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Today We Are Making Efforts to Add New and Rather Important March 2, 2007 Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SEECP Zagreb, Republic of Croatia Address by Sven Alkalaj Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ms. Chairwoman, Your Excellencies, Esteemed Colleagues Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to our host today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia for having successfully prepared and organized this meeting in the best tradition of its legendary hospitality as well as for its most dynamic chairmanship-in-office of the SEECP. Ladies and Gentlemen, The SEECP is turning a new page in the everdeveloping regional cooperation and integration to the Euro-Atlantic mainstream. Today, in the aftermath of dramatic political changes, our region represents considerably different geo-political paysage. Finally, we have the opportunity to project our own political identity. Since the SEECP is widely recognized as a regional forum for political dialogue and the genuine voice of the region, we should ensure the continuity of the dialogue in all important areas of regional cooperation. Certainly, it is in our interest that European Union, partner states and international organizations together with financial institutions involved in activities of the Stability Pact, remain present pro-active in the region. Respecting this new political reality, present SEECP Charter should be amended accordinly. Actually, we have gathered here in Zagreb to endorse the transformation of the Stability Pact for South East Europe into Regional Cooperation Council according to the concept we were offered by High Level Expert Gropup and elaborated trough common efforts of the SP Secretariat and representatives of participating states. I would like to pay a tribute to their fruitful work on the essential documents such as draft Decision on the Procedure for nomination and Election of the first RCC Secretary General, and draft Decision on the Procedure for nomination and Election of the first RCC Secretary General. Bosnia and Herzegovina accepts both of these documents. As we all agree, candidates for the post of the RCC Secretary General should be offered exlusivelly by the participating states, thus unequivocally promoting and confirming regional ownership. The requied profile for the RCC SG by all means should include impecable professional experience, high moral and professional qualities, politically established in the region and recognized in the region, Europe and beyond. He or she has to be a persona of action and authority. It goes without saying that he or she is suppose to be active interllocutor not only to the partners in the SEECP states, but also to those in European Union, as well as to the representatives of governments of EU Member States, donors, international organizations, financial institutions and other. Professional, political and moral qualities of candidates for Secretary General must be indisputable for all SEECP states and all partners that are part of the RCC. Therefore, we call on the SEECP states to propose the best candidates for this function in order to facilitate nomination and election process. 1 March 2, 2007 Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SEECP Zagreb, Republic of Croatia Address by Sven Alkalaj Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ladies and Gentlemen, The other deliberation we are supposed to make today is on the issue of the Opening and designation procedure for the seat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat. We are pleased by the fact that some of our immediate neighbours, as well as our friends in Brussels and beyond have already expressed support to Bosnia and Herzegovina and its capital to be the home of the RCC. I take this opportunity to thank in anticipation the other SEECP participating states for their invaluable support. In the meantime, one of BiH Government’s top priorities is to put in place everything necessary in securing convenient premises and best working environment for RCC headquarters. This certainly comprises the full legal subjectivity of the Secretariat, all privileges for and immunities to Secretariat and its staff, based on international conventions and the best European practice, which will enable successful functioning and work of Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). We offer the top security and protection measures to the General Secretary and Secretariat staff, as well as free usage of space at the most attractive location in our capital city, with the complete up to date infrastructure. We have no doubt that other participating states might offer similar or same conditions. However, let me express our standing why Sarajevo should get an advantage. It is not only about simple symbolism related to origin and start of work of the Stability Pact, which had its first and the largest meeting in Sarajevo in summer 1999, or about its geographical position of being in the very heart of the Balkans. Ladies and Gentlemen, Sarajevo is much larger symbol that that. Sarajevo is a city with century-old tradition in tolerance and coexistence of different cultures and civilizations, a city where the East and the West exist and imbue, where the roads of North and South interweave. By placing the seat of RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo, clear message is to be sent: (a) that the time of conflict is behind us; and (b) that new relationships of understanding and cooperation have been established. Moreover, such a decision will herald verification of progress in the post-war development of Bosnia and Herzegovina and would conway a clear message to all political subjects and citizens of BiH as well as the those in the whole region about securing their stable and prosperous future in the one Europe. We believe that new generation of politicians in the South Eastern Europe are to provide political and economic conditions and start the process of making new vision that will offer a chance for a better prospect for all, notably for young generations here. In the same time, the doors of the region and rest of Europe should remain open in both directions to young people, businessman and business women, scientist and artists, coming from, as well as into this region, and gradually for all respective citizens, thus enabling them to move freely and gain knowledge, to get to know each other and to build together Europe with no dividing lines. To that end, BiH is ready to unilaterally cancel the visa regime to the new Member States in the EU. In bilateral negotiations with SEECP states, based on reciprocity, we are ready to upgrade existing practice and facilitate the visa regime, especially for certain categories, such as: scientists and cultural workers, students and pupils, sportsmen and businessmen. 2 March 2, 2007 Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SEECP Zagreb, Republic of Croatia Address by Sven Alkalaj Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina We remain devoted to fundamental ideas and goals set in the documents of the SEECP and Stability Pact, as well as other regional groupings. We believe that regardless the heterogeneous nature of participants and diversity of programs of these initiatives, they still represent a valuable instrument to stimulate and assist ongoing process of multiple reforms in the South Eastern Europe as well as to speed up the its path toward European mainstream. BiH is more than pleased by tremendous success made by certain members of SEECP in accessing and integrating in the EU. We believe that these individual achievements bring us all ever closer to our common goals to fully integrate to the EU, and NATO. So, we are convinced that the process of admission of new members will not be slowed down or stopped. * * * Ladies and gentlemen, Given the recent history of SE Europe at the end last century, a great deal of progress towards regional stability and economic prosperity has been made. The SEECP has played and continues to play a central role in developing that regional cooperation and ensuring it remains home grown and tightly relevant to regional needs and aspirations. At the same time, the SEECP has enabled the region to demonstrate to itself and international actors, notably the EU, that it is serious about seeking out innovative and meaningful ways to resolve persistent regional challenges. Today we have offered our vision how to confront new challenges and those in the years to come trough The Regional Cooperation Council, brand new mechanism of the genuine regional ownership. At the very end, allow me Madam Chair to express our great satisfaction due to the strong anticipation that the address of the RCC is already known to the grand majority of distinguish participants of this meeting. Thank you for your kind attention. 3 .
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