Belgrade – Amer Kapetanović, Head of the Political Department at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), and Agron Sojati, Head of the Integrative Internal Security Governance (IISG), met with State Secretary at the Ministry of Interior of Serbia Danilo Stevandić to discuss regional security cooperation and the further development of the IISG framework.

The meeting highlighted Serbia’s important role in IISG and other regional security cooperation platforms, as well as its contribution to strengthening stability and security across the Western Balkans Six. The interlocutors reviewed progress achieved through IISG and acknowledged Serbia’s continued engagement in and support for regional security cooperation.

State Secretary Stevandić reaffirmed Serbia’s commitment to European Union (EU) integration, regional cooperation and joint efforts to address terrorism, organised crime and other shared security challenges.

As part of the visit, Sojati also met with representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia to discuss opportunities for strengthening cooperation in regional security, improving donor coordination and further developing joint mechanisms supporting security governance across the Western Balkans Six.

The meeting brought together Silvija Panović-Đurić and Dario Di Benedetto from the EU Delegation to Serbia, as well as Bogdan Živaljević, Liaison Officer for Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro at the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex).

Discussions focused on the role of the IISG Database as a regional tool for mapping security needs and responses, increasing the visibility of ongoing initiatives and supporting more effective coordination among institutions, donors and implementing partners.

In a separate meeting, Sojati met with Bojana Balon, Head of the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the RCC.

The two discussed opportunities for closer collaboration, while Sojati presented recent developments within IISG, including progress in mapping regional security needs and responses and further advancing the IISG Database.

Sojati emphasised the importance of sustained cooperation among IISG participants, regional organisations, donors and other partners in addressing shared security challenges and strengthening security cooperation across the region.