Thessaloniki, 28/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Conference on Democracy, Stability and Cooperation in South East Europe, sponsored in Thessaloniki (Greece) by the European People's Party (EPP) and the European Democratic Union (EDU), together with the EP group, concluded on Saturday with adoption of a declaration drafted by Christian Democrats Wim van Velzen (CDA, Netherlands) and Doris Pack (CDU, Germany). Conference participants, who included representatives of conservative and centre-right parties from the Balkans region, underlined the necessity of boosting cooperation by the countries of South East Europe. They asserted that the Reconstruction Centre should perform all its Stability Pact work from its offices in Thessaloniki. Noting the importance of agriculture for all countries of the region, they called for a more effective mine-clearing programme. They also noted that the perspective of accession to the European Union is extremely important. The EPP and EDU called on all parties involved to respect and implement the Dayton Agreement and the Kosovo Agreement. They also voiced the hope that, with the new government in Croatia, the Dayton Agreement would function better, especially in reference to the refugee problem. The EPP/EDU called upon the authorities of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in particular in the Republika Srpska, to do the same. They highlighted the necessity of helping democratic parties in the region and recommended a selective lifting of the embargo and the integration of the Serbian people into Europe.
On a proposal from the Greek Nea Demokratia party, the Konstantinos Karamanlis Institute will host in Thessaloniki a secretariat charged with coordinating the activities of EPP/EDU foundations in South East Europe. These bodies, which include the Robert Schuman Foundation and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, will boost their activities in the region in the areas of: (1) training of political party personnel with seminars in different Balkan cities; the EPP/ED group in the European Parliament also agreed to extend its stagiaire programme to countries of the region; (2) political and technical support for the preparation of elections, communication with the media and the development of new policies and strategies in different areas; (3) the development of bilateral cooperation between an EPP/EDU party and a party from the region. The secretariat could become operational in a matter of days.
Opening the conference, EPP President Wilfried Martens recalled that the oldest flag of Greek Macedonia had been found in Thessaloniki, but also that Mustapha Kemal was born in this city. Regretting Turkish authorities' refusal to allow a European Parliament delegation to visit Leila Zana (see EUROPE of 23 February, p. 8) Mr Martens said Turkey had to give a "clear signal" of its will to respect human rights and the rule of law. And he added: "Turkey is welcome, provided it respects EU values." Concerning Kosovo, he said that patience is still needed by both populations that continue to suffer and NATO personnel, who will have to stay as long as necessary. He then criticised the remarks of a Greek Minister who, in the context of the elections scheduled for 9 April, said Greece would have serious difficulties joining the euro if Nea Democratia were elected. Mr Martens pointed out that the criteria for participation in the euro have been in existence for a long time and apply irrespective of the party in office.
Hans-Gert Pöttering, Chair of the EPP/ED Group in the European Parliament, insisted on the need for "cleaning house" ahead of enlargement. After describing the Union's institutions and their activities based on shared sovereignty and subsidiarity, he recalled Parliament's different requests of the Intergovernmental Conference and its wish to see the EU take in new members before the end of the EP term in 2004. Observing that with a contribution of EUR 7.5 billion, the European Union is the largest fund donor under the Stability Pact, EDU President Sauli Niinisto stressed the EU's leading role in the region. The Chair of the EP Delegation for South East Europe, Doris Pack, regretted that it took the Kosovo crisis to understand that the problems of this region cannot be dealt with in isolation. She argued for creation of a regional forum to promote comprehension and reconciliation. Mrs Pack also insisted on the role of education and history and the importance of a revision of education programmes and systems in all the countries of the region with a view to promoting reconciliation.
Assisting Croatia, bringing Serbia back into Europe
"The HDZ lost the elections in Croatia. This is very good for Croatia and the HDZ", said former Croat Foreign Minister Mate Granic, adding that the HDZ had made a lot of errors lately (breaches of democratic rules, development of corruption and crime and incomprehension of the refugee problem). "I firmly support the new President because of his clear democratic stance", he said, adding that the new government needs international help to solve the refugee problem. Mr Granic then called for enhanced regional cooperation, notably in transport infrastructures, the signing of bilateral agreements on the protection of minorities and the approval by all countries of the framework convention on minorities. Such cooperation is also essential for combating organised crime, said Mr Granic, who went on to call for the establishment of training programmes for the political and administrative personnel of parties.
"Every day with Milosevic in office we move backwards another year", said Vladan Batic, President of the Alliance for Change in Serbia, adding that "the opposition must meet the challenge of bringing the country back into Europe and the world". He highlighted the necessity of building confidence in democracy and criticised the international community for failing to fulfil its mission in Kosovo: "The only thing that has changed are the victims. One genocide cannot replace another". The Mayor of Nis, Zoran Zivkovic, also accused the international community of not doing its job. "I cannot accept the financial argument. The bombings cost much more than the setting into place of police forces and an effective administration", he said, before insisting on a lifting of sanctions as a means of helping the opposition restore the people's hope.
Making the concluding remarks, Nea Demokratia President Kostas Karamanlis: i) insisted on the necessity of promoting mutual confidence between peoples and countries of the region; ii) said the maintenance of sanctions against the Belgrade regime has contributed to the development of organised crime in the region.