PRESS RELEASE
IFIMES Directors delivered a lecture to NATO Defense College course members
LJUBLJANA, December 10, 2013 – Today, Directors of the International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) from Ljubljana Zijad Bećirović and Bakhtyar Aljaf delivered a lecture to a group of more than 100 course members of NATO Defense College from Rome who are on their field study in Slovenia. This is the 123rd generation of senior course members since the establishment of NATO. The group comprises senior officers who are to occupy the leading positions in the NATO Alliance.
Director Bećirović presented the current political and security situation in the Balkans and the reasons why it cannot escape from the vicious circle of politics, mafia and crime. All the connections that were established between the politicians and criminals during the disintegration of former Yugoslavia are still present and the international community has only provided for temporary solutions that have brought latent peace and constant instability. Those solutions prevent any progress in the political, economic and social fields. This suits the criminal groups and politicians in the Balkans who do not have to adapt to any rules except those they have created and accepted with the assistance of criminals. NATO therefore plays a crucial role in the Balkans – by insisting on resolving certain institutional issues it may force the politicians to find appropriate solutions and thus enable the Balkan states to embark on the road to NATO and subsequently also EU membership.
Director Aljaf delivered a lecture on security and defence issues in the Middle East and the wider region where the situation is unstable due to the political crisis in Egypt, the war in Syria and the nuclear programme in Iran. Although certain positive steps have been made, such as the Geneva Agreement between US and Iran, numerous security issues are still open. In looking for the solutions we should not underestimate the role that Turkey plays due to its strategic position and NATO membership. High expectations are placed on the peace conference on Syria which is to take place in January next year. Israel plays an important role in the peace process. It has never had a better security situation than now, as the situation in the neighbouring countries has changed to its benefit. Political and security situation remains unstable in Libya where the central authorities have no control over most of the country's territory that is held by numerous militias and armed groups.
After the lecture IFIMES Directors replied to questions asked by course members and wished them a lot of success in their further education and work. The event was also attended by the Dean of the NATO Defense College Dr. Daria Daniels Škodnik.
At the end of the lecture Colonel Ali Yakçın thanked the lecturers on behalf of NATO Defense College Commandant Arne Bård Dalhaug and presented them some gifts.
Ljubljana, December 10 2013
