Strategies to link security and development were the focus of the first official panel of this year’s Croatia Forum, moderated by Chairman of OECD Development Assistance Committee Erik Solheim. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu underlined Turkey’s contribution to development assistance through cooperation within G20.
The world today is facing the largest number of challenges since WW2, said Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wällstrom, underscoring the importance of integrated reform politics that combine local and global solutions. There are as many as 40 armed conflicts going on right now, whose victims require all-encompassing and transparent aid from the donors lasting seven to 17 years, said Wällstrom. This task is not being adequately performed, she said, adding that one of the ways to make a progress was to include women in the development process by defending their rights.
Portuguese Foreign Minister Rui Machete said that the precondition for development was institution building, without which security is impossible. For Portugal, this includes applying the rule of law to African armies and a comprehensive approach to the development of civil society.
The jarring between Europe and the developing countries is happening right on the borders of central Europe, said Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó, adding that aid to developing countries had to hinge on target-specific financial programming which would reduce the influx of immigrants, which is a challenge Hungary is faced with presently. As evidenced by the Paris and Copenhagen terrorist attacks, instability in Europe’s neighbourhood directly impacts the security of Europe’s citizens, which is why Europe must act jointly to solve that problem, Szijjártó said.
We are marking the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica tragedy and the Balkan countries have since not made progress at desired speed, noted Bosnian FM Igor Crnadak. Despite the occasional lags, progress in the interstate relations is still noticeable, both in terms of cooperation in infrastructure and reconciliation. One of the most important tools in that regard in Southeast Europe is the Euro-Atlantic integration, thinks Montenegrin Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić. Montenegro has gone through different stages of transition, during which it was the host to a large number of refugees itself and considers linking Europe’s development assistance an important factor of political stability.
Tamar Beruchashvili, Georgian FM, warned that the European security and rule of law had been on a steady decline since the Russian-Georgian conflict of 2008. Georgia is a recipient of the EU and US donor aid, which it tries to put to use transparently, while also drawing from the European integration experience to strengthen democratic processes. Like Croatia, Georgia too is providing support to African countries and is contributing to Europe’s energy security through projects such as the Southern Corridor, Beruchashvili said, agreeing with Pusić about the importance of small donors.
Baroness Joyce Anelay, representative of the British Foreign Office, confirmed the UK’s commitment to its international responsibilities, as evidenced by its pledge to spend 2% of GDP on defence, which NATO requests from its member states. The UK pays special attention to fighting violence against women, sending financial means and human capital to conflict hotspots such as Iraq.
Moderator:
Erik Solheim, Chairman of OECD Development Assistance Committee
Panellists:
Mevlüt Çavuşoglu, Turkish Foreign Minister
Margot Wallström, Swedish Foreign Minister
Rui Machete, Portuguese Foreign Minister
Péter Szijjártó, Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister
Igor Crnadak, Bosnian Foreign Minister
Igor Lukšić, Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration
Tamar Beruchashvili, Georgian Foreign Minister
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE, Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office