STABILITY PACT MEMBER COUNTRIES TO MEET IN SOFIA THURSDAY

ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - Stability Pact member countries are to hold a meeting of the working table on security issues in Sofia on Wednesday and Thursday. They are expected to endorse an initiative for the prevention of organised crime, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday. The meeting will also focus on activities of the working table so far in all fields, particularly on the implementation of the Quick Start project. In Sofia, Croatia will present a report on the so far achievement and the fulfilling of the commitments, as well as the implementation of reform processes within the security part of the Stability Pact. The Croatian delegation will be headed by assistant Foreign Minister and national coordinator for the Stability Pact Vladimir Drobnjak. The meeting of the third working table in Sofia is of a particular importance for Croatia considering the fact Croatia is to co-chair the working table on the security issues as of January 1, 2001, the Foreign Ministry said. So far, Croatia played the main role in several projects within the third working table of the Stability pact, such as humanitarian mine removal projects, the initiative for the prevention and elimination of consequences of disasters and the regional verification headquarters, which is to be opened on October 20. Croatia is particularly active in the initiative for the prevention of corruption, the statement read. On Thursday, ahead of the working table, a meeting of the management group for security cooperation in Southeast Europe is to be held. The group was founded in Brussels, as a regional forum for Coordination between countries of the Southeast Europe in the implementation of NATO's Southeast European Initiative. (hina) it