ZAGREB ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - The first preparatory meeting for organising a summit of EU countries and those covered by the Association and Stabilisation Process (SAP), scheduled to take place in Salonika on June 20, took place in
Zagreb on Friday, the Croatian foreign ministry reported.
ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - The first preparatory meeting for
organising a summit of EU countries and those covered by the
Association and Stabilisation Process (SAP), scheduled to take
place in Salonika on June 20, took place in Zagreb on Friday, the
Croatian foreign ministry reported. #L#
The meeting, organised by the ministry, was attended by senior
officials of the EU Troika -- Greece, Italy, the European
Commission, and the Council's main secretariat -- and Albania,
Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia as the host.
Speaking about Croatia's expectations with regard to the Salonika
summit, Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic said at the meeting
that thanks to Greece and the coming Italian EU presidency,
countries in the SAP had been placed on the top of the agenda of EU
activities.
All participants voiced their commitment to regional cooperation
which contributes to a long-lasting peace and stability in
Southeast Europe.
Participants from countries in the SAP confirmed that their
countries were prepared to continue carrying out reforms necessary
for strengthening ties with the EU.
They also discussed the idea of regular summits of EU and SAP
countries which started with the Zagreb Summit on November 24,
2002, and continue with the Salonika Summit.
In line with a suggestion put forward by Greece, the participants
agreed to continue consultations on the summit, first in Italy,
which offered to host the next preparatory meeting, and finally in
Greece, ahead of the summit, the ministry said.
(hina) lml sb