Interview with Umberto Vattini, Permanent Representative of Italy to the EU, 2003, www.seetv-exchanges.com

OVERVIEW : 2 ITEMS

• ITEM 1 : Italian Presidency of the EU and Western Balkans
  
  • Interview with Umberto Vattini, Permanent Representative of Italy to the EU
    
    
• ITEM 2 : Feature Story «Downsizing the military forces in South Eastern Europe»
  • International version
  • Serbo-Croatian version

Background note for commentary
On the 1st of July 2003 Italy took the EU Presidency for 6 months. European integration of the Western Balkan states is one of the Italian priorities during this period. The main objective is to implement the road map adopted at the Thessaloniki Summit and to establish what needs to be done by every Balkan country to speed up their reform process. The Italian Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador Umberto Vattini elaborates on this issue in an interview given to SEETV in Brussels on 30 June 2003.

Shotlist item 1

Stockshots Italian Presidency

03:25
Palazzo Chigi, office of the Prime Minister in Rome

03:40
Representation of the European Commission in Rome

04:12
Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi visits Romano Prodi, President of the EC in Brussels

04:46
Silvio Berlusconi on the Balkans - presentation of the priorities of the Italian Presidency in the European Parliament in Strasbourg 2 July 2003

05:40
Exteriors European Parliament in Strasbourg

05:50
Exterior Italian Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels

06:04
Cutaways Italian Permanent Representative to the EU Umberto Vattini in his office in Brussels

Interview with Umberto Vattini, Permanent Representative of Italy to the EU made in Brussels, 30 June 2003

06:50
On the work during the Italian Presidency with the Western Balkan states

The summit in Thessaloniki with the EU and the Balkans on the 21 June was a very successful event. We are very pleased with the outcome, we now have a plan, we just have to implement it and we believe that if we keep good time, thanks also to this importance of the regional organisations: There are two which Italy follows very closely: one is the Central European Initiative, the Presidency is now in the hands of Poland but it does deal a lot with the Balkan countries and the initiative that we started in Ancona some years ago, the Adriatic initiative which is now under Presidency of Slovenia; well these two organisations will help foster a regional approach and see that these countries work better together.
We think we will do a lot. We will certainly keep an eye on the implementation process of the road map which has been agreed to in Thessaloniki.

Well, actually, I wouldn’t say that the dates are missing, we have a road map. The road map in itself indicates the way forward. We felt in Thessaloniki that the main aim was to establish what is to be done with the different countries and how they have to proceed .Now that we have this very detailed road –map, we believe that that will, indeed, provide the motivation that you mention and will keep the governments of these countries very keen on performing and looking at the performance which will bring them closer to the European standards.

08:53
On Serbia and Montenegro’s feasibility study for opening negotiations for SA Agreement

Well, we welcome these developments, we think that the Action Plan which is currently discussed with the Commission is a good instrument to proceed further. We believe that already in the month of July if discussion between the Commission and the Serbia and Montenegro government come to an end, then we shall be able, probably, to give way to the Feasability study. And so, I believe, that we shall not lose time in this and we shall try and keep the sort of momentum going.

09:44
On the way to include Kosovo in the SA Process

Well, we think it is very important to give the population in Kosovo the signal that we expect the population of Kosovo to have the same perspectives than all the other countries of the Balkans. This means actually introducing reforms which will bring it closer to the requests by the European Union. It Is to make this message known for the people in Kosovo that if these standards are reached, if these forms are introduced , that if we notice that ; as in the rest of the Balkans, there is a strong reform movement, which will bring it closer to our standards and our expectations, then I am sure that the process will be somehow, also extended and will apply also to Kosovo.

10:46
On the examination of the Croatian application for membership to the EU

Let me say that , what will come next year on the application, on the examination of the application by Croatia for the adhesion to the EU will mainly focus on political criteria and, therefore, we think that the more attention will be given to return of refugees, the cooperation with the Hague tribunal, on protection of minorities, on media and pluralism in media, all this will in fact figure prominently in the study which will be made and which will, somehow, be examined by the Council in order to start up negotiations, but definitely, we have supported Croatia’s adhesion and when we looked at the candidacy itself we have played an important part in making and facilitating the sort of response that come finally from the Council.

11:59
On Macedonia

Well, we are quite happy with the way things have gone on with the Concordia Mission. We have just taken note that there was a request by the government of Skopje for another two months and a half and, therefore, I have no doubt at all that already during the month of July probably this period will be granted which means that we shall roughly getting to the end of the year. Now, the judgment which is generally given on the way this mission has worked is very positive. We hope to be able to pursue assistance to Macedonia, perhaps on police matters. After that, after the end of the year, as far as the Ohrid Agreement is concerned, we think it has been a very good example of how the High Represantative Javier Solana has been able to work with interested parties. We now have to implement this agreement which was signed in August 2001

13:09
On Albanian progress in the negotiations for SA Agreement

Well, negotiations are under way and from what we gather, they are proceeding; they are proceeding slowly but in a positive manner. We think that we shall have to keep the rhythm, we cannot expect to change the rhythm which has already been decided upon by the Commission but we do hope that we shall be able to reach the stage when this Agreement for Stabilisation and Association can be signed.

