"We are proud to join this group because we are interested in the stability and prosperity of the region," Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said at the signing of the Charter on Good Neighbourly Relations, Stability and Cooperation in the Southeast Europe.
Regional cooperation is an important condition which countries of the region must meet in the process of drawing closer to the EU, and the SEECP is the original form of such cooperation. It was established at the initiative of Southeast European countries and not at the initiative of other international organisations or countries.
Other member countries of the SEECP, the main objectives of which are to strengthen security and political cooperation and intensify economic relations, are Greece (already an EU member), Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey (EU candidate countries) and Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro (which aspire to EU membership).
"Croatia is drawing closer to the EU," Sanader said and added that Croatia expected to launch EU entry talks after Romania completed the negotiating process with the Union.
The Croatian PM announced full cooperation so as to make progress and establish stability in the region.
"Croatia will fully cooperate so that all countries of the region could have a prosperous future. Brighter future is ahead of us," Sanader said after the signing.
The SEECP ministerial meeting will end with the adoption of a declaration. Before the ending of the Bucharest meeting, Moldova will to be given observer status in the process.