17 Feb 2010
The Chemical Weapons Convention Seminar started in RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation on 16 February. A four day seminar is co-organized with the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and its main goal is to promote the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention in SEE. The seminar has gathered participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Romania, and Serbia.
The representatives of these countries are senior and junior military and civilian recommendation makers who deal with CWC issues and are also responsible for escorting inspections from the OPCW Secretariat. The Seminar was opened with welcome addresses by RACVIAC Director Ambassador Nikola Todorčevski, and Deputy Director Colonel Željko Cepanec, followed by the keynote speech delivered by Mr John Freeman, Deputy Director in OPCW Technical Secretariat.
* Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name
12 Feb 2010
>On 12th February 2010 Captain Karel Heemskerk, the Defence Attaché at the Canadian Embassy to Croatia, visited RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation. The occasion for the visit to RACVIAC was the desire expressed by Captain Karel Heemskerk to make personal acquaintance with RACVIAC’s organization and to express support to efforts made by RACVIAC staff. Alongside the presentation of the current situation, organisational structure, and past achievements of RACVIAC, Captain Karel Heemskerk and his hosts engaged in a detailed discussion on RACVIAC’s Programme of Activities for 2010.
10 Feb 2010
The Seminar on Cluster Munitions started in RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation on 9 February 2010. This is the second time that RACVIAC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integrations of the Republic of Croatia jointly organize a seminar dedicated to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and the first time it is being held since the Convention was signed in Oslo on 3 December 2008 by representatives of 94 countries. Convention on Cluster Munitions is a very important achievement of the so called Oslo Process, which started in February 2007 when 46 of the 49 participating states agreed on the political commitment to establish a new, legally binding instrument prohibiting cluster munitions before the end of 2008.
This seminar is designed as a forum gathering experts from different ministries (defence, foreign affairs, interior), headquarters of Armed Forces, and various governmental and non-governmental organisations (namely: Cluster Munitions Coalition; International Committee of the Red Cross; OSCE Mission to Croatia; United Nations Mine Action Service; United Nations Development Program in Croatia; Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian De-mining; International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance; International Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims Croatia; Centre for Testing, Development and Training; Regional Center for Underwater Demining; Arbeiter Samariter Band; Aresa; Norwegian Peoples Aid; C King Associates Ltd.; Mine Aid Croatia; and several national Mine Action Centres), coming from 15 different countries (Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom).
The aim of the seminar is to provide the participants with an opportunity to actively discuss the latest developments in the process of signature and ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, as well as other related efforts towards prohibition of use, stockpiling, production and transfer of these munitions. A significant part of this year’s seminar is dedicated to support and assistance to civilian and military victims of cluster munitions use.
The Seminar, lasting until 11 February, started with the opening speech by Mr Davor Božinović, PhD, State Secretary at Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integrations, which was followed by the session moderated by Ms Dijana Pleština PhD, Senior Adviser for Mine Action within the same Ministry. Among distinguished lecturers was also Mr Pjer Šimunović, State Secretary in Croatian Ministry of Defence, who talked about the destruction of cluster munitions stockpiles.
* Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name
08 Feb 2010
Attendants of Croatian Military Diplomatic School came to “Vitez Damir Martić” Barracks on 8th February 2010 to visit RACVIAC - Centre for Security Cooperation and CAPSOC - Croatian PSO Center. The visit was organized for the new class of military diplomats attending the School, as an integral part of their curriculum. This year’s class includes 16 students coming from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*.
The visit started with RACVIAC and CAPSOC’s brief presentations of their respective missions, structures and achievements, followed by a lively questions & answers session and a subsequent open discussion during which the guests from the Diplomatic School demonstrated a great deal of interest in the two centres by giving a lot of questions and comments. At the end of the short visit everyone participating in it agreed that such encounters are extremely useful in promoting the visibility of RACVIAC and CAPSOC, and at the same time a nice opportunity for students of Croatian Military Diplomatic School to get better acquainted with these two Centres.
* Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name
27 JAN 2010
On 27th January 2010 Lieutenant Colonel Sean J. Cantrell, the Air Force Attaché at the U.S. Embassy to Croatia, visited RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation. It was his first visit to RACVIAC following his recent start to tour of duty in Croatia. The guest was welcomed by Director of RACVIAC Ambassador Nikola Todorčevski and his Deputy, Colonel Željko Cepanec.
After the reception in Director's Office, Lieutenant Colonel Sean J. Cantrell had a meeting with other senior staff members at RACVIAC, during which he was given a brief presentation on RACVIAC’s mission, annual programme of activities, and the ongoing transformation of the Centre’s structure and legal status. American Air Force Attaché showed significant interest in RACVIAC’s achievements, current activities and plans for forthcoming period, and expressed his belief in successful future cooperation between USA and RACVIAC.
12 JAN 2010
The President of the Republic of Croatia and the Commander-in-Chief of Croatian Armed Forces Mr Stjepan Mesić visited RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation on Tuesday 12th January 2010. President Mesić's delegation consisted of Mr Tomislav Jakić, Foreign Policy Advisor to the President, Ms Višnja Tafra, Defence Affairs Advisor to the President, Major General Krešimir Kašpar, Head of Military Office of the President, Lieutenant Colonel Vlado Čulina, Aide-de-Camp to the President, and Brigadier General Zvonko Peternel, Deputy Commander of Croatian Army.
Colonel Tomislav Pavičić, Commander of Military Barracks „Vitez Damir Martić“ and CAPSOC, was the first to welcome the guests, followed by RACVIAC Director Ambassador Nikola Todorčevski and Deputy Director Colonel Željko Cepanec. The occassion for this presidential visit to RACVIAC was the desire of President Mesić to make acquaintance with the new RACVIAC management, who took over their duty during 2009. In addition to that, President Stjepan Mesić wanted to reiterate his support to RACVIAC, the first international organisation of this kind based on Croatian soil.
The relationship between President Mesić and RACVIAC started with the establishment of the Centre at the begining of his first manadate in October 2000, and during past nine years President Mesić and his staff constantly provided significant support in organisation and execution of RACVIAC's activities. In the course of the visit RACVIAC management introduced the President with RACVIAC's international staff consisting of representatives of 12 nations, and provided Mr Mesić with a presentation on the current situation in RACVIAC, its process of transformation, current activities and future plans as well as on the results achieved during past nine years.
In his speech held in front of all RACVIAC staff and the representatives of media, Croatian President stressed that regional stability and cooperation are essential preconditions for the progress of not just the SEE region, but also of the whole of Europe. He emphasized that RACVIAC makes an important contribution in this regard. At the end of his visit, President Stjepan Mesić congratulated RACVIAC staff on their achievements, and wished them a lot of success in the coming period.
Video footage produced by BBL Media, MPG file 210 MB
* Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.