The conference was opened by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, who underlined the importance of exchanging opinions on issues significant for the region, notably in the context of European unification.
Croatia's Mesic, who attended seven of 13 such meetings, spoke after Parvanov. He said meetings of Central European presidents were an instrument of strengthening a European awareness founded on the Central European identity, roots and tradition, but also prospects. He called for a common policy against the negative effects of globalisation.
Before the start of the plenary session, Mesic met Slovene President Janez Drnovsek.
The Varna event is being attended by the heads of state of Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Albania, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Slovakia, Austria, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine, Poland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.