Agia Pelagia, Greece; 4 November 1997 (RFE/RL) - Balkan nations called today for their region to be transformed into an area of peace and prosperity.
In a declaration after a two-day summit on the Greek island of Crete, Balkan leaders said they should work together to create conditions for regional peace, security, good-neighbourliness and stability. To that end, they pledged to protect human rights, individual freedoms and market economies. They also agreed to work together to combat organized crime, illegal immigration, and terrorism.
The summit brought together leaders and officials from Greece, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia, Albania and Yugoslavia. To promote future cooperation, the declaration said foreign and finance ministers will meet at least once a year and political directors will consult together every three months.
In a declaration after a two-day summit on the Greek island of Crete, Balkan leaders said they should work together to create conditions for regional peace, security, good-neighbourliness and stability. To that end, they pledged to protect human rights, individual freedoms and market economies. They also agreed to work together to combat organized crime, illegal immigration, and terrorism.
The summit brought together leaders and officials from Greece, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia, Albania and Yugoslavia. To promote future cooperation, the declaration said foreign and finance ministers will meet at least once a year and political directors will consult together every three months.