Background
In response to requests for assistance from high-ranking defense and parliamentary officials, NDI established a Security Sector Reform Program (SSRP) with a resident expert with significant experience in working with nations in transition. Since the mid-1980s, NDI has conducted programs worldwide to strengthen security sector reform and civilian oversight of security affairs. The government of Serbia and Montenegro had recognized the importance of establishing democratic control over the security sector as part of its goal of integration into the European Union and the Partnership for Peace program. The result of this request was that Jack Petri joined the NDI office in Belgrade, in November 2003, as the Program Director of the SSR program.
Program Goal
To develop a democratic Security Sector within Serbia & Montenegro; enhance the capacity for democratic oversight of Armed Forces (AF) in the Union of Serbia and Montenegro; and assist the reform efforts in the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and Armed Forces, as requested.
The primary initial focus of the SSRP is on building capacity of Members of Parliaments (MPs), particularly in Defense and Security, and Finance Committees, to effectively exercise their roles in the democratic oversight of the armed forces. The parliamentary aspect of the program will focus at the Union and Republic levels, with seminar-like sessions being conducted with MPs. Discussions will highlight such topics as the organization and function of Ministries of Defense and Armed Forces in democratic nations; associated legal frameworks that define roles, responsibilities and authorities; costs and benefits of PfP; costs of reform; and best practices regarding effective communications between parliaments and MODs/AFs. Topic related lessons learned in countries that have been most successful in their recent, and continuing, transition, will also be discussed.
In addition to the focus on parliamentary oversight, and indeed, in order for this oversight to be effective, the SSRP will work with the MOD/AF, at the request of the leadership of these agencies. The primary goal of this aspect of assistance will be to create an understanding among MOD/AF officials, of both the need and benefit of working with parliamentary oversight bodies, as an essential element of democratic governance, as well as a firm requirement for integration into both NATO and the EU. Additionally, the SSR program is prepared to assist the MOD and AF in their preparation for PfP, and to realize the objectives of their reform programs.
Support for and sustainability of security sector reform requires public involvement through nongovernmental organizations such as political parties, think tanks, universities and civic associations. NDI also supports local efforts to build and strengthen organizations that can both educate and provide an avenue for public involvement in security sector reform.
Contact Information
For more information on NDI's Serbia program, please contact Edmund Rhoads in Washington, DC at 202-728-5664 or Mary O'Hagan in Belgrade at ndibel@ndisrbija.org or ohaganm@ndi.org.
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