CEI MEMBERS SATISFIED WITH PROGRESS IN EUROPE'S INTEGRATION

TRIESTE, Nov 23 (Hina) - The prime ministers of Central European Initiative (CEI) countries are satisfied with the progress the member-states have made in integrating into European institutions, and congratulated Croatia on the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union. This conclusion is stated in the final declaration the prime ministers adopted at the end of a summit the Initiative held in Trieste, Italy on Friday. In the declaration's political section, the prime ministers state the willingness of their countries to cooperate within the global anti-terrorist coalition. The document also supports a democratic and multi-ethnic Macedonia within its state borders, and calls on Serbia and Montenegro to hold a constructive dialogue aimed at finding a mutually acceptable constitutional arrangement within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The declaration also applauds the holding of democratic elections in Kosovo last weekend. The prime ministers reaffirmed their view of regional cooperation as a mechanism aimed at reinforcing political stability, democracy, economic progress and social development in South Eastern Europe. The part of the declaration focusing on programme cooperation commends the organisation of the CEI Economic Forum in Trieste, and emphasises the Forum's role in mobilising the representatives of all economic activities. The prime ministers also applauded the holding of the first CEI Youth Forum. (hina) ha sb