RACVIAC

Happy #RepublicDay to Türkiye! We are grateful for Türkiye's unwavering #support as a key Member of RACVIAC since its founding. Today, we celebrate the historic moment of 29 October 1923 when Türkiye embarked on its journey as a republic, embracing values of freedom, progress, and national pride.

The "Arms Control Symposium" was successfully concluded today at RACVIAC. Held from 22nd to 23rd October 2024 the Symposium brought together experts, delegates, and participants from 15 different countries to discuss critical issues surrounding arms control and disarmament in today's global #security environment. 🔶 Organized with the support of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Croatia the event featured high-level presentations by renowned experts and subject matter specialists. 🔶The participants had the opportunity to engage in key topics such as the Vienna Document, the Open Skies Treaty, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and global compliance with the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions. 🔶Following the conclusion of the event the participants were awarded certificates in recognition of their active engagement in this essential area of #security #cooperation. https://shorturl.at/0MAwU

RACVIAC-Centre for Security Cooperation inaugurated its annual “Arms Control Symposium” in Rakitje on 22 October 2024. ➡ Launched 16 years ago, this flagship event of Cooperative Security Environment Pillar continues to serve as a key regional platform for discussions on Arms Control, with participation of RACVIAC Members in South East Europe and beyond. ➡Ambassador Grigorie emphasized that the symposium would not have been possible without the financial #support of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Croatia. ➡He also expressed gratitude to the distinguished speakers from different ministries, organizations, and institutions. ➡Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of keeping the spirit of arms control alive, in this critical period faced by arms control regimes, underscoring that it is a vital component for transparency, peace, and stability in the region. He affirmed RACVIAC continued commitment to this cause through various activities, including courses on the Vienna Document and Open Skies, as well as hosting the symposium as a platform for #dialogue and knowledge-sharing. _________________________________________________

On October 20, 2024, RACVIAC-Centre for Security Cooperation celebrates its 2️⃣ 4️⃣th #anniversary! 🔷 Over the past 24 years RACVIAC has remained a vital platform for promoting #peace, #stability, and #cooperation across South East Europe. Through countless conferences, workshops, courses, and exercises it has fostered dialogue, mutual understanding, and collaboration among the region’s nations. 🔷RACVIAC is honoured to contribute to the shared goal of building a safer and more secure future for all. This anniversary offers a moment to reflect on the remarkable progress and achievements it has made but also to provide impetus for shaping new initiatives to accomplish its mission during these challenging years. 🔷We also extend our deepest gratitude to our Members, Associate Members, Observers, and partners for their continuous support, trust, and collaboration throughout the past 24 years. Your contributions have been pivotal in enabling us to tackle a wide array of security challenges, and we look forward to continuing our shared work together. 🔷A heartfelt thank you goes out also to the experts and participants who have been an integral part of implementing our programme of activities. Your knowledge and active participation allow us to succeed in our mission. #InTheRegionForTheRegion

Our New #RACVIAC Newsletter is Out Now! Explore the latest updates on regional security and cooperation, meetings & visits, and much more. https://shorturl.at/j7ZYv #Security #Cooperation #Newsletter #Updates #StayInformed

On Thursday, October 17, 2024, H.E. Ambassador Constantin-Mihail Grigorie, RACVIAC Director received the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Hayriye Nurdan Erpulat Altuntaş, on her inaugural visit. 🔹Ambassador Grigorie seized the occasion to thank the Republic of Türkiye for its unwavering #support over the previous 24 years. 🔹Ambassador Grigorie expressed #gratitude to the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Türkiye for providing RACVIAC with top-tier permanent position officers in RACVIAC, that of CSE Pillar Programme Manager, which is currently being filled by COL Kayhan Turhan. 🔹The Turkish Ambassador confirmed that her country will continue contributing to RACVIAC #mission of fostering #dialogue in the region. 🔹H.E. Ambassador Altuntaş and H.E. Ambassador Grigorie both expressed their commitment to continue expanding the already very fruitful cooperation between RACVIAC and Türkiye on areas and topics mutually beneficial for all RACVIAC Members with the aim of promoting #security cooperation and #dialogue in the region. More on this: https://shorturl.at/S7Cq6

The 52nd Meeting of the Multinational Advisory Group (MAG) took place on 15th October 2024 in RACVIAC-Centre for Security Cooperation in Croatia. The Meeting was organized under the chairmanship of the Republic of Türkiye and was chaired by Ambassador İlhan Saygılı, MAG Chairperson, Director General for the Balkans and Central Europe in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye. It was marked by fruitful discussions on the Centre's progress, future objectives, and the #security challenges currently facing South-Eastern Europe. After the Opening and Adoption of the Agenda, RACVIAC Director H.E. Ambassador Constantin – Mihail Grigorie gave a reflection on the Director’s Interim Report which provided MAG participants with relevant information and highlight RACVIAC achievements during the reported period.... Further details: https://shorturl.at/9VNGR

The 2-week "Gender Training of the Trainers Course" (GToT) commenced in Tunis, Tunisia, on 14th October 2024 and will take place until 24th October 2024. ▶This important event is a direct outcome of RACVIAC ongoing #cooperation with NATO and the Tunisian Ministry of National Defence, marking a crucial step towards the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda within the Tunisian Armed Forces (TAF) through the Defence Capacity Building project. ▶On behalf of RACVIAC Director, H.E. Ambassador Constantin-Mihail Grigorie, Igor Gabrić emphasized in the Course Opening statement the critical role of #gender mainstreaming in #security and defense. The Director's message underscored that gender equality is not merely an aspiration but a fundamental right and an essential factor when ensuring sustainable #peace and #security, one of key prerequisites for social justice and economic development. ▶The Course prepares future gender instructors to ensure that challenges in the WPS agenda are met with more knowledge, commitment and actionable solutions. More on this: https://shorturl.at/zwBkz

RACVIAC-Centre for Security Cooperation successfully wrapped up a three-day workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), conducted in collaboration with the University of Split – Department of Forensic Sciences, and the Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre (E-ARC) from Romania. The event, held from 8th to 10th October, gathered a diverse group of experts and officials from South East European nations to explore the legal, ethical, and technological dimensions of AI and LAWS. The Workshop participants received certificates recognizing their engagement in this crucial area of security #cooperation, reinforcing RACVIAC dedication to enhancing regional stability through ongoing #dialogue and #collaboration. https://shorturl.at/D9eY0

On 10th October 2024, Colonel Xuefeng Pan, Defence Attaché of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Croatia, visited RACVIAC. His host was Rear Admiral Predrag Stipanović, Deputy Director of RACVIAC. During the visit, RADM Stipanović informed COL Xuefeng Pan on RACVIAC mission, history and the Organization’s activities and Programme that fosters #dialogue and #cooperation on #security matters in South East Europe. COL Pan thanked RADM Stipanović for the welcome and informative briefings and praised the influence that RACVIAC has on promoting regional #stability and #security.