Minister Grabar-Kitarović chaired informal meeting of SEECP foreign ministers

The meeting was dedicated to the situation and progress of South Eastern Europe in relation to the Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as the strengthening of the European perspective of South Eastern Europe. The ministers expressed their support for the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the SEECP members, stressing their importance as an inevitable framework for ensuring stability, security, and wellbeing in this part of Europe. They also reviewed the situation in the region in view of the final negotiation on the status of Kosovo, pointing out that it is in the joint interest of SEE countries that this important issue be solved in the interest of the people and contribute to the stability of SEE. The participant expressed their support in that regard for the efforts of the international community, namely the EU and the Contact Group, pointing out the importance of the implementation of the standards and human rights.

The ministers welcomed the results of the NATO Summit held in Riga 28 and 29 November 2006, as an incentive for the continuation of the reform processes with the aim of strengthening the security dimension of South Eastern Europe.

The ministers also discussed the further strengthening of SEECP as an authentic voice of the region and the continuation of the co-operation between SEECP, the Stability Pact and the European Commission, in view of the transformation of the SEE regional co-operation, with the aim of strengthening the regional ownership over that co-operation.

In her presentation, Minister Grabar-Kitarović announced that, as a part of its SEECP presidency, Croatia will organise meetings of ministers of foreign affairs, economy, justice, home affairs and education, as well as a regional conference on energy supplies. Croatia’s SEECP presidency will end with a meeting of heads of state and government May 2007.