The research team of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia, led by Mr. Ilija Djugumanov, president of YATA Macedonia, ended their trip around the Balkans.

The team has done interviews regarding the A5 countries (Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina) participation into ISAF mission from its beginning by contributing individually, with NATO countries assistance, and through the regional initiatives, such as medical contribution and training for the Afghan security forces.

The research teams conducted interviews as part of the research (first) phase for the current project:

“Regional Post – ISAF engagement - Lessons learned and a legacy for

A-5 countries future expeditionary missions”

Last week one of YATA Macedonia's teams visited Albania, Montenegro and Serbia. In Tirana they met with representatives of the Atlantic Council of Albania where they jointly reviewed and discussed opportunities for regional cooperation. Furthermore, in Podgorica they met with Mr. Savo Kentera, President of Atlantic Council of Montenegro, and started building the image of Montenegro's position on the issue that is the focus of this research.

Moreover, in Podgorica the team had an inspiring briefing with the U.S. Embassy where they were greeted by the Deputy Chief of mission, Mr. Douglas Jones and his team, which gave excellent views in terms of the position of Montenegro and the possible Montenegrin presence in Afghanistan after 2014.

During the stay in Montenegro, the team met with representatives of the academic community who gave their review of the issue and the situation.

Belgrade was the last stop for the first team, where they met with representatives of the Atlantic Council of Serbia. Furthermore, they held meetings with prominent figures from academic community, such as PhD. Predrag Simic, Director of the Institute for International Politics and PhD. Zoran Dragisic, who teaches Political system and Security management.

Also, two meeting with representatives from the medias were made - one with Mr. Ratko Femic from “Novi Magazin” and the other with Mr. Nenad Radicevic, Deputy Foreign Editor in “Politika”.

Our second team also completed its research in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Sarajevo they had an official meeting in the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina represented by Col.Sinisha Ostojic.

Representatives of the academic community, such as PhD. Nedzhad Korajikj, Dean of the Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies, also gave his review on the topic. It must be mentioned that the interview with former Defence Minister Selmo Cikotic was a great experience. Also they met with representatives of the Atlantic Initiative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Within the research visit, our team participated in seminar on “Peace Support Operations in Contemporary Geostrategic Context” which was held at Peace Support Operations Training Centre at Camp Butmir. The seminar was organized by PSOTC and BiH Atlantic Initiative.

As part of the research phase, the project team also gathered information through questioners. Officially, questioners were received from all A5 countries + Serbia from the MoDs, different civil organizations including ATA partner organizations from the region, professors and academic community, private companies, medias, youth and public opinion was also measured.

Since the research phase comes to the very end and the research team is analyzing the material from the research, more is yet to come! The project is entering the second phase – a two-day conference that will have regional character and will include the countries from the A5 group (Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina), Serbia, USA, Afghanistan and NATO as well. The conference will accommodate a broad platform, including distinguished members of government, non-government, high governmental representatives and experts from the region, private citizens, subject matter experts, media and broad public.The conference will not be only an ordinary meeting with exchange of opinions, but it will aim to offer effective practical solutions /recommendations to the countries of the Western Balkans for future development of the Regional Post-ISAF engagement - Lessons learned and a legacy for A-5 countries future expeditionary missions. It will be interesting and something new because the YATA Macedonia young reaserchers will have a unique chance to present the results of their reaserch in front of the NATO high officials and all the other experts from the region.

Upon the completion of the research and the generation of the field work findings and the results of the regional conference, the project director Phd. Metodi Hadzijanev and the project team will produce an output publication with recommendations.

The publication will represent a milestone of the in-depth research capturing the base-lining on the topic, assumptions, relevant findings, and recommended courses of actions produced by the project team.