripartite Commission and the Stability Pact would be the two privileged channels of communication and interaction with the international community. Close co-ordination between the two should be ensured for more effective action.

Approval and implementation of agreed texts

The following procedure will be followed for approval and implementation of the Investment Compact. With the appropriate adjustments, it will be also used for other texts agreed within the Stability Pact framework.

1. Texts on which agreement has been reached in the working groups chaired by the relevant lead/sponsoring agency/agencies will be formally approved/endorsed by the respective Working Table.
2. The Working Table will also appoint a lead/sponsoring agency, or task force of lead/sponsoring agencies as appropriate, to assist the implementation and monitor progress towards implementation of commitments by all parties concerned. The sponsoring agencies will in principal be international organizations.
3. The sponsoring agency, or task force of sponsoring agencies, will draw up country-specific assistance and implementation programs, in cooperation with the Chairman of the relevant Working Table the interested country and other subjects as appropriate. The country-specific program will include an implementation roadmap.
4. Progress in implementation of the initiative will be discussed in regular meetings with the participation of all countries of South Eastern Europe, to be called by the relevant sponsoring agency in cooperation with the Chairman of the Working Table.
5. The Chairman of the Working Table will keep the Working Table informed.

The compilation of ongoing and proposed activities submitted to Stability Pact Office by international organizations and Stability Pact countries targeting the Southeast European region is underway. Inventory of Working Table 1 related proposals is nearly finished. Ways are being explored on how inventory items could be submitted and made accessible through the Stability Pact website as soon as it will become operational

Website

The US Government has financed a web site for the Stability Pact. It should be up and running by the middle of January 2000, at the address "www.stabilitypact.org". Stability Pact documents, a calendar of events, regular updates on activities, reports of meetings as well as other information of interest will be posted.

HUMAN RIGHTS, NATIONAL MINORITIES (including the Roma and Sinti)

Sponsor: Slovenia

Co-sponsor/s: Council of Europe (CoE)

Key Contacts: Ms. Claudia Luciani, CoE, Tel: +(33-3) 88-41-2149; Fax: +(33-3) 88-41-2746; Email: claudia.luciani@coe.int

Action:

GOOD GOVERNANCE

Key Contacts: Ms. Claudia Luciani, Tel: +(33-3) 88-41-2149; Fax: +(33-3) 88-41-2746; Email: claudia.luciani@coe.int, Ms. Jane Dinsdale, Tel: 33-3-8841-2328, Mr. Philip Blair, Tel: 33-3-8841-2060

Action:

(i) Ombudsman initiative

(ii) Local Government and Transfrontier Cooperation:

The Council of Europe has organised in Strasbourg on December 6^th an informal information-sharing meeting on existing multilateral and bilateral programs, projects and ongoing activities on local government and transfrontier cooperation in SEE, with a view of avoiding overlap, foster co-ordination and synergies and reinforce effectiveness among international organisations involved in local government reform in SEE. The meeting served as a preparation for the South Eastern Forum on "Decentralisation, democracy and stability" that will take place in Bucharest on 21-23 February 2000. Participants agreed to submit to the CoE written information on their activities and on how to facilitate development of an inventory of programming plans.

GENDER

Sponsor: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Co-sponsor/s: Council of Europe

Key Contacts: Ms. Sonja Lokar, CEE Network for Gender Issues; Tel?Fax: +(36-1) 312-5071; Email: Sonja@mail.tvnet.hu

Action:

MEDIA

Sponsor: The United Kingdom

Co-sponsor/s: Germany, OSCE

Key Contacts: Mr. Peter Dun, Head of Information Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK, Tel: +(44-171) 270-5925; Fax: +(44-171) 270-5925

Action:

EDUCATION - "ENHANCED GRAZ PROCESS"

Sponsor: Austria

Key Contacts: Ms. Monika Mott, Kulturkontakt, Vienna,Austria, Tel: +(43-1) 522-9160; Fax: +(43-1) 524-6655; email: monika.mott@kulturkontakt.or.at

Action:

REFUGEE RETURN

Sponsor: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Key Contact: Mr. Neil Wright, Head of FRY Liaison Unit, UNHCR, Tel: +(41-22) 739-8404; Fax: +(41-22) 739-7361; Email: wright@unhcr.org

Action:

PARLIAMENTARY EXCHANGE

Sponsor: Royaumont Process

Key Contacts: Ms. Mireille Morel, Assistant to the Special Representative of the EU to the Royaumont Process, Tel: +(32-2) 285-9333; Fax: +(32-2) 285-9330, Ms. Marije Balt, Tel: +(32-2) 285-5585; Fax: +(32-2) 285-9330; Email: royaumont@consilium.eu.int

Action:

On 17 December 1999, the Special Representative of the EU to the Royaumont Process has called a meeting in Strasbourg to discuss specific proposals for enhancing parliamentary exchange and co-operation.
 
