Western Balkans conference ends early

The regional conference on the European future of the Western Balkans in Slovenia ended 45 minutes earlier than was announced. The meeting was called to a halt when EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele left the meeting. Sources said that the Macedonian Prime Minister would follow. Western Balkans conference ends early Organizers of conference have called in journalists for an early press conference. Participators have left the hall over and hour earlier than expected to attend a planned lunch together before heading home. There are officials present from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo, and UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier is there as well. No Serbian officials are in attendence and Fuele is the only EU official present at the conference. President of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of Ministers, Nikola Spiric, said that he would leave the hall when Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci takes the podium to speak, because Bosnia has not recognized Kosovo’s independence. He said that the conference will not be as significant without Serbia’s participation, but that he will take the opportunity to ask for support for Bosnia and its efforts to abolish visas for its citizens. Thaci said that Kosovo’s vision is cooperation, and not boycotts, adding that other countries will understand that cooperation is in their best interest. Thaci added that it is a good chance to inform all regional leaders of his vision of peace and stability in the Western Balkans, adding that Kosovo wants to become an EU and NATO member as soon as possible. Fuele said earlier that he hopes that the meetings will be successful and that they will be the first step in achieving the region’s aspirations of joining the EU. “The countries must understand that cooperation is useful,” Fuele said. Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that he is sorry that Serbian President Boris Tadic will not be attending, adding that “his place is there,” at the conference. He said that it is an important conference, because regional cooperation is important for all who want to join the EU. Declaration signed Slovenian and Croatian Prime Ministers Borut Pahor and Jadranka Kosor did not say why the only participator in the conference from the EU, Stefan Fuele, left the conference after only an hour, but said that they are very happy with what was done at the conference. They said that a united declaration was prepared with all participators in the regional conference citing the Thessaloniki agenda for the Western Balkans, in which the European perspective of the region was confirmed, along with the EU’s readiness to help in the integration process. The participators signed and confirmed the declaration for steady EU integration and decisive efforts towards fulfilling conditions and demands according to the Copenhagen criteria, adding that they recognize that progress on the road towards the EU depends on individual achievements and the ability to fulfill certain criteria. In this declaration, the participators are calling on the EU to have its enlargement be one of the priority tasks in its new program, and to continue to support mechanisms for regional cooperation with the goal of improving ties in the region. The declaration also stresses the need to continue the visa liberalization actions and achieve the necessary obligations for reaching that goal and maintaining these levels of reforms. The participators also agreed on good neighborly relations and cooperation in projects of joint interest, promising to solve bilateral questions in a European spirit. The declaration also states that participators would meet often and support the exchange of experiences and support regional cooperation. The declaration also supports the meeting planned to be held in Sarajevo in May or June in which senior regional officials will meet with top EU officials to discuss the region’s European perspective.

Western Balkans conference ends early

Organizers of conference have called in journalists for an early press conference.

Participators have left the hall over and hour earlier than expected to attend a planned lunch together before heading home.

There are officials present from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo, and UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier is there as well.

No Serbian officials are in attendence and Fuele is the only EU official present at the conference.

President of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of Ministers, Nikola Špirić, said that he would leave the hall when Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci takes the podium to speak, because Bosnia has not recognized Kosovo’s independence.

He said that the conference will not be as significant without Serbia’s participation, but that he will take the opportunity to ask for support for Bosnia and its efforts to abolish visas for its citizens.

Thaci said that Kosovo’s vision is cooperation, and not boycotts, adding that other countries will understand that cooperation is in their best interest.

Thaci added that it is a good chance to inform all regional leaders of his vision of peace and stability in the Western Balkans, adding that Kosovo wants to become an EU and NATO member as soon as possible.

Fuele said earlier that he hopes that the meetings will be successful and that they will be the first step in achieving the region’s aspirations of joining the EU.

“The countries must understand that cooperation is useful,” Fuele said.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that he is sorry that Serbian President Boris Tadić will not be attending, adding that “his place is there,” at the conference.

He said that it is an important conference, because regional cooperation is important for all who want to join the EU.

Declaration signed

Slovenian and Croatian Prime Ministers Borut Pahor and Jadranka Kosor did not say why the only participator in the conference from the EU, Stefan Fuele, left the conference after only an hour, but said that they are very happy with what was done at the conference.

They said that a united declaration was prepared with all participators in the regional conference citing the Thessaloniki agenda for the Western Balkans, in which the European perspective of the region was confirmed, along with the EU’s readiness to help in the integration process.

The participators signed and confirmed the declaration for steady EU integration and decisive efforts towards fulfilling conditions and demands according to the Copenhagen criteria, adding that they recognize that progress on the road towards the EU depends on individual achievements and the ability to fulfill certain criteria.

In this declaration, the participators are calling on the EU to have its enlargement be one of the priority tasks in its new program, and to continue to support mechanisms for regional cooperation with the goal of improving ties in the region.

The declaration also stresses the need to continue the visa liberalization actions and achieve the necessary obligations for reaching that goal and maintaining these levels of reforms.

The participators also agreed on good neighborly relations and cooperation in projects of joint interest, promising to solve bilateral questions in a European spirit.

The declaration also states that participators would meet often and support the exchange of experiences and support regional cooperation.

The declaration also supports the meeting planned to be held in Sarajevo in May or June in which senior regional officials will meet with top EU officials to discuss the region’s European perspective.