Addressing the participants in the SEECP, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Parliament Speaker Vladimir Seks and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader confirmed Croatia's orientation towards further development of regional cooperation and joining the EU. They also commented on the current state of affairs in Serbia, stressing that the neighbouring country must persist in its democratic transformation and on a path to the European Union.
President Mesic said that in relations with the EU, a regional dimension had become as important as a bilateral dimension, adding that Croatia continued to invest significant efforts in cooperation with all countries in the region.
"I have always underlined that its region was a natural environment for Croatia", because of the shared history and the compatible legal, economic and social systems", Mesic said, stressing that Croatia decided to make its capacities available for that purpose, aware that it is investing in its own peaceful and stable future.
"The stability of this region is still very uncertain. Because not all peoples went through a political catharsis and not all political leaders are determined to turn to European values (...) and the price of that could be high," Mesic said, adding that this region still had politicians who did not conceal claims on foreign territory.
"Therefore it is critical for us and for the future of our region that the messages from the European Union and Atlantic associations are always the same, namely that democracy pays off," Mesic said.
Commenting on joint regional projects, Mesic underlined the construction of infrastructure network and cooperation in suppression of peoples and drugs smuggling. He also said that securing peace and permanent stability was a priority.
"We are aware that the political architecture of this region has not yet been completed. After Montenegro's independence, an acceptable long-term solution to the Kosovo status must be found and Bosnia must be enabled to start functioning as a modern state based on the rule of law," the Croatian president said.
Addressing the participants of the SEECP summit, Parliament Speaker Seks said that the main challenge in the region was further development of the principle of freedom and democracy.
"It is our duty to be able to recognise the size of the challenges the Southeast of Europe is faced with and to be able to make a step forward and changes in our own country at the moment when both Europe and the world are adopting new standards," Seks said.
"Providing for the future of our part of Europe is no longer someone else's obligation or interest, but the authentic need and an undisputed sign of the maturity of the region," Seks said adding that "the purpose of regional cooperation was not to unify Southeast Europe into a regional association, but to adopt and promote European values as part of regional cooperation".
Speaking about the parliamentary dimension of cooperation, Seks said it was important to listen to the voice of people and voters who "clearly opted for European standards and a future based on these standards", adding that Southeast Europe would be ready to entirely join a new, enlarged, free and democratic Europe.
The countries of the region now have to think about their new role in Europe and develop possible ways of action and cooperation aimed at advancing political and democratic maturity, the Croatian parliament speaker said.
"I firmly believe that we are standing on the threshold of a new era and that Europeisation and modernisation are two key principles that should be our guidelines," Seks said wrapping up his talk at the SEECP summit.
Croatian PM Sanader, who opened the event, said the region today had a unique opportunity to leave the period of instability behind and to complete the democratic transformation.
"It is time to make additional efforts in modernisation and Europeisation of the Southeast of Europe. History will not wait," PM Sanader said.
He said that the political elite must recognise that citizens of the entire region made their choice - they chose freedom and democracy and a life in the European family, in accordance with its standards and values.
""The objective that I speak of is realistic," Sanader said adding that "we in Croatia have set our country on a path towards that direction, today we are negotiating on full membership of the EU and NATO and expect that efforts we have invested in reforms be recognised and confirmed".
The SEECP summit was attended by heads of state and governments and other top officials from regional countries, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, the EU President, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Parliament President Hans Gert Poettering, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, US Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns and top OSCE, NATO and Council fo Europe officials.
Apart from Croatian President Mesic, Parliament Speaker Seks and Prime Minister Sanader, the meeting was also attended by the presidents of Macedonia Branko Crvenskovski, and Moldova Vladimir Voronin, the prime ministers of Albania Sali Berisha, Bosnia-Herzegovina Nikola Spiric, Bulgaria Sergei Stanishev, Montenegro Zeljko Sturanovic, Greece Kostas Karamanlis, Romania Calin Popescu-Tariceanu and Turskish Chief Negotiator with the EU Ali Babacan. Serbia was represented by international economic cooperation minister Milan Parivodic, while Kosovo was represented by Joachim Rucker on behalf of the UNMIK, deputy UN high representative for Kosovo Albert Rohan and Kosovo PM Agim Ceku. Although not a SEECP member, Slovenia, as a special guest at the summit, was represented by PM Janez Drnovsek.
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