Remarks by Ismet Ramadani, President of EACM

Dear Mr. Wiseman,
Dear Mr. Labenista,
Dear Mr. Kostovski, Mr. Starova, Mrs. Gupta, Mr. Gashi,
Dear guests, ladies and gentleman’s,

Let me express my delight and gratitude for you presence at this very important conference for us and the region.
The US Adriatic charter from its own beginning in 2003 is the base for regional integration in NATO. The Charter lies upon the principles of partnership and its goals were Euro-Atlantic integration of the signing states, implementation of reforms in terms of democracy and rule of law, respect towards human rights and freedoms, economic reforms, all these representing a profound basis for peace and stability in the region. 

This initiative with its development reached today’s status of A5+ countries and hopefully it will become A7. 

Our countries have traditionally been developing cooperation in the security and defence sector. The regional joint work has been our profound base for moving forward and development. Although we are not all members of NATO, we are proudly waving the NATO banner in the international missions, contributing and working together.
This brings to the today’s topic and our regional approach towards it. On the respected Munich Security Conference in 2011, the former NATO Secretary General has presented the new NATO approached: “Smart Defence”. The financial crisis and the austerity period made the Alliance to figure new way of functioning. 
The “Smart Defence” was presented as way “ensuring greater security, for less money, by working together with more flexibility.” NATO countries to be more successful will have to “pool and share capabilities, to set the right priorities, and to better coordinate our efforts.”

On the Summit in Chicago, NATO has delivered. Smart Defence concept was adopted as the heart of the new approach. The Allies decided to put forward more than 20 multinational projects which will develop key capabilities. These projects started delivering improved operational effectiveness, economies of scale, and they brought closer connections between the forces. But not only those benefits. The trust in joint work has grown and countries saw the benefit that this type of work brings. Smart Defence gave opportunity for reinvigorated culture of cooperation. 

During the Summit, former Secretary General Rasmusen said: “Our goal is NATO Forces 2020 – an Alliance that deals with today’s economic challenges, and is prepared for the security challenges of the future,” the Secretary General said. "These decisions show that despite the economic challenges, Allies are committed to acquire, develop and maintain the capabilities and the skills we need to ensure that our Alliance remains fit for purpose and fit for the future.” 
From the start of this concept, NATO has started more than 29 multinational immediate and long term projects. Projects which include all NATO members and their full potential and resources. 

Two years forward and NATO on the Summit in Cardiff, NATO confirmed the success of this concept. In the Declaration it was stated that the number of multinational projects is ever growing. NATO countries are improving in lot of areas such as: Precision Guided Ammunition, deployable airspace capability, ballistic missile defence, naval training etc. In the end, NATO confirmed the establishment of the close work with the EU and its Pooling and Sharing concept. 
Today we are gathered here to discuss the importance of our inclusion to this new approach. This regional conference is platform for discussion between the experts, professionals and civil society. 

When we coordinated our efforts with the NATO Public Diplomacy Division for this project we defined three important goals, which I would like to set on this opening session and hopefully on the end we will reach them:

1. 1.Provide relevant information for the benefits of the joint cooperation
2. 2.Provide recommendations for future joint activities in the spirit of the NATO Smart Defence and EU Sharing and Pooling Initiatives
3. 3.Provide recommendations for development of joint capacities and capabilities in the spirit of the NATO Smart Defence and EU Sharing and Pooling Initiatives