SEGEDIN, June 24 (Hina) - Foreign ministers of the Central European Initiative (CEI), attending a summit in Segedin, Hungary, on Saturday adopted a detailed and extensive document expressing satisfaction with CEI's strategy and role
and the development of relations between CEI members, as well as their dissatisfaction with the deteriorated situation in Serbia. The document includes an item on Croatia, in which the Ministers express their admiration for the progress Croatia has achieved since the parliamentary and presidential elections. They welcome the findings of the European Commission's feasibility study, according to which Croatia has met conditions for the start of talks on a stabilisation and association agreement with the European Union, as well as Croatia's admission to NATO's Partnership for Peace. The Ministers believe Croatia's efforts in establishing institutional relations with the EU and NATO will be an i
SEGEDIN, June 24 (Hina) - Foreign ministers of the Central European
Initiative (CEI), attending a summit in Segedin, Hungary, on
Saturday adopted a detailed and extensive document expressing
satisfaction with CEI's strategy and role and the development of
relations between CEI members, as well as their dissatisfaction
with the deteriorated situation in Serbia.
The document includes an item on Croatia, in which the Ministers
express their admiration for the progress Croatia has achieved
since the parliamentary and presidential elections.
They welcome the findings of the European Commission's feasibility
study, according to which Croatia has met conditions for the start
of talks on a stabilisation and association agreement with the
European Union, as well as Croatia's admission to NATO's
Partnership for Peace.
The Ministers believe Croatia's efforts in establishing
institutional relations with the EU and NATO will be an important
contribution to the overall stability and progress in the region.
The Ministers also reiterate the importance of EU's expansion to
the CEI countries and establish with satisfaction that seven
countries from central and east Europe have been included in talks
on admission to the EU. They welcome the new policy of the
stabilisation and association process toward south-east European
countries, which is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation.
The final document also welcomes conclusions adopted by the
European Council presidency at a summit in Portugal, in which it is
stated openly for the first time that all countries are potential
candidates for EU membership. The Ministers strongly support the
political and economic reforms in CEI member-countries.
The Ministers also express their deep concern about the latest
deterioration of the political situation in Serbia and the growing
repression of the democratic Opposition, independent media and
civil society. They express satisfaction with the Segedin process
and other initiatives which are aimed at strengthening cooperation
with democratic forces in Yugoslavia.
The integration of a future democratic Yugoslavia in the process of
stabilisation must remain one of CEI's most important tasks,
however, it will not take place as long as Milosevic's regime
exists, the document reads.
As regards Kosovo, the Ministers urge all interested parties to
fully implement Resolution 1244 of the U.N. Security Council and
express support for activities of the local U.N. and KFOR
missions.
The Ministers also support efforts aimed at re-establishing free
navigation on the Danube and express concern about the threatened
natural resources of the Danube basin, agreeing on the need to
intensify cooperation in the area of environmental protection.
In the part of the document which refers to relations between the
CEI and the Stability Pact, the Ministers express a wish for a full
and speedy implementation of the Pact's aims, including the
possibility of integration of countries in the region into Euro-
Atlantic structures.
Taking into account the need for a quick start and transparency of
the Pact's projects, the Ministers urge more transparent selection
and financing mechanisms of those projects.
The document welcomes the announcement of the Ukrainian president
on shutting down the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl on December 15
2000.
In the eight-page document, the Ministers also welcome the start of
talks between Macedonia and the EU and the adoption of a joint EU
strategy regarding Ukraine. They also express support for Moldavia
in its attempts to solve the conflict in the Trans-Dniestr and call
for the establishment of political dialogue between the government
and political forces in Belorussia.
The Ministers urge CEI bodies to establish cooperation with other
European and international institutions and regional initiatives,
including the newly-established Adriatic-Ionian initiative.
(hina) rml