REGIONAL DEFENCE MINISTERS TO MEET IN SARAJEVO ON APRIL 15

SARAJEVO, April 7 (Hina) - Defence ministers of southeastern European countries meet in Sarajevo on April 15 to discuss cooperation and efforts to strengthen peace and stability in the region, Bosnian Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic announced on Wednesday.#L# Radovanovic told reporters in Sarajevo that this would be the first such meeting to take place in his country and that it would be held as part of the Southeastern Europe Cooperation Process, which is currently presided over by Bosnia-Herzegovina. "Our aim is to work together on stabilising the peace and democracy," Radovanovic said, adding that defence ministers would also discuss concrete forms of cooperation, including the training of professional soldiers and assistance in integrating the entire region into the European Union and NATO. Along with Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania as full NATO members, the meeting will be attended by representatives of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, which have taken the important steps towards membership in the alliance, and Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia-Montenegro, which are yet to qualify for the Partnership for Peace programme. Radovanovic said that the meeting would also be attended by representatives of NATO, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union and the Stability Pact. A special declaration on mutual cooperation is expected to be adopted at the meeting. (Hina) vm