OSCE-supported Security Policy Course concludes in Sarajevo

The annual Security Policy Course, which gathered 30 officials from governmental institutions, police, armed forces, parliaments and representatives of civil society and academia in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), concluded on 14 December 2017 in Sarajevo. The course was organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in co-operation with the Council of Ministers’ Inter-Ministerial Working Group for BiH Security Policy Implementation.

Over the course of two weeks, the participants updated their knowledge on security policies in line with the current developments in this field. They also gained practical insight into the work of the institutions in charge of adopting and implementing the country’s security policy.

“This course, which began in 2007, has evolved into a permanent security policy training programme,” said Joeri Maas, Head of the Policy and Planning Section at the OSCE Mission to BiH. “Courses such as this one are extremely valuable, as they help establish necessary contacts across ministerial, institutional, and governmental lines. They serve as a means to help co-ordinate and enhance collective efforts to develop the practical application of the country’s security policy.”

Mijo Kresic, Deputy Minister of Security and President of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group said: “The course recognizes that the government itself cannot be the sole stakeholder in maintaining security, and it builds on the idea that modern security requires co-ordination and co-operation among a wide variety of governmental and non-governmental institutions and agencies, as well as the private sector.”

Mihajlo Vujovic, Colonel in the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a lecturer during the course, emphasized that for the purpose of integrative action against security threats, security institutions and agencies at all levels must share information about each other’s capabilities and exchange experiences. “This course is an excellent opportunity to achieve all that is needed to increase the capacity of the country in this field. The Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina fully supports this course and is looking forward to sharing experiences with colleagues from other ministries and security agencies, all with the aim of realizing long-lasting safety and security for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”