bilten slovenska vojske.indd - Slovenska vojska

VARNOST JUGOVZHODNE EVROPE: TERORIZEM V KONTEKSTUto be trained and educated abroad in institutions over which the state has nocontrol.Since organized criminality and terrorism transcend borders, neither canbe effectively countered with exclusively national strategies. Despite theparticipation of southeastern states in anti-crime/anti-trafficking conventions,regional cooperation has been minimal. While criminals have transcended ethnicdifferences, states have not. The wars of Yugoslav succession have left lastingscars and persistent resentments that will take a very long time to dissipate.Serbia remains unreconciled to the loss of Kosovo. The Bosnian Federation isa country in name only. While none of its three ethnic groups wishes to returnto the violence of the 1990s, neither do they accept the authority of Sarajevo.Bosnian Serbs in the semi-autonomous Republika Serbska look to Belgradefor leadership and would join Serbia proper if given the chance. The Croats ofwestern Herzegovina continue to fly Croat flags and would join Croatia if allowedto do so. Some Kosovars may desire a greater Albania, but most Albanians do not.Macedonia contains a Slav majority and an Albanian minority uneasily coexisting.Despite these impediments, there are powerful incentives to cooperation.Virtually all nations in the region have either joined NATO and the EU orstrongly desire to do so. Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria are members of bothorganizations. Croatia, Macedonia and Albania are on track to join. Serbiaremains divided between those seeking EU membership and closer ties withthe West, and those desiring closer ties with Moscow. However, the extraditionof Radovan Karadzic to The Hague strongly suggests that the Europhilesare winning that debate. Both NATO and the EU have strict guidelines formembership, including adherence to human rights (which includes combatinghuman trafficking) and improved border security. With membership comesgreater resources in both the economic and security sectors. The U.S. andits allies have already poured millions of dollars into the region, much of itsecurity sector assistance.CONCLUSIONSouth Eastern Europe is a region in rapid transition. Its newly created statesface a broad range of challenges. As the threat of conventional war has receded,unconventional threats have increased. Meeting these threats requires accuratethreat assessment, good strategic thinking and effective implementation.Regional and international cooperation are critical. Criminals and terrorists34