JOINT
STATEMENT
Upon the invitation of
President Boris Trajkovski, we the Heads of State and Government of
the participating and the observer countries to the South-East European
Cooperation Process, Mr. Emil Constantinescu, Mr. Vojislav Kostunica,
Mr. Rexhep Meidani, Mr. Petar Stoyanov, Mr. Bulent Ecevit, Mr. Ljubco
Georgievski, Mr. Costas Simitis, Mr. Zivko Radisic and Mr. Goran Granic
met at an informal Summit in Skopje, on 25 October 2000. Mr. Javier
Solana, Secretary-General and High Representative for the Common Foreign
and Security Policy of the ED, and Mr. Bodo Hombach, Stability Pact
Special Coordinator, took part in the Summit at the invitation of the
host.
During the informal Summit,
we exchanged views on the recent developments in South-Eastern Europe,
especially in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and their positive
impact on the stability and security in the region. Furthermore, we
discussed the ongoing process of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern
Europe and we stated our strong commitment to its eariy implementation
and to the undertaking of joint activities in the forthcoming period.
Welcoming the presence
of the newly elected President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
Mr. Vojislav Kostunica, and considering thus the temporary vacancy of
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's chair as hereby terminated, we
congratulated the entire democratic opposition and citizens of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia on the recent election victory and we paid tribute
to their firm commitment to building democracy in their country. We
expressed our full support for the commenced democratic process in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the peaceful transfer of power, believing
that this would be of decisive importance for the further development
of the country and for the welfare of its citizens. It would also contribute
to the overall stabilization of the situation in the region. We strongly
encouraged the commitment of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to follow
a policy of good- neighborly relations, reconciliation and mutual understanding
in the region, as well as respect for the principle of equality and"
non-discrimination of all the successor states of the former Yugoslavia
in their mutual relations.
In light of such prospects,
we welcomed the recent lifting of sanctions and the proposed inclusion
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the Stability Pact for South-Eastern
Europe.
We believe that the South-East
European Cooperation Process as a comprehensive framework for cooperation
originating from the region, confirmed with the adopted Charter on Good-neighborliness,
Stability, Security and Cooperation in South-Eastern Europe, represents
a solid basis for strengthening the cooperation in the region. We expressed
our commitment that the Process would assume a more important role in
the future development of the region.
Stressing that Europe
cannot-be complete without our countries and our nations, we restated
our commitment towards European integration process as our strategic
goal and as an inseparable part of the overall political, economic and
social development of our countries.
Also, we underscored
our commitment for further and constructive cooperation on the overcoming
and on the resolution of all remaining issues and problems from the
past in the spirit of equality, mutual understanding and good-neighborliness.
Highly appreciating the
efforts of the Stability Pact Special Coordinator, we outlined our expectations
with respect to the prompt implementation of the already selected projects
from the Quick Start Package, within the three Stability Pact Working
Tables.
We reaffirmed our political
commitment to democratic and economic reforms and regional cooperation,
as well as to the consistent and full implementation of all relevant
United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding peace, security
and stability in the region.
We agreed that our common
endeavor shall be oriented towards bringing about mature democratic
political processes, based on pluralism, free and fair elections, grounded
in the rule of law and with respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities.
We recognized the utmost importance of intensifying contacts and cooperation
in human dimension, social and cultural fields, strengthening democratic
institutions and civil society, facilitating free circulation of information
and ideas, as well as of citizens.
We agreed to hold our
next regular Summit meeting in Skopje, in February 2001.
