site.btaBulgarian Caretaker Foreign Minister Stoev: European Perspective of Countries in South-East Europe is of Vital Importance for Region's Stability, Security

Antalya/Sofia, June 17 (BTA) - Speaking to the participants in
the Summit Meeting and a Meeting of Foreign Ministers
of the Member States of the South-East European
Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Antalya on Thursday, Bulgarian
caretaker Foreign Minister Svetlan Stoev stressed the key role
of SEECP as the most significant and encompassing political
format for cooperation in the region, including given the
ambition of the countries for European and Euro-Atlantic
integration, Stoev's Ministry said in a press release.

Stoev heads a Bulgarian delegation to the SEECP Summit Meeting
and a Meeting of Foreign Ministers.

In his addresses to the leaders and foreign ministers of the
SEECP member states Stoev said that the European perspective of
the countries in South-East Europe is of vital importance for
the long-term stability and security. Recalling that the SEECP
was was launched on Bulgaria's initiative 25 years ago, Stoev
reaffirmed that the strengthening of the relations between the
member states of the SEECP and the EU continues to be a main
priority for Bulgaria.

"We clearly understand and believe that the reliable perspective
 for accession is the strongest incentive for transformation in
South-East Europe. Ensuring trust in the process of enlargement
is of primary importance, but on the other hand, the EU
applicant countries too need to fulfill their commitments,"
Stoev said.

Stoev stressed the need for coordinated cooperation and
solidarity in tackling the negative economic and social impacts
from the coronavirus pandemic.

The SEECP hads of State and government adopted a declaration of
the summit which notes the 25th anniversary of the initiative
and SEECP's contribution to the security and stability in the
region.

The participants in the summit also approved the new Strategy
2030 for South-East Europe which builds on the previous strategy
 and now covers all 13 SEECP countries.

The meeting also adopted the annual report of the Regional
Cooperation Council (RCC) for 2020-2021, and discussed the
matter of the election of a new RCC Secretary General.

Stoev wished success to the upcoming Greek
Chairmanship-in-Office of SEECP and expressed assurance about
the future development of the regional cooperation.

The SEECP was launched in Sofia in 1996 as a leading political
format for dialogue in South-East Europe.

SEECP's member states are Bulgaria, Albania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, the Republic
of North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania,
Slovenia, Serbia and Turkey. NV/ZH