 

COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Sponsor: World Bank

Key Contact: Ms. Arntraud Hartmann, WB, Tel.: (+1-202) 473 3670, Fax: (+1-202) 477 3288, Email: AHARTMANN@WORLDBANK.ORG.

Action:

The World Bank is working on a comprehensive approach to regional development. A first draft was issued at the beginning of December; the final version is expected by the beginning of 2000.

REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE

REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Sponsor: European Investment Bank

Key Contact: Mr. Massimo D’Eufemia, EIB, Tel.: (+352) 4379 7424, Fax: (+352) 4379 7488, Email: m.deufemia@eib.org.

Action:

The EIB has convened meetings of experts for a first review of potential projects. A final report thereon will be conveyed to the Chairman who will submit it to the HLSG. The latter body will discuss the priority initiatives that should be retained, with a view to organising a funding meeting in the first quarter of next year.

PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

Sponsor: EBRD

Key Contact: Mr. Olivier Descamps, EBRD, Tel.: (+44-171) 338 7164, Fax: (+44-171) 338 6599.

Action:

The EBRD is collecting requests and proposals, in particular from the countries of South Eastern Europe in the area of private sector development. A final report thereon will be conveyed to the Chairman who will submit it to the HLSG.

INTEGRATION INTO EUROPEAN STRUCTURES

Sponsor: European Commission

Key Contact: Fabrizio Barbaso Tel +32 2 2956739/2960941

Action:

Following the European Commission contribution in Bari, the Chairman has requested follow up meetings with the relevant Commission services to discuss the concrete way forward. Sectors covered include trade, environment, transport and technical assistance to promote European Union legislation, as well as vocational education and training.

INTRAREGIONAL TRADE

Key Contact: Mr. Gligor Bishev, Co-chair Working Table II (from Jan. 2000), National Bank of Macedonia, Tel. (+389-91) 124017, Fax: (+389-91) 108340, Email: Bishev@nbrm.gov.mk.

Action:

The Chairman of the Working Table is currently examining, with the relevant actors, measures aimed at scaling down, and eventually eliminating, intra-regional trade barriers. A working group, comprising representatives of the region, will be set up under Macedonian chairmanship. An action plan will be presented at the next meeting of the Working Table in Skopje.

INVESTMENT COMPACT

Sponsors: UK, OECD

Key contacts: Alastair Newton, FCO, Tel.: (+44-171) 270 2680, Fax: (+44-171) 270 3443.

Rolf Alter, OECD, Tel.: (+33-1) 4524 1410, Fax: (+33-1) 4524 7852.

Action:

The UK has finalised the draft proposal presented in Bari, including a general roadmap on implementation. In parallel the OECD has been working on country assessments for country-specific action plans. Discussions with the countries of the region should commence in early 2000; action plans should commence by April /May 2000.

BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL

Sponsor: Stability Pact Office, SECI Coordinator

Key contacts: Ed Kronenburg, Stability Pact, Tel.: (+32-2) 401 6881, Fax: (+32-2) 234 7105.

Erhard Busek, SECI, Tel.: (+43-1) 53137 422, Fax: (+43-1) 53137 420.

Action:

The Working Table in Bari agreed to establish a Stability Pact Business Advisory Council (BAC). Its task will be, inter alia, to advise on ways and means to promote an attractive and secure business/investment environment. The SECI Co-ordinator has been asked to draw up a list of business representatives that would participate in the BAC. The list is close to finalisation, in close co-operation with interested institutions and countries, including the EBRD and TABD. A first meeting of the BAC is planned for 19 January.

COUNTRY REPORTS ON LOCAL COORDINATION

Sponsor: Office of the Special Coordinator

Key contact: Jean-Marc Falcon, Tel: ++389-91-11 8 749, Fax: ++389-91-136 230

Three country reports (field inventories) are being prepared for the next working table meeting in order to give participants an overview over ongoing activities in the JHA field. These reports will contain a description of the most important bilateral and multilateral initiatives in Albania, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will give an assessment of the expected impact of these activities. They should help to identify eventual duplication of efforts and missing links.

