On 15 March 2016, delegation from the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia (ATA Macedonia), led by the Executive Director of the Business Club of ATA Macedonia, Mr. Trifun Kostovski, participated at the conference in Belgrade, organized by the Atlantic Council of Serbia entitled: “Regional cooperation - Enhancing political dialogue”



Beside Mr. Kostovski, who was the main speakers at this event, also the member of the presidency of ATA Macedonia/President of YATA Macedonia, Mr. Ilija Djugumanov took part at this conference. Moreover, in order to present the military cooperation in SEE, ATA Macedonia invited Prof. Dr. Metodija Dojchinovski from the Military Academy "General Mihailo Apostolski" - Skopje to participate.

This conference successfully served as a long-established opportunity for civil society and political and business actors to make significant contributions to encouraging regional cooperation for security and economic development in the Western Balkans and discuss NATO approaches to the current security challenges. The conference had representatives from the region. The conference featured two sessions of high-level speakers and followed by questions, debate and good discussions.



The Conference was opened by the project director, Mr. Milovan Milovanovic. In the opening keynote addresses, Mr. Kostovski called for better cooperation between the companies and the governments in SEE on economical level.

Program:

• 11: 00h – Official Opening of the Conference
• 11: 15h - First panel: "The economic regional cooperation"
• Ms. Mirjana Stevanovic, editor of the economy section of the “Daily”
• Mr. Trifun Kostovski, Executive Director of the Business Club of ATA Macedonia,
• 12: 45h - Second Panel: "The regional military cooperation"
• Mr. Aleksandar Radic, a military analyst
• Prof. Dr. Metodija Dojchinovski from the Military Academy "General Mihailo Apostolski"
• Col. Svetozar Brajkovic, Chief of J-3/7 General Staff
• Captain Nikola Lunić, Former military attaché in the Republic of Serbia UK
• Mr. Marko Ćustić, Chief editor of the Croatian portal "Defender".

Participants used the conference to network, share and exchange information and to learn more about the recent developments in security in SEE. The discussions provided a greater awareness and understanding of the topic.



The conference was held at Hotel Park, Belgrade and was attended by government representatives, political leaders, diplomats, security and defense experts, military officers, university professors, researchers, civil society representatives, media people and students.