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The summit gathered presidents or prime ministers of Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Moldova, Turkey, and a minister from Serbia, as well as EU members Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria. The UN-administered Serbian province of Kosovo is also represented.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel -- whose country currently holds the rotating EU Presidency -- told the summit that Southeastern Europe is at a crossroads. Merkel said the region was still threatened by forces that could lead it to instability and isolation.
U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns is also attending the summit.
The gathering is to confirm a decision on establishing a new Regional Cooperation Council, which is to replace the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe in early 2008.
Addressing the meeting on May 10, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn praised Balkan countries for making the "historic" progress needed to take over the responsibility of developing their own ties.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
Posted May 11th, 2007 by Dinka