The chairman asked the following organisations to prepare a 3 pages report which will be circulated by 15 January 2000 and discussed at the WT meeting in Sarajevo:

a. On FYROM/Macedonia: EU Presidency (French Embassy acting for Portugal)

b. On Albania: OSCE, The Friends of Albania Key contact: Geert Hinrich Ahrens, OSCE/Friends of Albania, Tel: ++355-42-35992, Fax: ++355-42-35994

c. On Bosnia and Herzegovina: OHR Key contact: Johan Van Lamoen, Tel: ++387-71-447 275, Fax: ++387-71-447420

TASK FORCE ON PREVENTION OF TRAFFICKING OF HUMAN BEINGS

Sponsor: OSCE

Key contact: OSCE Mission to Croatia, Igor Sherbak, Tel. ++385-1-309 6620, Fax. ++385-1-309 6621

Action

A draft task force concept and action plan for use against trafficking of human beings is being developed by the OSCE in concert with other organizations. A work-shop was held in Zagreb Nov 23-24 under the auspices of the OSCE Mission in Zagreb, and with the participation of inter alia UNHCR and IOM.

Initiative submitted to the EU by Great Britain and UNMIK on organised crime in Kosovo

Key contact: UNMIK, EU

Action

UNMIK, in line with Great Britain, submitted a proposal to the EU presidency to develop stategic options against organised crime in Kosovo and neighbouring countries. These would include inter alia measures to improve information-sharing and strengthen UNMIK police capacity, as well as the development of a regional assistance program.

INITIATIVE BY THE FINNISH EU PRESIDENCY TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF BORDER CONTROLS

Sponsor: EU Presidency/Commission

Key Contact: Mr. Kortionen, Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel +35 8 913415357.

Action

A plan for the way ahead on this initiative was presented by the Finnish Presidency for the EU at a meeting of the CFSP Working Group for Western Balkans (COWEB) in Brussels Nov 29. The Commission will prepare a Concept of a Project for Improvement of Border Controls in South Eastern Europe in consultation with the Presidency, other interested EU Partners and relevant countries in the region.

MIGRATION

Extended mandate for EU HLWG on Asylum and Migration beyond Albania

Sponsor: EU Presidency, Commission

Key contact: Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hannu Kyröläinen, Tel: +358-9-1341 5036, Fax: +358-9-1341 5009

Action

The report on Albania and adjacent region will be finalized shortly, including concrete proposals on action and financing, and formally submitted to the General Affairs Council of the EU. The presentation of work so far will be made by the Commission at the Sarajevo meeting of the Working Table. The issue of extending the regional scope of the work of the HLWG has been postponed until after the finalization of the Albania report.

POLICE AND JUDICIAL REFORM

Judicial Reform

Sponsor: Council of Europe

Key contact: Council of Europe, Guy Level, Tel: ++33-3-88412001, fax: ++33-3-88413739

Action

The Council of Europe intends to extend its training activities in relation with judicial reform to South Eastern Europe. A request by the Council of Europe for additional funds in order to operationalize this and other initiatives in South Eastern Europe is currently being discussed with possible donors.

Police Reform

Sponsor: UN

Key contact: UN-Sarajevo, Julian Harston, ++387-71-496 119 , Fax: ++387-71-496 025

Action

Proposals have been made by various participants (Croatia, Albania) to establish a training center for higher executives and experts of police forces (especially for criminal police and border police). The chairman of the sub-table has invited the UN to present a project at the Sarajevo meeting.

LEGISLATIVE CLEARING HOUSE

Sponsor: Council of Europe-EU, in co-operation with the OSCE

Key contact: OCSP, Marie-Janine Calic, Tel. ++32-2-4016891, Fax. ++32-2-2347105

The goal of this initiative is to establish a regional information center on both legislative standards in Europe and legislative reforms in the countries in the region. The clearing house would aid in legislative harmonization, reform of legislation and approximation to EU and CoE standards by offering states in the region coordinated analysis, advice and information. It would also provide information on ongoing reforms in all the countries of the region.

DEMINING

Sponsor: Canada and Slovenia

Key Contacts: Ambassador Raphael Girard Telephone: +1-613-944-0796

Fax: +1-613-995-8783 Email: raphael.girard@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

State Under-Secretary Mr. Roman Kirn, MFA, Ljubljana Telephone: +386-61-179-6586 Fax: +386-61-178-2249 Email: marjana.hribersek@gov.si

Action:

Canada and Slovenia are carrying out the inventory of ongoing programmes. The inventory will be presented at the next meeting of the Working Table.

MILITARY CONTACTS

Sponsor: OSCE CiO, Norway

Co-Sponsor: Incoming OSCE CiO, Austria

Key Contact: Minister Thomas Buchsbaum Telephone: +43-1-531-15-3674 Fax: +43-1-53-666-227 Email: thomas.buchsbaum@wien.bmaa.gv.at

Action

The first meeting of the Informal Working Group on Military Contacts, originally scheduled for 12 November, is taking place in Vienna on 13 December. It will be a brainstorming session on ways to improve military contacts in the region and is to be followed up by another meeting, tentatively scheduled for late January.

