Change has been one of the few constant aspects in international and security affairs in the last decade. Some changes came more or less over night and only needed little political guidance; others had to be managed more actively. Security Sector Reform
(SSR) certainly belongs to the second category of necessary but sometimes painful changes. The Swiss government supports this important aspect of a broader transformation policy towards open, democratic, free-market oriented and constitutionally guided societies. SSR not only makes the security apparatus more efficient, but also more accountable to democratic standards and rule of law. These are essential factors for stability.
Switzerland has put SSR high on its EAPC agenda and actively promotes this topic as the main Swiss contribution. The establishment of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic
Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) in 2000 has been a clear symbol of our commitment. The pooling of resources and expertise and diffusion of that expertise is an important task of DCAF. Its unique position in the ‘peace capital’ of Geneva provides for a close co-operation with other relevant actors and institutions active in the broader international security context.
This publication provides analysis of the status, success and failure of civil-military relations and SSR in the countries of Central Europe, South-Eastern Europe, and the
Black Sea region. This stock taking programme is an important step in a comprehensive reform process. It is critical to assess the current state of the security sector and to evaluate its weaknesses, strengths and requirements for change. Only by carefully examining the current state of the sector is it possible to tackle specific problems and design specific projects.
But we have to be aware that the important challenge lies in the implementation of the reform projects. This level can only be achieved if the target countries see a real need for the reforms. In that sense, concrete and flexible concepts are needed to support a

tailor-made reform of the security sector. Only a supported bottom-up approach that includes the key domestic stakeholders can bear fruit. External actors, such as international organisations, states, think-tanks and NGOs, can lend support to such an implementation process as facilitators.
Switzerland thinks that by continuing this process of active support of these transformation processes it can contribute to the further stabilisation and sustainable development of regions that are important to us.
Dr. Jean-Jacques de Dardel
Head
Centre for International Security Policy
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Switzerland