[ALBSA-Info] {QIKSH =?ISO-8859-1?Q?=AB?=ALBEUROPA=?ISO-8859-1?Q?=BB?=} NEWS: Bulgarian Foreign Minister Says Kosovo Remains Main Threat To Balkan Security (BBC Monitoring, Oct 23, 2000)

[Wolfgang Plarre]

http://centraleurope.com/news.php3?id=212148

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Says Kosovo Remains Main Threat To Balkan
Security

SOFIA, Oct 23, 2000 -- (BBC Monitoring) "The new foreign policy of
Bulgaria is based on the thesis that our countries have broad common
interests, despite of the inherited contradictions," Bulgarian Foreign
Minister Nadezhda Mikhaylova said at the opening of a two-day
international seminar on "Possibilities for Positive Change in
Southeastern Europe," organized by the European People's Party (EPP),
the Robert Schuman Institute and the ruling Union of Democratic Forces
(SDS).
     The Stability Pact, the situation in Romania, Yugoslavia and
Macedonia, local administration and regional policy will top the
agenda...
     "The current moment is the right time to hold such a discussion.
Our ability to assess and take advantage of the emerging new
opportunities will determine the success of our efforts to reach the
common goals - security and prosperity of the people of Southeastern
Europe, comprehensive integration of our countries with the European and
Euro-Atlantic structures," Mikhaylova told the seminar. "In our view the
possibilities for a positive development of the Balkans are linked to
the establishment of a joint Euro-Atlantic community comprising also the
countries of Southeastern Europe as full members," she observed.
     "The achievement of political stability is a basic prerequisite for
positive development of the region. To this end, we have to manage the
security risks," the speaker argued...
     "The establishment of close interaction by the new leadership of
FRY with EU and NATO is extremely important to Bulgaria," Mikhaylova
stressed. This interaction will be based on several elements, and above
all fulfillment of the requirements of the UN War Crimes Tribunal in The
Hague. "The issue affects the successful completion of the Dayton
process," she added. "Nevertheless, the biggest challenge for the
regional security remains the Kosovo tangle. The beginning of
constructive dialogue between the new Yugoslav leadership and the
representatives of the international community will be of key
importance," the foreign minister said.
     "Bulgaria highly appreciates the efforts of all European
institutions which work for Europe's unification, for the elimination of
the existing dividing lines and non-admission of new ones, and for the
establishment of the EU as a key political and economic factor
guaranteeing the security and wellbeing of its citizens," Bulgarian
President Petur Stoyanov writes in a greetings address to the
participants in the seminar. "The enlargement process, opening the way
to Europe's re-integration after the continent's artificial division in
the Cold War era, is indeed a unique historic opportunity to ensure
peace and stability in the new millennium," the head of state says in
his message.

Source: BTA web site, Sofia, in English 20 Oct 00

(C) 2000 BBC Monitoring


-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
eLerts
It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free!
http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/8/_/920292/_/972335523/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

Nëse don të çregjistrohesh nga ALBEUROPA, dërgo një Email në:

albeuropa-unsubscribe at egroups.com