NATO Missions and Orerations_Alb_English

NATO Missions and Operations_Cro_English

With support of

The Bulgaria Fund of the German Marshall Fund of the U.S.

In partnership with The Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria

THE PROJECT

The problem The principal problem is that defence transformation within the overall process of security sector reform is still an area where the considerable progress is politically, socially and operationally insufficient. Significant management and leadership problems continue to impact the effectiveness, and efficiency of Ministry of Defence’s business processes. This places armed forces capabilities at risk by unnecessary spending funds that could be directed to higher priorities related to modernization, readiness and operations.

Thesis Transparency and accountability in defence institution are vital for its own health. There is a little doubt that a system in which information is freely available is a better system than one where everything is hidden. Expanding the information about defence and engagement of educated civilian experts and organisations will change significantly the environment of defence decision making. Changed environment will make both politicians and military elite much more responsible for taken and not taken decisions. Healthy political system is one in which the government of the day feels that it should be open about aspects of defence.

The result Establishing of a set of criteria for measuring transparency and accountability and educating experts how to contribute to more effective and democratic governance of defence will move the societies and their military closer to the internationally accepted norms in defence sector and the Trans-Atlantic values. Such outcome will establish better environment for stronger and closer cooperation in the face of the fast growing common security challenges.

Project goal and objectives

- To explain the problem of having unclear and non-transparent defence decision making process for both the defence institution and civil society and to identify the framework of the entire situation comparing the Bulgarian current way of governance and civil control with the traditional Trans-Atlantic standards and their modern interpretation.

- To define a modern methodological approach and create a set of criteria for assessment of defence effectiveness and accountability gathering experience throughout the Trans-Atlantic community.

- To study and evaluate the level of effectiveness and accountability of defence institution of Bulgaria, design, and implement a set of measures to influence more efficiently the defence decision making process, parliamentarian control and civil oversight in order to bring citizens closer to the governance of defence and influence defence establishment to be more transparent, systematically accountable and responsible.

- To establish a network of interested and capable young people and NGO in Bulgaria and support their qualification on defence governance monitoring and analysing and this way to enhance their capacity, and country study, and executive briefings.

- To create a stable background of a network for sustainable and innovative non-governmental oversight and influence on defence institutions and their performance.

ПРОЗРАЧНОСТТА В ПРОЦЕСА НА ВЗЕМАНЕ НА РЕШЕНИЯ В МИНИСТЕРСТВОТО НА ОТБРАНАТА -Text in Bulgarian

REPORT 1 Sept-10 Dec 2008

Download ИНТЕГРИТЕТ В ОТБРАНАТА : ПРЕДГОВОР 1/ INTEGRITY IN DEFENCE: FOREWORD 1

Download ИНТЕГРИТЕТ В ОТБРАНАТА 2 /INTEGRITY IN DEFENCE 2

The project Transparency of Decision Making Process in the Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria is funded by Bulgaria Fund of the German Marshall Fund of the US.

The project aimed to support the efforts of the Ministry of Defence as an effective institution, rational in the management of defense resources, and at the same time as an institution, subservient to the main principles of democratic government – accountability and transparency. It is an established fact that in the last few years the decision making process for modernization of the Bulgarian armed forces raised suspicions of corruption and poorly effective decisions. It is hardly a coincidence that in one of his first interviews after his inauguration the Minister of Defence pointed out that most Bulgarian citizens think that the Ministry of Defence is working “behind the curtain” and that there is a necessity of improving transparency and civil control over the Ministry of Defence activity.

The Closing Conference of the Project with international participation took place on 14^th May (Thursday) 2009 in Alexander’s Hall of Radisson SAS Grand Hotel. The team of the Euro-Atlantic Education Initiative presented the book: Integrity in Defence: Effective, Transparent and Accountable Management. This book is the final product of the project and is the result of the efforts of a team of leading experts in the sphere of defence management. The book is up loaded on the web page above.

Download Program EN

Download Program BG

Closing Conference attended H.E. Nikolay Tsonev, Minister of Defence, H.E. Nikolay Kamov, Chairman of the Delegation of Bulgarian Parliament to Parliamentary Assembly of NATO, Mr.Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Chairman of Political Party GERB.

The key note speakers were H.E. Valeri Ratchev and Mr. Mark Pyman, Director of the Defence Team, Transparency International (UK).

Download PRESENTATION Valeri Ratchev, Sofia, 14 May 2009

Download PRESENTATION Mark Pyman, Sofia, 14 May 2009

Download Case Study Gen. Anyu Angelov ENG

The closing event of the Project Public Information Forum was organized by the Euro-Atlantic Education Initiative with the support of History Faculty of St.Kliment Ohridski Sofia University. The key note speaker was H.E. Nancy McEldowney, Ambassador of the US. The Rector of Sofia University professor Ivan Ilchev opened the conference. The meeting attended more than 200 students and university lecturers.

