BUDAPEST, March 18 (Hina) - Countries neighbouring the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) agree to support democratic process in the FRY in the interest of peace and stability in Southeast Europe, Croatian Premier Ivica Racan said
in Budapest on Saturday. Racan is attending a two-day conference gathering government heads of FRY neighbours. The conference closes today.
BUDAPEST, March 18 (Hina) - Countries neighbouring the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) agree to support democratic process in
the FRY in the interest of peace and stability in Southeast Europe,
Croatian Premier Ivica Racan said in Budapest on Saturday.
Racan is attending a two-day conference gathering government heads
of FRY neighbours. The conference closes today.#L#
The premiers of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania,
and the president of Bosnia-Herzegovina's federation have been
discussing the democratisation of Serbia, the situation in Kosovo
and Bosnia-Herzegovina, reforms in Montenegro, the implementation
of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, and the re-introduction
of navigation on the Danube.
Premier Racan told reporters the participants in the conference
were discussing what to do to strengthen the region's peace and
stability which, he said, "are permanently endangered by (FRY
President, Slobodan) Milosevic's regime and his policy."
"Very important in that respect is the position of all participants
that what we do in our own countries is important as a prospect being
offered the Serb people against Milosevic's regime," the Croatian
premier asserted.
"Also important is the position to help Montenegro's
democratically elected government in various ways," he added.
Racan said the participants in the conference agreed that at this
moment, no definitive decisions should be made in connection with
the status of Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo.
"The position that I personally also have supported is that
democratic authorities, once elected in Serbia and Kosovo, and in
Montenegro as well, must take a position on the matter," Racan
said.
"Without these democratic authorities and democratic forces in
those countries, it is difficult to talk about resolving status
matters," he added.
NATO Secretary-General George Robertson addressed the Budapest
conference yesterday, while the European Union's high
representative for foreign affairs and security, Javier Solana, is
participating today.
Also attending are Stability Pact for Southeast Europe special
coordinator Bodo Hombach, and the president of the Danube
Commission, Helmut Strassert.
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