Croatia took over chairmanship of the SEECP at a summit in Salonika in 2006, and is now to be succeeded by Bulgaria.
Minister Grabar Kitarovic said the Zagreb meeting was a continuation of a lasting dialogue between the member-states on relevant issues.
The Zagreb conference is to discuss the situation in the region, the progress of Southeast European countries towards Euro-Atlantic institutions, and the strengthening of the SEECP as an authentic voice of Southeast Europe, as well as decide on a seat for a Council for Regional Cooperation and appoint its secretary-general. Sarajevo is being mentioned as the possible seat of the Council, and Hidajet Biscevic, state secretary at the Croatian foreign ministry, is being mentioned as its possible secretary-general.
A decision on these issues is to be confirmed on Friday by the heads of state and government of the SEECP countries. The conference is also to be attended by the EU chair and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, and US Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns.
Most of the attending countries will be represented by their foreign ministers, while Serbia will be represented by Radojko Bogojevic, assistant foreign minister in charge of bilateral relations. The conference will also be attended by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, Erhard Busek, and representatives of the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the UN Mission in Kosovo.
The SEECP was established at a 1996 meeting chaired by Bulgaria, when foundations were laid for regional cooperation with the aim of creating a climate of trust, good neighbourliness and stability.
The SEECP consists of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, and Montenegro, which is to join the association today.