NATO
Information
Seminar

Sarajevo,
2-3 July 1998

"Transformation of the Security Sector"

Chris Donnelly

Special Adviser For Central & Eastern European Affairs

  1. Defence transformation - civil-military/democratic control/military reform.

  2. There is a direct parallel in other security institutions:

    • Police;
    • Gendarmerie;
    • Border Guards;
    • Customs;
    • Interior Ministry functions (passports, travel, etc.).

  3. New threats to security.

    As war recedes and BiH becomes more normal, and as the army and military situation stabilizes, and as BiH moves towards integrating into European institutions, non-military security issues will become more important.

    Also:

    What are these issues and what is the nature of the problem?

    • Once there is confidence in a stable situation and fear of neighbouring armies recedes, it is desirable to reduce military expenditure to a minimum necessary to ensure security so as to leave more for national reconstruction.

    • As peace and economic reforms advance, people (politicians and voters) will have to face the very difficult task of living in a new environment.

      In the Former Soviet Union personal and commercial interests have replaced state interests and ideology as motivators. This will happen in BiH too.

    • But 'business' is 'jungle capitalism', with lots of negative side effects.

      Russia is the power house of big business in Central and Eastern Europe.

      Business is becoming a tool of influence.

      Organized crime from Russia and other FSU countries is penetrating Central Europe and will infect BiH as normality returns.

    Ministry of Interior

    Interior Ministries - need to reform from old Soviet-type - need new mentality - key contacts with the population. They are becoming the most important ministries for popular sense of security. Not MoDs.

    Ministries of Interior, deal with:

    • Emergency services;
    • Border Guards;
    • Customs and immigration;
    • Internal forces;
    • Police;
    • Security (or Intelligence) services;
    • Popular control.

    How to exercise democratic control over these?

    Reforms difficult because, unlike military, these institutions cannot stop and reform because of their functions.

    Ministry of Interior - access of information on politicians - used for blackmail.

    No Police = crime; organized crime; money crimes; and governmental corruption.

What is Needed?

  1. Political will.

  2. A strategy.

  3. Help.

  1. Political Will

    2. And public information and support.

    Education programme - public - parliament - journalists.

  2. Strategy

    3. Police(a) reform
    Judiciary(b)anti-corruption
    Public administration

  3. Help

    4. Finance (EU).

    Expertise - NATO members.

    Models:

    • Spanish Civil Guard - Police Force;
    • Carabinieri - organized crime;
    • Corruption - several models;
    • BGS - Border service;
    • Training civil services - UK/NL.

    For example, Civil Guard:

    • Work with civil urban Police;
    • Militarized;
    • Democratic control - civilians;
    • Central control - local decentralized duties;
    • Integration into the community;
    • Social support;
    • Good public image, etc.
    • Experience of transformation;
    • Experience of training others.

    Anti-corruption programme/organized crime:

    • Regional;
    • Reduce to acceptable level;
    • No retrospective action;
    • Change society attitudes;

    Essential for European integration.

    • Evaluate problems;
    • Establish principles;
    • Study experience and models;
    • Create strategy;
    • Set up team;
    • Education;
    • Legislation;
    • Training:
    • Civil Service;
    • Judiciary;
    • Police.

    Relevance to all programmes - EU/bilateral/NATO.

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