Statement by H.E., Mrs. Arta Dade,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania and SEECP Chairperson in Office,
to Stability Pact Regional Conference on Assistance and Reforms
25 October 2001

Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the particular pleasure in my capacity as Chairperson of the Process of Cooperation of Southeastern Europe to address this important forum on behalf of all the countries of the region and the international community and to express the desire of the SEECP countries that this Conference is a complete success.

We are here to look ahead at the future of the South East Europe and consider the role to be played by the region. Using such valuable tools as the SEECP and the Stability Pact we hope to move further toward our shared goal of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. This is the direction in which we intend to head and we welcome your support and assistance to help get us there.

All of us in this hall expect to go beyond verbal support for the principles of cooperation, the definition and formulation of specific actions that will draw us gradually closer to one another and to our European goal.

During Albania's chairmanship, the SEECP has realized fresh achievements in the process of consolidating and enhancing the role of this initiative.

Intensification of All-Round Cooperation

There are a number of ways that indicate how progress made in this direction can be assessed and that demonstrates the existing spirit of cooperation in the SEECP framework. As an example, the meeting of the foreign ministers that took place in Tirana in May this year, the meeting of the energy ministers last week, as well as next month's meeting of the public order ministers. Each of these represents undeniable achievements in the recent history of our region.

A further positive development has been the direction of the joint efforts of the member countries in two problematic and challenging areas: the evident need for enhanced and better distributed energy resources, and the common struggle against terrorism, organized crime and illegal trafficking.

In a sustained effort to fashion a common approach on energy, the SEECP countries are developing a unified vision that fully incorporates the regional dimension in terms of the economy and the impact of proposed infrastructure development and accounts for evolving regional interdependence.

In the same way, confronting terrorism, organized crime and illegal trafficking, because of its very supranational nature, now requires the coordination of the specialized structures of our governments, while also providing a powerful impetus toward a more general intra-regional political, economic, financial, and legal cooperation. In this context, I will note as an example the setting up of the International Center of the Anti-Trafficking in the city of Vlore.

The unprecedented tragedy of 11 September in the United States and the emergence of the world coalition against terrorism have reaffirmed the interdependence of problems and threats and the consequential need to merge forces and resources for their solution.

Strengthening Partnership Between SEECP and the Stability Pact

All of us are aware that the Process of Cooperation in Southeastern Europe is closely linked with that of the Stability Pact.

The two processes are complementary; indeed there is a real synergy between them, greatly enhanced by the coordination of regional efforts These efforts, however, are magnified by outside involvement and financial contributions, particularly from the EU institutions and member states.

We are of the opinion that a consolidated process of cooperation, at a regional level, contributes to the strengthening of all other initiatives that aim at the European integration of South East Europe and the vice versa. Meanwhile, we should state the fact that the South East European Cooperation Process, itself, had recently been an important challenge, where our countries proved their possibilities and wills to establish cooperation bridges and to coordinate their common activities that will lead us towards United Europe.

The principled stand on the concept of SEECP-Stability Pact partnership has prompted our governments to transform their individual concrete and practical efforts into a shared operating mechanism. Our joint measures, the coordination of our respective efforts in various areas and our bilateral and multilateral projects are all evidence of the concrete character which we have attached to partnership between the two processes and the willingness to take responsibility for our share of the tasks on the road toward integration.

The SEECP countries are convinced and determined to cooperate with the work and priorities of the Stability Pact to reinforce our steady progress toward eventual EU membership. We are firmly united in our opposition to sub-regional integration and cooperation solely as an alternative or staging area for a truly united Europe.

The complete readiness by SEECP member countries to further and deepen our regional cooperation, as evidenced by the steps already taken in key areas and our complementary emphasis on intensifying our relationship with the EU are all concrete messages that the SEECP governments will convey to this Conference.

In conclusion, I wish to underscore my belief in the universal importance of understanding others and being understood by them in all endeavors, particularly among partners, is an indispensable premise for the success of the integration process.

Thank You.