The Opening Conference in Sofia has been organised in order to meet a vital and immediate need of the Bulgarian society and defense institution, in particular, of having informed, competent and result-oriented debate on creation of “integrity pact” that will eliminate corruption within the triangle “ Government & public sector – business – civil society” placing defense institution in the focus.

Foreign experts from Transparency International, UK, shared their experience to create a methodology of monitoring, assessment and evaluation of defense institution status and performance and to establish a set of criteria and improved toolbox for measuring transparency and accountability in defense institution’ decision making.

The issues of security sector reform and democratic governance of defense institution are among the most sensitive circumstances for democratic transformation and sustainable progress.

The principal problem is that defense transformation within the overall process of security sector reform is still an area where the considerable progress is politically, socially and operationally insufficient. Significant management and leadership problems continue to impact the effectiveness, and efficiency of Ministry of Defense’s business processes. This places armed forces capabilities at risk by unnecessary spending funds that could be directed to higher priorities related to modernization, readiness and operations.

Civil society’s oversight and control over defense decision-making is a question of maturity and responsibility of the overall governance of the country. Its importance is growing because a new phenomenon emerged – those organizations and experts should influence simultaneously the executives of defense and military to be transparent and accountable and the Parliament not only to show its ‘authority’ but ‘ability’ and ‘willingness’ to hold the executive to account (H. Hänggi, H. Born).

Public Information Forum organised by the Euro-Atlantic Education Initiative took place in the Veliko Tarnovo City Hall on 10 February 2009. The event was attended by over 200 students from National Military University “Vassil Levski” and high schools students, representatives of the local authorities –the Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, Dr. Rumen Rashev, Municipality Councilors, NGO representatives and media. The key note speaker of the Public Information Forum was the Deputy Head of US Mission Alexander Karagiannis.

The Ministry of Defence was represented by col. Rumen Kondev. Brig.Gen. Tzvetan Harizanov, Chief of the National Military University “Vassil Levski and col. Valentin Tzvetanov spoke on behalf of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army.

Mr. Karagiannis said that “one of the very best demonstrations, one of the best living proofs of the partnership between our two countries is the cooperation between our two militaries”. In his remarks, he noted the history of successful cooperation between the U.S. and Bulgarian Armies and the prospect for even greater successes in the future.

Public Information Forum organised by the Euro-Atlantic Education Initiative took place in the Russe City Hall on 22 January 2009. The event was attended by over 350 students, representatives of the local authorities –the Deputy Mayor of Russe, Atila Minev, the Governor of Russe District, Maria Dimova, Chair of the Municipal Council, Isskren Veselinov, Municipality Councilors, NGO representatives and media. The key note speaker of the Public Information Forum was the US Ambassador H.E. Nancy McEldowney. She underlined the importance of the two countries’ strategic relationship, noting that it highlights President Barack Obama’s foreign policy principles of “strong friendships and strong alliances.”

Ambassador McEldowney said: “The United States of America and I want to pause here because this is a very important thing, the United States of America is proud to count Bulgaria as a friend and an ally and we are proud to stand together with this country.  You know that we live in a complicated world.  You know we live in uncertain times.  And if there is one thing that you need to be certain about when there is uncertainty in the world, it is who your friends are.”

The Ministry of Defence was represented by the Deputy Minister of Defence Kamelia Neykova. Brig.Gen. Dimitar Dimitrov spoke on behalf of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army. A special guest of the event was H.E. Elena Poptodorova, Ambassador with special credentials for the Black Sea Region and former Bulgarian Ambassador to the USA.

SPEECH AMBASSADOR Russe ENG

SPEECH AMBASSADOR Russe BG

Sofia, 26 September 2008

COSTS AND BENEFITS OF NATO MEMBERSHIP

An International Conference Costs and Benefits of NATO Membership organised by Balkan Mosaic Foundation and Euro-Atlantic Education Initiative took place in Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan on 26 September 2008. The aim of the meeting was to gather together experts and NGO representatives from across the Region in order to discuss the issue of costs and benefits (political, economic, military etc.) of NATO membership. The conference was organised with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Public Diplomacy Division of NATO.

NATO missions and operations were in the focus of the discussion. Experiences in Afghanistan and the Balkans demonstrate that the international community works closely together and takes a comprehensive approach to address successfully the security challenges of our days. Balkan countries have to incorporate in the full range of joint efforts of the Alliance and to share the costs and the benefits of its missions, collectively defending the security at home and contributing to stability abroad.

Experts and NGO representatives from Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey participated in the conference.

Through the means of public debate and dialogue the participants were able to examine the various aspects of regional cooperation as well as the challenges and opportunities to the Western Balkans progress and readiness of integration to the Atlantic structures.

At the end of the conference a guide NATO Missions and Operations in Brief, sponsored by NATO PDD, published by Euro-Atlantic Education Initiative was introduced to the participants.