22 Apr. 2006

Corruption and organised crime "clear and present danger" for Balkans, seminar finds News 24/04/2006 - NATO Corruption and organised crime "Clear And Present Danger" for security in the Balkans Key links NATO Parliamentary Assembly Endemic corruption and organised crime, together with the unresolved status of Kosovo and Serbia and Montenegro, risk undermining the otherwise encouraging steps forward---most notably in defence reform---of the Western Balkans towards Euro-Atlantic integration. This was the overarching message that emerged from the 62nd Rose-Roth seminar held in Tirana, Albania, from April 22-24, jointly organised by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the NATO Public Diplomacy Division and the Atlantic Association of Albania. New security challenges Some 45 legislators from NATO and partner countries, including all Western Balkans countries, as well as members of governments, academics and civil society representatives took part in the tree-day seminar on: "The new security challenges of the Euro-Atlantic community from the point of view of the Western Balkans". The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is an inter-parliamentary organisation of legislators from NATO member countries as well as 13 associate members. Its principal objective is to foster mutual understanding among Alliance parliamentarians of the key security challenges facing the transatlantic partnership.