The conference was hosted by Slovene and Austrian Interior Ministers Rade Bohinc and Ernst Strasser respectively.
The event, held for the first time in a European Union country, was attended by representatives from the host countries, Italy, the Netherlands, Albania, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Greece, as well as by representatives of the Stability Pact.
Croatian authorities attach special importance to the problem of illegal migrations now that Croatia is a candidate for EU membership, Mlinaric said, adding that Croatia had good results in preventing illegal migrations, including increased and better equipped border police, efficient border control, and a number of bilateral agreements on readmission.
The fourth regional conference on illegal migrations ended with the signing of a joint statement. Previously, ministers from 14 European countries discussed the prevention of illegal migrations and trade in humans, hazardous materials, arms and drugs via the so-called Balkan route, and cooperation among security organs as part of efforts to adjust relevant legislation to EU standards.
Slovene Interior Minister Bohinc said that the regional approach to illegal migrations and transborder crime had already yielded results as well as that it would continue.
Bosnian Deputy Security Minister Dragan Mektic said that his country had an efficient legal framework preventing entry of people from countries judged as risky.
Asked how Serbia intended to reduce the number of illegal migrants from its territory, in light of data showing that the largest number of illegal migrants in Slovenia come from Serbia and Montenegro, Serbian Interior Minister Dragan Jocic said he did not have the said data and that Serbia was mostly a transit country for illegal migrants.
"Police are taking over border control from the army in Serbia and this has already been done in Montenegro," Jocic said, adding that border demilitarisation required significant financial assets.
The Greek representative spoke about his country's broad experience in fighting illegal migrations, especially with regard to the establishment of a security body controlling the land border. Asked whether it was possible for terrorists to reach Europe via Greece, he said that there had not been any cases of terrorists from the Middle East or some other terrorism-burdened countries entering Greece, while local terrorism had been fully eradicated in recent years.
The joint statement, signed at the conference, reads that conferences of this kind have already given results and that joint responsibility and interest in security risks was of crucial importance for the development of South-East Europe.
Regional forms of security cooperation among countries and the adoption of European legislation regulating visa policies and illegal migrations is important for development and security in South-East Europe, as well as in the entire Europe, it was said at the conference.
The conference positively assessed the establishment of contact points with regard to police cooperation and other forms of cooperation, such as joint police patrols.
With regard to the problem of asylum-seekers, it was stressed that one should act preventively as well as accelerate readmission procedures.
The statement also points to the need to respect asylum-seekers' human rights, as well as to the fact that asylum requests are often misused.
According to a press release issued by the Croatian Interior Ministry, during the conference the Croatian delegation met Austrian Interior Minister Strasser, with whom they discussed the upcoming visit of a Croatian delegation to Vienna and cooperation between the countries' police forces.
It also met Dutch Ambassador Jan Henneman, who inquired about the adjustment of Croatian police to European standards, and Montenegrin Interior Minister Dragan Djurovic, who advocated closer cooperation between the countries' police forces and proposed holding a meeting at the highest level soon.
The Croatian delegation also held a meeting with Slovene Interior Minister Bohinc with whom they discussed cooperation, particularly in light of the latest politicising of the border line in Piran Bay, the ministry said.