SEEPC MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE STARTS IN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, June 9 (Hina) - The foreign ministers of nine Southeast European countries and Stability Pact coordinator Erhard Busek gathered in Sarajevo Monday at a day-long meeting to discuss regional cooperation issues. #L# The ministerial meeting of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEEPC) pooled the heads of diplomacy of Albania, Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina while Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Turkey, as full members of the initiative, are represented at a lower diplomatic level. Croatia has the status of an observer in the SEEPC initiative and is represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic. Opening the conference, Bosnian Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic said the event had special significance as it was being held ahead of the European Union summit in Salonika. He said this was another opportunity for Southeast European countries to analyse preparations for the Salonika summit which should strongly encourage countries in the region in drawing closer to the EU. This year the SEEPC is chaired by Bosnia-Herzergovina, which intends to pay special attention to combating organised crime in the region. Ivanic said the problem would be discussed in Sarajevo on June 18 and 19, at a meeting of interior ministers from Southeast Europe. Today's meeting should end with the adoption of a joint declaration which will define the priorities of cooperation in the region. (hina) it