Regional leaders sign joint statement

Regional leaders taking part in the Igman Initiative meeting signed a joint statement in Belgrade on Friday. The statement affirms their belief that the potential of EU membership incites and guarantees peace and stability in South East Europe, as well as helps improve relations in the region. Regional leaders sign joint statement The 22nd meeting of the initiative is attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic, Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic and Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic. EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule is present as a guest. The joint statement is entitled “Partnership for the European Future of the Region” and expresses the members' pleasure with the fact that Croatia has completed the EU accession talks and signed the accession treaty, whose ratification should come soon after the signing. The members expect Serbia to get the EU candidate status and start date for the accession negotiations, Montenegro to get the start date for the accession talks and Bosnia-Herzegovina to apply for EU membership, all by the end of the year, the statement reads. The four presidents remain committed to dialogue and negotiations based on good relations and international law when addressing any issues. The statement also confirms each of the countries' determination to behave towards the other three in a way that would help the others meet all the requirements for gaining EU membership. The document states that the principle of solidarity and mutual support is the foundation on which the four wish to build their common European future. The process of reconciliation between the members of the initiative has to continue, it is added. Close cooperation between the countries' judicial systems, both in prosecuting war crimes and all forms of organized crime, is crucial in that sense, the representatives noted. The statement also says the role of the civil society is particularly valued, as well as greater openness of the political and administrative institutions, the goal of which is to fight corruption, among other things. The four recognize the ongoing economic crisis in the world and agree that opening up their economies to each other and removing all obstacles to economic cooperation makes each and everyone of the four countries more resilient to the crisis and more capable of economic recovery, the document states. The four representatives called on the EU and all its members to keep in mind the significance of the enlargement process despite the crisis, since it is an instrument of stabilization between the countries and nations of the region. The members of the initiative are willing to use the existing multilateral fora to continue discussing the region's future and their partnerships aimed at EU integration, says the statement. Participants of the Igman Initiative meeting (Tanjug)

Regional leaders sign joint statement

The 22nd meeting of the initiative is attended by Serbian President Boris Tadić, Croatian President Ivo Josipović, Montenegrin President Filip Vujanović and Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Chairman Željko Komšić. EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule is present as a guest.

The joint statement is entitled “Partnership for the European Future of the Region” and expresses the members' pleasure with the fact that Croatia has completed the EU accession talks and signed the accession treaty, whose ratification should come soon after the signing.

The members expect Serbia to get the EU candidate status and start date for the accession negotiations, Montenegro to get the start date for the accession talks and Bosnia-Herzegovina to apply for EU membership, all by the end of the year, the statement reads.

The four presidents remain committed to dialogue and negotiations based on good relations and international law when addressing any issues.

The statement also confirms each of the countries' determination to behave towards the other three in a way that would help the others meet all the requirements for gaining EU membership.

The document states that the principle of solidarity and mutual support is the foundation on which the four wish to build their common European future. The process of reconciliation between the members of the initiative has to continue, it is added.

Close cooperation between the countries' judicial systems, both in prosecuting war crimes and all forms of organized crime, is crucial in that sense, the representatives noted.

The statement also says the role of the civil society is particularly valued, as well as greater openness of the political and administrative institutions, the goal of which is to fight corruption, among other things.

The four recognize the ongoing economic crisis in the world and agree that opening up their economies to each other and removing all obstacles to economic cooperation makes each and everyone of the four countries more resilient to the crisis and more capable of economic recovery, the document states.

The four representatives called on the EU and all its members to keep in mind the significance of the enlargement process despite the crisis, since it is an instrument of stabilization between the countries and nations of the region.

The members of the initiative are willing to use the existing multilateral fora to continue discussing the region's future and their partnerships aimed at EU integration, says the statement.