MILITARY BUDGETING

Sponsor: UK

Key Contact: Mr. Oystein Bo, MFA, Oslo Telephone: +47-22-243545, Email: oystein.bo@ud.dep.telemax.no

Action:

A Task Force to promote transparency in military budgeting is being established under UK coordination. The UK is currently consulting countries on the leadership of the Task Force. Information on this initiative can be obtained from the Chairman of the Sub-Table.

SMALL ARMS

Key contact: OCSP, Marie-Janine Calic, Tel. +32-2-4016891, Fax. +32-2-234710

Action:

Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, FYROm, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey on November 19 in Istanbul issued a declaration stating their readiness, inter alia, to destroy small arms and light weapons in excess of their legitimate needs or seized as a result of illicit trafficking, and to secure stockpiles. They also undertook to take the issue forward at the next meeting of the Working Table.

Slovenia will host a workshop on small arms, tentatively scheduled for late January. A Working Group will also be established to identify assistance requirements for destroying and storing small arms and light weapons.

RESPONSIBLE ARMS SALES

Sponsor: Bulgaria

Co-Sponsor: USA

Key Contact: Mr. Vesela Ilcheva, Telephone: +359-2-980-3766, Fax: +359-2-980-4230, Email: Vesela@mbox.cit.bg

Action

Bulgaria is hosting a regional conference on export controls on 14-15 December under the auspices of the Stability Pact. The primary objective is to increase cooperation and coordination among states in the region to prevent illegal arms flows, and to develop effective arms and dual use control systems. The conference will provide an opportunity to discuss the development of a common end-user certificate for licensing arms and dual use goods technology sales.

NON-PROLIFERATION

Key Contact: Mr. Wayne Neil, US State Dep Telephone: +1-202-647-9704

Action

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, FYROM, Moldova, Romania and Slovenia on 19 November in Istanbul issued a declaration in which they reaffirmed their commitment to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They in particular called attention to the need for universal adherence to, and full implementation of, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). They also called upon the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to accede to the CWC in order to demonstrate its commitment to the worldwide elimination of this weapon of mass destruction.

SPECIAL COORDINATOR OF THE STABILITY PACT FOR SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE

CABINET OF THE SPECIAL COORDINATOR
 

Markus Ederer Head of Cabinet	234 7108	234 7105
Andrew Levi Deputy Head of Cabinet and Spokesman	234 7118	234 7105
Beate GRZESKI Special Assistant to Mr Hombach, Liaison European Parliament	234 7124	234 7105
Robert ADAMS Finance	401 6885	234 7105
Nicole WANDERS Secretary to Mr Hombach	234 7103	234 7105
Monika LAUDERBACH Secretary to Mr Hombach	234 7104	234 7105
Sonia ROZADA Secretary	234 7123	234 7105

DEPUTY SPECIAL COORDINATORS ET AL.
 

Donald B. KURSCH Principal Deputy Special Coordinator (Working Table I)	234 7113	234 7105
Ed KRONENBURG Deputy Special Coordinator (Working Table II)	401 6881	234 7105
Alpo RUSI Deputy Special Coordinator (Working Table III)	401 6882	234 7105
Stefano PONTECORVO Advisor to the Special Coordinator	401 6883	234 7105
Srgjan KERIM Special Envoy for Regional Affairs	+49-30-89541196	+49-30-89069525

WORKING TABLE I (Democratization and Human Rights)
 

Nives MALENICA Senior Expert (Democratization and Human Rights)	234 7122	234 7105
Peter Sørensen Expert (Democratization and Human Rights), Liaison OSCE	234 7116	234 7105
Ronald DREYER Expert (Democratization and Human Rights)	401 6894	234 7105
Judit József (until 31.12.99)) Expert (Democratization and Human Rights)	234 7114	234 7105
Ginette ROOZ Secretary	234 7114	234 7105

WORKING TABLE II (Economic Reconstruction, Dev. and Cooperation)
 

Didier FAU Senior Expert (Economic Reconstruction, Development and Cooperation), Liaison OHR and UNMIK	401 6895	234 7105
Johann SATTLER Expert (Economic Reconstruction, Development and Cooperation)	401 6887	234 7105
Sam KOZLOFF Expert (Economic Reconstruction, Development and Cooperation)	401 6888	234 7105
Daniëlle VAN VAERENBERGH Secretary	401 6897	234 7105

WORKING TABLE III (Security Issues)
 

Bernd HEMINGWAY Senior Expert (JHI)	401 6892	234 7105
Marie Jeanine CALIC Expert (Security)	401 6891	234 7105
Staffan HemrÅ Expert (Security)	401 6893	234 7105
Kathleen BÖTING Secretary	401 6898	234 7105

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