Fwd: OSI: East East Program subprogram for South East Europe

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Subject: Fwd: OSI: East East Program subprogram for South East Europe

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Original sender: Greek Helsinki Monitor <[email protected]>

Fwd: OSI: East East Program subprogram for South East Europe


East East Program subprogram for South East Europe
 
The Open Society Institute is pleased to announce a new subprogram of
the East East Program. The subprogram will promote cooperation among
individuals and organizations in the countries of South Eastern
Europe, including Greece and Turkey.
 
The subprogram will seek to discover and inspire the new vision and
energy required to address the political, economic and social crises
that plague the Balkan region. It will work for stability, security
and democracy across the region. It will promote integration across
national boundaries and across ethnic, religious and other divides.
Rapid response and flexibility will be among the subprogram's
operational priorities.
 
The subprogram was created in response to the current crisis in Kosovo
and the general instability of the region. It will allow the Soros
foundations network to help catalyse local responses to the urgent
need for reconstruction. In additional to Soros-supported foundations,
other groups with productive ideas and sharp vision will be invited to
participate, particularly those that already operate across the
region.
 
Subprogram activities will be overseen by a steering committee chaired
by Rastko Mocnik, president of the Open Society Institute of Slovenia,
and consisting of Ylber Hysa, chairman of Kosovo active civic
initiative and former editor of Koha, from Kosovo; Fatos Lubonja,
writer and freelance journalist, former secretay general of the
Helsinki Committee Albania; Ognyan Minchev, director of Institute for
regional and international studies of Bulgaria; Ivan Vejvoda,
executive director of the Fund for an Open Society Yugoslavia; and
from Greek - TBA. Under the direction of East East Program Director
Mary Frances Lindstrom, the subprogram will be managed by Neli Dimc
from the offices of the Open Society Institute-Slovenia in Ljubljana.
 
Guidelines
 
Projects should respond to current circumstances in the region and be
designed to promote cooperation over the long term. Among other
issues, the subprogram will address:
 
The social and psychological consequences of the war * Hatred, fear
and resentment are pervasive in the countries of the region directly
affected by the war, and may spread across the region. Thousands of
displaced persons have altered the ethnic make-up of villages, cities
and countries and sparked new social crises. Because the displaced are
frequently disenfranchised and sometimes stateless, their needs are
not adequately addressed by any state in the region.
 
The Weak State, Alienated from the Public * Administrative reform is
needed throughout the Balkan region, where citizen-friendly government
is not even recognised as a desirable goal. In many countries,
civilians lack control over the coercive forces of the state:
military, police and security services. As a result of the weakness of
State institutions, corruption, smuggling, trafficking in drugs,
women, weapons and refugees is rampant. Most government agencies,
including the police, the judiciary and customs officials need
professional training. Some would benefit from increased cross-border
contact. Civil society is also in decline and needs support, so that
the pulic can interact effectively with government and feel invested
in government actions.
 
Ethnic Conflict * Peace has been imposed by force but has neither
eased ethnic tensions nor confronted their origins. Ethnic
communities, governments and individuals must be empowered to confront
ethnic issues in order to ensure the viability of multi-ethnic States.
For example, Roma are in a desperate situation across the region yet
the issue receives little attention. The complexity of these issues
demands a regional perspective that looks beyond local obstacles and
politics to examine ethnic tensions in a wider context.
 
The lack of developed private sector and an engaged corporate
community * If the Balkans are to develop economically, the region
must establish ethical standards, a transparent legal and political
framework and create conditions that can attract foreign investment.
Given the size of the countries involved, in order to achieve
meaningful growth regional economic cooperation must be a priority.
 
The lack of cross-border activities and cooperation * Mobility in the
region and beyond should be enhanced. Transportation corridors,
customs, currencies and other political and economic institutions
should be integrated. Regional educational and cultural cooperation
should be promoted and educational institutions should be pressed to
develop regional and international networks and programs of
cooperation.
 
Eligibility
 
Applications for support should be submitted to the East East Program
coordinator at the national fuoundation in the relevant country.
Applications from Greece and Turkey should be sent directly to
Subprogram Coordinator Neli Dimc in Slovenia. Proposed projects should
be the work of two or more organizations from at least two countries
in the region. Proposals will be accepted from Albania,
Bosnia&Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Moldova,
Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Yugoslavia.
 
We will process initial applications within two weeks of receipt.
Proposals will be reviewed and discussed via e-mail in order to speed
the process.
 
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