Session 2: “Development of Regional Capacities for Emergency Relief in the Spirit of Smart Defence Initiative”

The main topic on the second session was the Development of Regional Capacities for Emergency Relief in the Spirit of Smart Defence Initiative. The session was moderated by Mr. Fatos Xhengo, Responsible for establishing and managing of the disaster preparedness and response program, Red Cross Albania. After his short introduction, he introduced the topic and the speakers. First speakers on the session were:

• Mr. Evert G.J. Somer, Civil Emergency Planning, NATO Operations Division
• Mrs. Milica Katic, Director of Balkan Institute, Serbia
• Professor Mitko Stoykov – Director Crisis Management for Disaster Response Centre of Excellence, Bulgaria
• Lt. Col. Luan Domi – Commander of the Research and Rescue Battalion, Albania

First panelist was Mr. Evert Somer. He started with the comprehensive approach. In continuation of his speech he mentioned lot of key notes such as the national responsibilities and the smart Security. Further in his presentation main topics were the assessment and the assumptions. The acceptable risk was next on his presentation. Very important place further were the plan, the regional training, the resources, the risk reduction and the joint capabilities.

The session continued with Mrs. Milica Katic from Serbia. She gave introduction about the Balkan Institute and their work. After she continued with defining disasters and emergencies. Further she spoke about the Balkan and its perspectives. She was speaking about the priorities that need to be handled in this region, the problems and the possible cooperation in the spirit of the Smart Defence.

This part continued with Prof. Mitko Stoykov and his presentation on the Bulgarian contribution to NATO Smart Defence and the NATO Center of Excellence – Crisis Management for Disaster Response. On the begging he explained the background, focal points and the objectives of the Smart Defence concept. After that he gave three key points how to do the Smart Defence: cooperation, coordination and the communication. Prof. Stoykov in his presentation defined the NATO Centers of Excellence and their functioning. Further he explained the structure of the Crisis Management for Disaster Response Center of Excellence and its operational platforms.

Lt. Col. Luan Domi continued the day with presented the capabilities of the Rescue and Research battalion of Albania. He was speaking of the basis of functioning, the activities, the joint cooperation and the future regional activities.

Panelists on the second part were:

• Brigade General Abaz Lleshi – Commander of the Territorial Defence Brigade
• Mr. Alexandre Petrovic – Atlantic Council of Serbia
• Brigade General Dimce Petrovski - Director of General Staff of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia.
• Mr. Samet Ali - Disaster Manager, Red Cross Macedonia

First speaker on the second panel was Brigade General Abaz Lleshi and his presentation about the Development of regional capacities for civilian emergencies seen in the initiative of the NATO Smart Defence. He continued with past regional cooperation and the experience from it and the need for increase cooperation in order to achieve more.

Mr. Alexandre Petrovic and his presentation on the development of regional capacities for emergency relief was the following panelist. He started with the decision making process, which was one of the main focuses on his presentation. As one of the key elements in the decision making is the anticipation he explained. As key parts of the anticipation are: Geoinformation capacity and metereological capacity. In the second part of his presentation he explained the functioning the Global Earth Observation System of Systems.  In the end he concluded that geo and meteo capacities are strategic point for emergency relief and regional cooperation and they are state commitment and should be discussed by the governments.

The next panelist was Brigade General Dimce Petrovski, He was speaking on the regional challenges that are possibility for the region and how they should be anticipated, the potential regional threats sources which can highly endanger the population and the directions for regional crisis and conflict response capacities development. After the brief explanation of the key topics he concluded that the upgrade on the regional cooperation is a necessity for all of the countries in the region and it has to be a process that will have continuity.

Final before the lunch was Mr. Samet Ali. He gave briefing on the work in the past of the Red Cross and how they handled the emergency situations during the last 15 years. On the end of his presentation, he played two movies from the joint exercises of the Red Cross Macedonia.

Final panelists were:

• Lt. Fadil Hadergjonaj - Head of Training & Exercise Section Department, Kosovo Security Forces
• Mr. Ljupco Petroski – Head of section, Directorate for Protection and Rescue, Macedonia
• Mr. Kyle King, Civil Emergency Advisor, HQ KFOR

This part started with Lt. Fadil Hadergjonaj from Kosovo. The cornerstone of his presentation was the mission of the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Forces (MKSF) and the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF). After the brief presentation on the mission he continued with the structures MKSF and the KSF. Next in his presentation were the achievements and the operations of the MKSF and KSF. Fulfilling of recommendation for Full Operational Capabilities (FOC) from Commander of the KFOR was emphasized as main achievement. After that the bilateral cooperation on this field that Kosovo has was the point of presentation. In the end he focused on the challenges that MKSF and KSF, the priorities 2012-2014 and the future training requirements

Next speaker was Mr. Ljupco Petroski from Macedonia. He presented the protection and rescue capacities of the Republic of Macedonia. As one of the main references in his presentation were the legal basis and normative of the work of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue of the Republic of Macedonia. After that he continued with the capacities and resources of the Direction and the goals that they have achieved in their field of work. Next was the joint cooperation and joint exercises that the Directorate for Protection and Rescue has done in the past with the countries from the region. On the end he finished with the future developments of the work of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue and the need of increased regional cooperation, increased regional training and joint exercises.

Last speaker of the panel was Mr. Kyle King from the HQ KFOR. He started with the critical questions for the region such as the standardization and interoperability. As very important part for the functioning of the systems are the equipment and training, he briefly explained in the presentation. After that, Mr. King very strictly underlined that the legal implications and duty to care / act and the legal liability concerns are one of the key parts for the systems in the region. Towards the end of his presentation he dedicated to the balancing regional and international requests through EADRCC, the cost reimbursement methods and the very important status of Forces Agreements (SOFA).

The second day was as fruitful as the first day discussions. On this topic there were more proposals and very important points in the regional cooperation that has to be emphasized. In the second day not only the anticipation for common vision was reaffirmed, but there even strong calls for more pro active common approach, joint trainings and joint exercises and join missions.