CEI MINISTERIAL MEETING TO TAKE PLACE IN HUNGARY ON 23-24 JUNE

ZAGREB, June 22 (Hina) - The Hungarian town of Segedin will host a two-day meeting of 16 CEI member countries' foreign ministers who will exchange their opinions on the situation in the region, particularly the state of affairs in Yugoslavia and Kosovo. The meeting will be held on Friday and Saturday in Hungary which is currently holding the chairmanship of the CEI (Central European Initiative). Foreign Ministers or their deputies of Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Macedonia, Moldavia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine, are expected to come to the session. Besides, there will be officials of international organisations that cooperate with the CEI, such as the European Commission, the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development), OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation), the Council of Europe and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). The Segedin gathering is to give new impetus to the regional co- operation as a part of European integration processes. Croatia's delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Tonino Picula. At a debate on political and economic aspects of the regional cooperation he will present basic features of Croatia's co- operation with its neighbouring countries and Zagreb's activities in regional initiatives. Picula will point to the necessity of furthering the intensive cooperation between CEI member-states. He will hold numerous bilateral with his counterparts during the meeting in Hungary. The CEI was established in 1989. After a few years of its existence it saw the downwards trend in its activities and significance. In 1998, while it was chaired by Croatia, the CEI renewed its activities and launched several initiatives. Subsequently, this organisation found its niche inside the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. (hina) jn ms