SKOPJE, 24 May 2013 – A conference on strengthening cooperation and communication between security institutions and public service media from South East Europe will open in Skopje on Monday, 27 May 2013.

The two-day event is co-organized by RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, the Ministry of Defence of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, NATO Public Diplomacy Division and the Croatian Radio and Television (HRT). It aims to motivate more open relations and environment in the region through dialogue and exchange of information, views and ideas.

Opening addresses will be delivered by Talat Xhaferi, Minister of Defence of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ambassador Branimir Mandic, RACVIAC Director, and Dinka Zivalj, RCC Spokesperson/Head of the Media Unit.

The meeting will focus on strategic communication, explore relations with public service media, and provide insight into the importance of increased communication on military operations. It will work to detect the level of regional defence ministries’ engagement in strategic communication, explore crisis communication mechanisms, and promote NATO strategic communication policy, in order to build capacity through multinational and innovative approaches, development of partnerships and outreach.

The conference will bring together representatives of defence ministries from South East Europe, international organizations, civil society and public service media.

This is the third in a series of conferences dedicated to the interaction between public service media and security institutions in South East Europe, with a purpose to deepen the dialogue between governments and media. The first event was held in Zagreb in November 2011, followed by an event in Pula, in May 2012.

Journalists are invited to the opening of the conference on Monday, 27 May 2013, at 9.15 a.m., at ‘Dom na ARM’ (Army Hall), Makedonija street 12, Skopje.

RACVIAC news release following conclusion of the conference.