Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe - Potential, Problems, and Perspective

摘要

As a consequence of the Kosovo war in 1999, the international community, and in particular the European Union, placed greater emphasis on conflict prevention, finally realizing that allowing crises to explode in the Balkans is more costly than taking initiatives for the construction of long-term peace and stability. In the immediate aftermath of the cessation of hostilities, the countries of the region and the international community have committed themselves to making a long-term effort in this direction. The new approach is elaborated in the 'Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe', which resembled the Helsinki Process in that democratization, human rights, economic development, and security are essential constituents of stability. The thesis analyzes this conceptual political novelty, connecting comprehensively post-war reconstruction, regional cooperation and a long-term perspective of accession to the Euro-Atlantic institutions for the region. The thesis assesses the Pact's chances for success by focusing on its potential, problems, and perspectives.