site.bta Foreign Minister: Southeast Europe Cooperation Process Is Important for the EU and Euro-Atlantic Orientation of the Western Balkans

Foreign Minister: Southeast Europe Cooperation Process Is Important for the EU and Euro-Atlantic
Orientation of the Western Balkans

Tirana/Sofia, February 24 (BTA) - Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov
participated in an informal foreign ministerial of the Southeast
 Europe Cooperation
Process (SEECP) held in Tirana Tuesday within the framework of
the Albanian Chairmanship in office, said the Foreign Ministry.
The SEECP top diplomats discussed the latest developments within
 the initiative and the adaptation of the organization to the
present-day challenges in the region.
 
In his remarks at the forum Mitov underscored the role of the
SEECP as a leading political format for cooperation in the
region and a factor of stability and prosperity, and it role in
the process of EU and Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western
Balkans.

He paid special attention to the upcoming Bulgarian chairmanship
 of the SEECP for a year from July 2015 and mentioned that
during this period the organization will observe its 20th
anniversary. He outlined the key priorities in cooperation
during the Bulgarian chairmanship: transport, energy and
infrastructure connections, media freedom and freedom of
expression, migration and the refugee pressure.

The SEECP foreign ministers adopted a joint statement in which
they condemned terrorism worldwide and reconfirmed their
commitment to strengthen cooperation in order to neutralize
terror threats. They voice their growing concern over the danger
 coming from the Islamic State and its ideology and vow
readiness to give a resolute answer to the challenge of terror.

At a news briefing of the SEECP Troyka, Mitov stressed the
importance of continuity between the chairmanships as a
pre-condition for sustained development of the region.