BELGRADE, June 6 (Xinhua) — Annual Meeting of the Representatives of Defense and Security Committees from South East European (SEE) parliaments started in Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Sarajevo, on Tuesday.
Focusing on the contemporary security challenges in the Southeastern European region, the meeting will also discuss parliamentary procedures, challenges and oversight mechanisms in the field of defense and security.
The meeting, jointly organized by Centre for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC), and the Joint Commission for Defense and Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, gathered around 30 parliamentarians and 20 state officials and defense experts from SEE countries.
Supported by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Headquarters Sarajevo, the meeting aims to give a broad introduction on the mechanism and practices of the regional parliamentary defense and security committees.
RACVIAC Director Haydar Berk said at the opening of the event that although basic security or risk assessments in SEE region are along the lines of general assessments in Europe, “the level of risks, vulnerabilities, potential threats differ given the strategic location and characteristics of the region”.
Noting that “we live in a more complicated environment,” Berk said that “terrorism is a scourge of our times targeting our values,” and that there could be no justification for terrorism.
“International community needs to work together against any form of terrorism and any terrorist organization, without exception. No single country can deal with the risks and challenges to security by itself. Therefore, cooperation and concerted efforts among all actors are of vital importance,” Berk concluded.
