Montenegro, the West Balkans, and the Transatlantic Agenda

On November 1, 2007 CSIS hosted a conference entitled Montenegro, the West Balkans,  and Trans-Atlantic Integration, which focused on Montenegro’s political, economic, and security development now that that the country has restored its statehood.

At a time when preparations are underway for NATO’s Bucharest summit, scheduled for April 2008, the CSIS conference focused on two key issues: Montenegro’s progress toward NATO membership and the development of Montenegro’s strategic security partnership with the United States. Speakers at the conference included Ranko Krivokapic, Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro; Daniel Fata, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO policy; Chris Hoh, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State; Michael Leigh, Director General for Enlargement at the European Commission, as well as U.S. and European independent analysts.

                                                 Conference Agenda

9:00-9:15 am Welcome and Introductions
Janusz Bugajski, CSIS
H.E. Miodrag Vlahovic, Montenegrin Ambassador to the United States

9:15-9:45 am Opening Remarks
Ranko Krivokapic, Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro

9:45-10:15 am The West Balkans and the U.S. Security Agenda
Daniel Fata, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO policy
AUDIO (mp3, 00:49:32)

10:15-11:45 am Panel 1: U.S.-Montenegro Strategic Partnership
Moderator: Janusz Bugajski, CSIS
Irena Radovic, Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nathan Bein, U.S. Department of Defense
Ljubisa Perovic, Deputy Minister of Defense of Montenegro
Jeff Simon, National Defense University
Victor Jackovich, European Union's Business Advisory Council for Southeast Europe
AUDIO (mp3, 1:13:02)

11:45 am–12:15 pm – Lunch

12:15-1:15 pm Keynote Address
Christopher Hoh, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs,
U.S. Department of State
AUDIO (mp3, 00:52:43)

1:15-3:15pm Panel 2: Montenegro’s Foreign Policy and Security Agenda
Moderator: Janusz Bugajski, CSIS
Michael Leigh, Director-General for Enlargement, European Commission
Dragana Radulovic, Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dan Nelson, President of Global Concepts & Communications, Inc.
Srdjan Darmanovic, CEDEM
Ferhat Dinosa, Member of Parliament, Montenegro

3.15-3.30pm Closing Remarks
AUDIO (mp3, 01:45:57)