BUCHAREST, Feb 12 (Hina) - Romania's Foreign Minister Petre Roman on Saturday said his country was very pleased to see democratic changes in Croatia, and expressed hope that Zagreb would now direct its attention toward EuroAtlantic
integration processes. We all here are very happy because of democratic changes in Croatia which have laid foundations for the country to take part, together with us, in the process of the enlargement of the European Union, Roman told Croatian reporters in the margins of the third summit meeting of the Southeast Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP). Roman said he would like that Croatia take more active part in the Southeastern European Cooperation Initiative (SECI) as well as in the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe), the chairmanship of which will be assumed by Romania next year. The Romanian Minister, however, was more critical o
BUCHAREST, Feb 12 (Hina) - Romania's Foreign Minister Petre Roman
on Saturday said his country was very pleased to see democratic
changes in Croatia, and expressed hope that Zagreb would now direct
its attention toward EuroAtlantic integration processes.
We all here are very happy because of democratic changes in Croatia
which have laid foundations for the country to take part, together
with us, in the process of the enlargement of the European Union,
Roman told Croatian reporters in the margins of the third summit
meeting of the Southeast Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP).
Roman said he would like that Croatia take more active part in the
Southeastern European Cooperation Initiative (SECI) as well as in
the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe), the
chairmanship of which will be assumed by Romania next year.
The Romanian Minister, however, was more critical of the Stability
Pact of Southeast Europe, asserting that it was not enough
efficient.
Commenting on relations between the EU and this region, Roman said
high-ranking officials in Brussels was increasingly aware of the
importance of this region, citing an example of the European
Union's financial backing to attempts to dredge the Danube.
During Saturday's SEECP session in Bucharest six member-countries-
Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey - signed a
charter on good-neighbourly ties, stability, and cooperation in
the south-east of Europe.
The charter, viewed as a historic document, defines manners of
conduct in relations between these countries and a plan of
activities for their future cooperation.
The seventh member-country of the SEECP, the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro) was not present at the Bucharest
meeting, as other member-countries are awaiting the normalisation
of the situation in that country before its officials can
participate in SEECP sessions.
Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, both of which have observer
status, sent an Assistant to Foreign Minister, Vladimir Drobnjak,
and Foreign Minister Jadranko Prlic, respectively. .
The SEECP was established in 1996 from a one-time Balkan
initiative, and Romania is currently chairing it. Tasks of the
SEECP are to help promote good neighbourly relations, stability,
safety and cooperation in the south-east of Europe.