13:41
On the relation between Berlusconi and Prodi

Presidente Berlusconi and Presidente Prodi met on number of occasions, Mr. Prodi has stated quite openly that the Commission will work in a very positive manner with the Council and with the presidency of the Council, that is obvious, we entertain the best relations with the whole Commission, we had a meeting in Rome only two days ago with the President of the Parliament, Pat Cox and the representatives of all the political forces. They all expressed their best wishes to Presidente Berlusconi for a very successful semester

Stockshots Italian Presidency

14:14
Italian Parliament

14:55
Italian Senate

End 15:01

This is Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. For more than a decade, Bulgaria has been going through a difficult process of economic and political reform. In a country with 20% unemployment, a real economic take-off remains the main challenge.

ABCnet is an example of a small, thriving firm constantly employing new staff. The dynamic world of computer networking constantly requiring new, skilled workforce. This successful company looks to some like a small military HQ, for it employs as many as six former top brass officers. The owner of ABCnet explains why he likes to hire former military people.

ITV Valentin Konov, ABCnet, Sofia:

They have qualities such as responsibility, decision-making, they take responsibility for their decisions. Last, but not least, they are disciplined, after years of military training.

When Bulgaria decided in the recent past to cut down the number of its military personnel, many officers faced unemployment and had to find a new job. Which is why these colonels and majors found themselves in ABCnet.

Emil Kostadinov, former colonel :

I must admit that I was scared by the new situation. Maybe it wasn't fear, but when I started it was all uncertain for me - working in a private company.

Nikolaj Nikolov, former colonel :

The ones who have been in service for just two or three years could not identify themselves with the army. But when you're there for ten, fifteen or twenty years, you change, you think differently and it's hard to get out.

These officers' story illustrates only a part of the ongoing reform process in Bulgaria. A challenge faced by all the countries of Southeast Europe.
When Bulgaria becomes a member of NATO next year, its army will be reduced by two thirds, comparing to its size from just several years ago. The experiences there and in neighbouring Romania will be used as a model for reforming the armed forces in the other countries of the region; Huge armies can't be justified on security or economic grounds anymore - they are simply too expensive.

But for colonel Nikolaj Nikolov, the years spent in the army were the best of his life. For twenty years he served across Bulgaria. Today, all that remains are pictures as souvenirs and a uniform, which he rarely takes out of the closet.

Nikolaj Nikolov:

I am not sorry for not wearing a uniform anymore, I am happy for the ones who stayed. I hope that the reforms will achieve something concrete, so that they can continue to serve and do what they were trained for.

In order to find a new job, Nikolaj decided to attend retraining courses. Thousands of redundant officers are too serious a problem for the state to just leave them on their own. With the financial and professional assistance of many international organizations, the government provided help to officers looking for a new job. The American University in Blagoevgrad launched specialized courses in skills that were deemed to be necessary to find a new employment.

Natalija Dimitrova, American University in Blagoevgrad:

We give them six months courses in three major areas, English language, Cisco networking academy and business and business plan writing, and untill last year we also offered them opportunity for two or three months of internship, for Stage at the end of their training with different companies.
Army reduction opens the question of what to do with soldiers, but also what to do with military barracks and bases? Hundreds of military bases are currently closed, just like this one in Simitli, in Southeastern Bulgaria. It is a serious problem, because all the economic activities in small towns like this one were dependent on the military base. The conversion of military bases into something that will bring profit and jobs is a difficult task, impossible without assistance of the international community. It was the Stability Pact which got the ball rolling. It brought the partners together. Convincing banks and financial institutions to invest in the conversion of military bases.

Stewart Henderson, Director for Security Issues, Stability Pact

We try to match the needs of the countries in the region with available financial resources. In the case of military retraining and base conversion our main partners are the World Bank and NATO. NATO has a lot of technical expertise, the World Bank has a lot of financial expertise. So we have brought these two partners with countries in the region and that is how basically we operate.
For the mayor of Simitli, where unemployment tops 30 %, the transformation of the military base is crucial.

Vasil Ivanov, Mayor of Simitli:

We have agreements with several businessmen for the development of the base. One of them currently works on processing and recycling of old plastic. He wants to transform this place into a factory with hundred workers.
Persuading business people and investors to invest their money into abandoned barracks was not an easy job. It still needs the assistance of NATO, the EU and the Stability Pact. Efrem Radev, himself a former high-ranking officer, has launched an association of municipalities that want to transform military barracks on their territory.

Efrem Radev

The idea of the projects, the idea of the municipalities is to use this property,this infrastructure in order to stimulate the lot of businesses between them, the infrastructure, not free of charge but at a very low cost and attracting foreign investments and foreign donors, of course, and, of course, foreign investing companies that will ease the process by giving credits to these companies which are affordable for the companies to pay back.
After several years of radical reform, the Defense Ministry is aware that some hard tasks are still to be tackled.
ITV Ivo Ivanov, Deputy Defense Minister:
What is maybe the hardest task is to get rid of excessive weaponry and ammunition. We have plenty of it in the Balkans and this process requires complex technology that we don't have, and huge spending which we can't afford.
Getting rid of excessive weaponry and ammunition is yet another condition of stability and security in the region.

Bulgaria has gone a long way down the road to reform. Downsizing the military was never going to easy. But now the Bulgarian experience can serve as a model for other countries in the region to plan their way ahead for the future.

END