IFIMES organizes round table on the topic "Arms race in the Balkans"

The International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) as part of the cycle „Western Balkans and EU“ is organizing a round table on the topic "Arms race in the Balkans?" which will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 4:00 PM at the hotel "Lev", 13th floor, Grad hall, Vošnjakova 1, Ljubljana, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

Announcements by Croatia and Serbia about arming with modern missile systems, i.e., with ballistic missiles, resonate strongly in the Western Balkan region. The region is an ideal ground for confrontation between great powers. It is no secret that behind the announced armament of Croatia and Serbia stand the USA and Russia. In addition to political tensions, a faltering economy and enormous unemployment, as well as the intensification of the refugee/migrant crisis, the announcements of armament by certain states are awakening fear in the region. This is especially because, with the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, the states in the region committed themselves not to participate in an arms race and limited the number of military personnel, which are regularly controlled by representatives of the signatory states of the Dayton Agreement. The question justifiably arises: does the region face new conflicts in the future?

These and other issues will be discussed at the round table by:

- Dr. Igor Šoltes, Slovenian member of the European Parliament (Greens/European Free Alliance group) and Vice-President of the Delegation to the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee

- Dr. Klemen Grošelj, expert in the field of defense and geopolitics

- Dr. Uroš Svete, professor of defense sciences at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana

The round table will be moderated by Dr. Zijad Bećirović.

Live stream at the link: http://www.ifimes.org/en/livestream