NGORC: Programs > Resettlement Program

27.11.2003

On November 27-28, 2003, a delegation from Albania, including representatives of the Albanian Atlantic Association, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania visited Resource Center Foundation to exchange experience. The work visit aim was transfer of Resource Center Foundation know-how for start-up and implementation of the Program for Social Adaptation and Economic Re-integration of Redundant Military Servicemen into the Civil Society. The workshop was held in the conference hall of the Resettlement Center in Sofia. Mr. Stelian Stoichev – Executive Director of Resource Center Foundation, introduced the Resettlement Program history, methodology, structure and effectiveness, opened the workshop. Mr. Ilko Dimitrov - Deputy Minister of Defense and Admiral Peter Stranchevski – Defence Secretary to the President of Republic of Bulgaria welcomed the event. On behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Mr. Ivan Sotirov – Senior Adviser at the Cabinet of Minister and Mr. Kiril Yanchev – Referent for Albania from “Europe I” Directorate took participation in the workshop.

The Resettlement Centers Chief Coordinator Mr. Kaloyan Pargov presented the Program and shared with the guests the Foundation experience on its implementation from the beginning until now, the achieved results, the encountered difficulties and methods of overcoming them. Colonel Peter Iliev – Head of “Social Adaptation” Department at “Personnel Policy and Social Activity” Directorate in Ministry of Defence presented the collaboration between the Foundation and the Ministry concerning the Resettlement Program implementation. The Albanian partners outlined the main aspects related to the Armed Forces reform in their country and the opportunities to start-up a similar Program.

On November 28, 2003, the international participants had the opportunity to visit the Resettlement Center in Plovdiv and become acquainted with its work. The coordinators presented their daily practices, the achieved results and projects that have been realized on the territory of Central South Bulgaria. The delegation visited re-qualification course for foreign languages, where they had the opportunity to discuss the process of re-qualification with lecturers and redundant military servicemen.

This is the second regional workshop on experience exchange under the Resettlement Program, organized by Resource Center Foundation at request of government institutions and Atlantic structures from Southeastern Europe. The first one was held on October 16-17, 2003 with representatives from Serbia and Montenegro.