The South-East Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP) marked Wednesday its 20th anniversary at a summit in Sofia, attended by heads of state and government participating in the initiative, where Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov was also in attendance.
The summit titled 'SEECP – 20 Years Key to Regional Cooperation' is in fact the final event organized as part of Bulgaria's SEECP chairmanship-in-office, which is being taken over by Croatia as of Wednesday.
SEECP brings together 13 countries in the region, i.e. 150 million inhabitants.
Speaking at the event, President Ivanov said the main message sent from SEECP' event set to mark its milestone was conveyed to the young people in the region.
"Considering the fact the summit is hosted in an innovative park, i.e. the Sofia Tech Park, a message is sent to young people that they can meet their expectations here without leaving their home countries and transferring their knowledge in developed countries. This is a symbolic start and restart of a process, which is much more pragmatic and direct, because it deals with issues including infrastructure, energy, interconnections, projects in the interest of the entire region," said Ivanov.
This process, he added, has paved the way to dialogue and reconciliation between the countries, restoration of trust and communication.
In his address at the summit, President Ivanov reaffirmed Macedonia's position as a country acting as an active and constructive partner in the region, which is strongly committed to promoting the principles of good-neighboring relations and reconciliation in the region, his cabinet has said.
Macedonia advocates for enhanced regional cooperation by developing and modernizing infrastructure that would instigate growing economic development, trade and would attract foreign investments.
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, who is hosting the event, underscored that the road to peace and prosperity in the region was paved by cooperation, partnership, rule of law and human rights and liberties.
According to Plevneliev, Europe is facing a record-breaking number of crises that are strongly affecting the region.
"The right solution can be found only if we join forces. Our region is an unavoidable factor on the geopolitical scene and the countries in the region are stronger, more competitive, more attractive for investors and are able to secure peace and prosperity for their nations," the Bulgarian president stated.
Tewnty years ago, he added, the GDP of the countries in SEE stood at EUR 440 billion. Today, it has tripled.
"If this momentum is maintained, the region's GDP in five years time will stand at EUR 1.6 billion, enabling the region to join the top ten economies in the world."
The summit in Sofia brings together the heads of state or government of Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Slovenia, as well as the OSCE secretary general and the secretary general of the Regional Cooperation Council.
SEECP participating countries are expected to adopt a declaration on its 20th jubilee, which is set to reflect SEECP's role as a key political form of a sustainable partnership in the region and a leading platform for European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
SEECP was established in 1996 in Sofia with the adoption of the Declaration on Good Neighborly Ties, Stability, Security and Cooperation in the Balkans.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Ivanov met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, while the pervious day, he met with his Bulgarian counterpart Plevneliev.