Serbia and BiH did not support the declaration after the Summit in Tirana

(Patria) - The Summit of Heads of State of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) was held in Tirana within the framework of the Albanian presidency of this initiative, and Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina did not support the joint declaration.

At the end of the summit, the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, the President of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, and the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, whose country will next take over the presidency of the initiative, issued a joint statement. The declaration was not supported by Serbia, represented by Prime Minister Đuro Macut, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Chairwoman of the Presidency of BiH, Željka Cvijanović.

Begaj said that the SEECP summit spurred efforts to strengthen stability and prosperity through regional cooperation and integration into the European Union.

He recalled that the motto of the Albanian presidency of the initiative was “Shaping our European future”.

“The discussions served to deepen constructive dialogue and affirm our commitment to a common European future. Integration remains a key step towards a more united and secure Europe. The region's potential for development is great. The European Union accession process is a transformative tool for promoting peace, stability, and prosperity,” said Begaj.

Begaj added that the war in Ukraine clearly showed that peace, security, and stability in Southeast Europe are part of the broader European security architecture.

“Albania expresses concern over the growing tensions between Israel and Iran. This conflict has serious consequences for the Middle East and beyond,” he said.

He added that Albania is moving rapidly towards European integration, adding that Tirana's strategic goal remains the completion of the negotiation process by 2027 and EU membership by 2030.

- Begaj: Serbia and BiH rejected the Declaration from the summit -

Meanwhile, Begaj told the media that the Declaration from the summit in Tirana was supported by the majority of SEECP member states, but that Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina rejected it.

“Belgrade and Sarajevo had their demands regarding security issues,” said Begaj.

Begaj stated that the issue of sanctions against Kosovo is an unfair issue and that, in his opinion, it should have been resolved long before.

- Davkova: There are obstacles that have stopped or hindered European integration -

The President of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, stated that there are obstacles that have stopped or hindered the European integration of the region and added that changes are needed in this process.

She added that they are facing an exodus and depopulation, and that young people are leaving the countries, emphasizing that this is a significant trend that must be stopped.

“We should not become a geo-economic periphery. We need cooperation in infrastructure, energy, and digitalization, because through cooperation, we will build a more competitive region. I often say that we should not expect to be respected if we do not respect ourselves. We support common integration and the integration of our market into the European Union,” she said.

Davkova added that she believes in regional unity.

- Bulgarian President: Our goal is to accelerate the European integration of the countries in the region -

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev announced that by presiding over the initiative, they will not only further develop what has been achieved so far but also do their best to resolve and overcome all challenges facing the region and other countries.

He said that results-oriented cooperation is key to the region's development as a place of security, stability, and progress.

“For this reason, the priorities of the presidency will naturally be focused precisely on accelerating the European integration of the countries in the region on the basis of merit,” he said.

He also addressed the President of North Macedonia regarding her statement about obstacles to European integration.

“We are not talking about unresolved bilateral relations. We are not talking about a veto or stopping the process of a neighboring country, but everyone understands that since the European consensus of 1992, we have been talking about internal challenges to the rule of law and human rights. I would like to assure you that Bulgaria is the closest country and has a burning desire to extend a hand and help so that your society and state can respond more quickly to the challenges and implement the Copenhagen criteria,” he said.

The Southeast European Cooperation Process was launched in 1996 and is a regional initiative aimed at creating an atmosphere of trust, good neighborly relations, and stability.

The initiative includes Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece,