We support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Macedonia, President Rosen Plevneliev told journalists at the end of the summit of the Southeast Europe Cooperation Process, which took place in the capital of Albania Tirana. At the forum Bulgaria took over the one-year rotating presidency of SEECP, which will start on 1 July.
The importance of regional cooperation was highlighted at the joint news conference of the three members of the Cooperation Process, which include the state and government leaders of Romania, Albania and Bulgaria. Rosen Plevneliev presented to the media in Tirana the basic priorities of the Bulgarian presidency – the development of the transport and energy connectivity in Southeast Europe, strengthening the democratic foundation, security and tackling migration.
As chair of the regional format, our country will initiate the adoption of a joint declaration to reconfirm the inviolability of the state borders in Southeast Europe, President Plevneliev said in reply to a question.
The Head of State said that the borders in the Balkans should be brought down, not redrawn. “We believe in regional cooperation and reconciliation as an ultimate value in the region. We work so as to ensure that each country contributes to the stability and the progress of the Balkans,” the President emphasized.
The Bulgarian presidency of SEECP which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the launch of the initiative, is a great recognition for Bulgaria and our efforts to ensure good-neighborly relations, development and peace in the region. Bulgaria is willing to achieve concrete results in the 12 months, in which is will head the Cooperation Process, President Rosen Plevneliev commented. The Head of State said that achieving greater connectivity in the region and strengthening the democratic foundations are priorities of the Bulgarian presidency, since these are conditions ensuring greater stability, economic growth and prosperity for Southeast Europe.
Within the Bulgarian presidency a lot of forums will be organized at which migration and security will be placed on the agenda of the institutions. The unprecedented migration flow, the world challenges, terrorism, are problems which cannot be solved on the local level but only if efforts are pooled and a regional approach is adopted, Rosen Plevneliev said. The rule of law, strengthening the democratic foundations, and media freedom are the other priority area of the Bulgarian presidency. “We should meet the great expectations of the citizens in the region for transparent and efficient institutions,” the President added after he took part in the summit.
The SEECP countries adopted a declaration with which they confirmed that the process of expansion of Southeast Europe should remain a priority on the EU agenda. The adopted document calls on the EU to encourage the progress of the negotiations, given that each candidate state meets the necessary requirements and criteria.
Meeting European standards is in the interest above all of the countries in the region, therefore the state and government leaders of SEECP emphasize the need to ensure regional cooperation, the development of good-neighborly relations and the necessity to find mutually acceptable solutions to the open questions, the text of the Declaration says. The concluding document also expresses a firm support for preserving the NATO policy of open doors for the Southeast European countries that can assume the responsibilities and commitments of membership and meet the necessary requirements.
The Declaration lays emphasis on the security in the region and the cooperation in the fight against organized crime and corruption, as well as on counteracting terrorism. “We reiterate our strong will for a further strengthening of the rule of law, pursuing policies of enhancing religious tolerance and co-existence, which directly contribute to democratization, defending human rights, the equality of sexes, the security and stability in the region and avoiding radicalization, violence and extremist acts,” the Declaration says. The participants in the SEECP summit agreed on the importance of joint efforts to pinpoint the projects of mutual interest which would improve regional cooperation and connectivity.
In mid-2016 Bulgaria will host the next meeting of the state and government leaders of SEECP.