South
East European Cooperation Process
A Brief History
The initiative for regional
cooperation in Southeastern Europe was taken at a meeting of the foreign
ministers of the South East European countries in Sofia in June 1996,
under the name of the Process of Good Neighborliness, Stability, Security
and Cooperation of the Countries of Southeastern Europe. Full participant
countries are the Republic of Macedonia, the Republic of Albania, the
Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Turkey, the Republic of Greece,
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Romania. Bosnia and Herzegovina
and the Republic of Croatia are observer countries. During the Romanian
Presidency, the initiative was renamed and became the South East European
Cooperation Process.
Since its foundation and
within the framework of the Process, the following activities have been
undertaken: Conference of the Foreign ministers of the SEE countries
in Sofia, June 1996, in Thesaloniki, June 1997, in Istanbul, June 1998,
and in Bucharest, December 1999, and the Summit of Heads of states and
governments in Crete, 1997, Antalia, 1998 and in Bucharest, 2000.
The main commitment of
the Process is to promote and strengthen good neighborly relations among
the SEE countries in order to transform the region into an area of peace,
security, stability and cooperation. In addition, the Process aims to
create a Southeastern Europe whose future is based on peace, democracy
and economic prosperity as well as the full integration of the region
into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. The framework of this
process includes political cooperation. This cooperation covers the
issues of security and stability, the development of economic and environmental
cooperation, promotion of humanitarian, social and cultural cooperation
and cooperation in the areas of justice, the fight against organized
crime, the elimination of terrorism, and illegal traffic with drugs,
weapons and people.
The SEECP represents a
comprehensive framework for regional cooperation, aimed at close cooperation
with other international organizations and regional initiatives. Of
particular importance are the UN, EU, OSCE, NATO, the Council of Europe,
the Black Sea Initiative, SECI, CEI and BSEC. The SEECP aims to coordinate
these activities in order to avoid any duplication of efforts.
The heads of states and
governments of the participant countries in the SEECP hold a meeting
once per year in order to review the overall process of cooperation
and give guidelines and recommendations for future activities. The summit
is presided by the head of the state of the host country.
The meetings of the Foreign
Ministers represent the main forum for consultations, for giving guidelines
to cooperation and for promotion of the goals of the Process. The ministers
gather for these purposes once per year. The meetings are presided by
the foreign minister of the host country. The Chairman-in-Office can
call additional meetings if the circumstances require this or if the
Foreign Ministers of other countries require it.
The Chairman-in-Office
appears in the name of all participant countries and can inform interested
countries outside the region, international organizations and the regional
initiative, about the agenda of meetings, joint statements and documents
adopted on issues of common interest.
The Republic of Macedonia
affirms itself as an active creator, promoter and participant in all
initiatives and activities. The Republic of Macedonia works at the highest
level to highlight its involvement in the framework of the Process,
opening the way to further participation in all segments of cooperation
in the SEE region.
During the Republic of
Macedonia's Chairmanship of SEECP in 2000/01 several activities were
undertaken. These included meetings of the political directors (four),
meeting of the foreign affairs ministers in Ohrid, and a meeting of
the foreign ministers during the UN Millennium Summit in New York. As
a result of events in the region and on the initiative of President
Boris Trajkovski, an informal summit of the Head of State and Government
of participant countries in SEECP was held in Skopje in October 2000.
The end of the chairmanship
of SEECP by Macedonia is March 31, 2001. Until then, there are a number
of activities planned. These include:
- Conference of the
presidents of the parliaments from Southeastern Europe in Skopje,
March 20-21, 2001. - Meeting of ministers, directors of agencies for
youth and sport and nongovernmental youth organizations from Southeastern
Europe.
- Meeting of ministers
of health from Southeastern Europe.
- Meeting of journalists
from Southeastern Europe.
The Summit meeting will be held in Aleksandar
Palas Hotel
Aleksandar Palas Hotel
www.aleksandarpalace.com.mk
tel.: +389 91 392 392,
fax: + 389 91 392 152,
email:info@aleksandarpalace.com.mk
