LJUBLJANA, Oct 22 (Hina) - The relationship between the European Union, after it admits ten new members next year, and South-East European countries, was the main topic at the opening of a traditional regional conference in Bled,
Slovenia, on Wednesday. The conference, which is held every autumn, was opened by Slovene President Janez Drnovsek and Czech President Vaclav Klaus.
LJUBLJANA, Oct 22 (Hina) - The relationship between the European
Union, after it admits ten new members next year, and South-East
European countries, was the main topic at the opening of a
traditional regional conference in Bled, Slovenia, on Wednesday.
The conference, which is held every autumn, was opened by Slovene
President Janez Drnovsek and Czech President Vaclav Klaus. #L#
"Slovenia wants to see countries of the Western Balkans join the EU
sooner or later and it does not want communication (with them) to
cease, but wants the region to consolidate in terms of politics and
economy," Drnovsek said, adding that his country wanted to be a
bridge to South-East Europe.
Branko Lukovac, minister in charge of economic relations in the
government of Serbia-Montenegro, pointed to the importance of the
Stability Pact for South-East Europe and called for new mechanisms
to be indtroduced to speed up the region's integration into the EU.
Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Petar Gosev spoke about the
importance of regional cooperation, especially in border control,
and the strengthening of the rule of law, and called for signing
free trade agreements to facilitate investment.
On the first day of the conference, participants were also
addressed by Stability Pact coordinator Erhard Busek, who warned
about the still present problems of crime and corruption and called
on countries in the region to rely more on their own resources.
It is very important that decisions on the Balkans, after being made
outside the region for two centuries, be left to Balkan countries,
said Busek, pointing to the need for international agencies to
continue providing assistance and preventing the emigration of
educated labour to western countries.
The conference will resume on Thursday with a series of meetings.
Croatia is represented at the conference by Deputy European
Integration Minister Orsat Miljenic, who is expected to meet the
Slovene minister in charge of European affairs, Janez Potocnik.
(hina) rml