BELGRADE – A statement on cooperation among military intelligence institutions of Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) members from South East Europe was signed in Belgrade today by nine military intelligence chiefs from the region.

The signatories of the first such statement in the region agreed to establish and develop cooperation in the field of security threats, and join efforts in improving intelligence sharing at the regional level.

The statement was signed at the Second South East European Military Intelligence Chiefs Conference (SEEMIC), hosted by the Military Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia and co-organized with the RCC Secretariat, under the patronage of the Director of the European Union Military Intelligence Staff.

The conference was opened by Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia Dragan Sutanovac. Welcoming addresses were delivered by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic and Acting Director of the Military Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia Brigadier General Dragan Vladisavljevic.

Minister Sutanovac highlighted the trend of enhancing interstate relations in the region in all fields and emphasized the significance of multilateral and bilateral security cooperation.

“Serbia is determined to preserve regional peace and stability and solve all problems in a peaceful and democratic way, through cooperation with partner nations and organizations. The Ministry of Defence actively contributes to such initiatives, which further stabilize South East Europe.”

Minister Sutanovac accentuated the conference’s positive contribution to the enhancement of interstate relations among South East European countries. He added that that the establishment of cooperation process among the region’s military intelligence institutions was a result of an enhanced awareness of the importance of regional security integration, and the changed nature of security threats.

Secretary General Biscevic thanked the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia for the support in organizing the conference and pointed out that the event represented a big step forward in the efforts to further build mutual confidence in South East Europe.

“The cooperation among the military intelligence is a sign of maturity and commitment of the South East European countries to confronting regional security threats through organized and systemic joint efforts. The new RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013, endorsed by the heads of state and government of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in June 2010, prioritizes SEEMIC as a key initiative in security cooperation.”

Acting Director Vladisavljevic emphasized that mutual challenges, risks and threats imposed a need for more intense regional cooperation. He underlined the role of military intelligence services in identifying key threats as the initial step towards developing a more secure regional environment.

The event in Belgrade gathered chiefs and representatives of military intelligence services from 12 South East European countries, the RCC and the European Union Military Intelligence Staff. The participants appreciated the conference as Serbia’s contribution to strengthening security and trust in South East Europe, fostering at the same time the process of European integration in the region.

The statement on cooperation was signed by military intelligence chiefs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It remains open for signature to all the chiefs of military intelligence institutions of the RCC members from South East Europe.

The process of cooperation of the South East European military intelligence chiefs, which began in 2009 with a meeting of the chiefs of military intelligence services in Bucharest, has been realized at the initiative of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and under the patronage of the Director of the European Union Military Intelligence Staff.

The South East European Military Intelligence Chiefs Conference (SEEMIC) is a forum of high level military intelligence officers from the region that allows for networking, building relationships and strengthening trust as a basis for furthering cooperation in the intelligence area.

The third SEEMIC meeting will be hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011.