In his meeting with Marina Pendes, Ingebrigtsen discussed bilateral issues between Norway and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as regional cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration. Deputy Minister of Defence Pendes expressed satisfaction with the role Norway is playing in the Defence Reform Process in BiH. She also emphasized the important work Norway has been doing as NATO Contact point Embassy in BiH during the last four years.
“I am very pleased with the progress we have seen in Defence Reform here in Bosnia-Herzegovina”, State Secretary Ingebrigtsen said. “The joint Ministry of Defence appears as very professional and successful. I welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina into NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) and sincerely hope that the last issues concerning this membership will be solved. Norway will continue its support to BiH in these matters”, Ingebrigtsen stated.
The Norwegian State Secretary participated on the official launch of “NATO Perspektiva Programme” which was held in the Parliamentary Assembly 18 November. Together with Marina Pendes, Norwegian Ambassador Jan Braathu and US Ambassador Patrick Moon, Ingebrigtsen expressed support to the new NATO program which aims at helping approximately 3,000 discharged defence personnel to reintegrate into productive civilian life.
The NATO Perspectiva Programme is not only helping the sustainable reintegration of released personnel but will also strengthen the capacity of the MoD to deal with any process related to the resettlement of personnel. The aim of the programme is to complement structures and expertise that will allow the MoD to cope with exceptional events such as defence reform as well as the reintegration into civilian life of discharged servicemen.
Photo: Royal Norwegian Embassy, SarajevoNATO Trust Fund (NTF) for the resettlement of discharged Ministry of Defense personnel in Bosnia and Herzegovina was established within the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program. On 1 October this year, NATO HQ launched a Trust Fund for the period 2010-2012. Based upon the financial pledges of the lead nations in this project, Norway, the Netherlands and Slovenia, and other PfP countries, Sweden, Luxemburg and BiH, this Fund will amount to €3,421,658. BiH alone will participate with nearly three million KM. The project will be conducted in coordination with a bilateral agreement between IOM and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), worth $2,113,600, and with United Kingdom which will support the Fund with £100,000.
It is envisaged that a single discharged soldier will receive a maximum KM 3,000. However, this will not be a direct financial support, but rather a support in the form of expert advising, training and requalification, and procurement of tools and equipment required for employment or self-employment. International Organization for Migration (IOM) will be responsible for implementation of this project.
“The overall concept is based on the process of reintegration of discharged military personnel to civil society. We would like to see the whole community involved in the project“, said Gianluca Rocco from the International Organization for Migration.
Ambassador Braathu`s speech at the NATO Perspektiva Inauguration can be found here.