Over the past year there has been progress in cooperation among the countries of the region and strengthening the regional stability, it has been assessed at the summit of the South East Europe Cooperation Process, held in Belgrade. The joint declaration has not been adopted at the gathering, due to the disagreement of the Albanian delegation, regarding part of the proposed text. The report of Suzana Mitic.
During the summit, the joint striving has been underlined among the member-stated to deepen the cooperation. The participants have also expressed pleasure with the achieved progress of the west Balkan countries in the process of European integrations, as well as the expectation that it will be intensified. All countries of the region, as pointed, are sharing the joint values of democracy, rule of the law and respect of human rights. “We have stressed the resoluteness to continue following that path in the forthcoming period as well”, stated Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, in his address to the press conference after the end of the summit.
“The South East Europe Cooperation Process has grown into an important forum for debating and solving most important issues in this region. Our priorities will be to take the full responsibility and strive for establishing even stronger cooperation, particularly in the domain of energy supply, free trade, transport and communications, along with battle against the organized crime”, emphasized Nikolic.
Answering the journalists’ questions, he has repeated the readiness to continue cooperating with all countries of the region, and to have talks with the Croatian President and the President of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency. Nikolic has expressed regret over the fact that the final declaration of the gathering has not been adopted, although all participants, except Albania, had agreed with the proposed text. Namely, the Albanian delegation tried to open a new chapter within the organization, asking that Pristina administration be represented at the gathering, but in a way that has not been agreed upon so far, and which is unacceptable for Serbia, explained Nikolic.
Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic has agreed with the joint assessment that the summit was successful. “We have to work with each other, the value of our communication is a recommendation for wider integrations, and our actions within the region guarantee that each country will realize all the values we promote”, pointed Vujanovic.
Djordje Ivanovic, the president of Macedonia, which has taken over the chairing of the South East Europe Cooperation Process, has emphasized that some of the priorities in the close future will be climate changes and joint actions and assistance in natural disasters. It is important to talk openly on all problems, abandon some prejudice and find solutions for problems in the region, underlined Ivanov.
The summit has confirmed the appointment of Goran Svilanovic as the new secretary general of the Regional Council for Cooperation.