Embassy of Bulgaria / Press Release (96-05-22)

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From: Embassy of Bulgaria <bulgaria@access1.digex.net>

EMBASSY OF BULGARIA - WASHINGTON D.C.

CONTENTS

[01] BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN SOFIA JUNE 8,9

[02] ANNEX: AGENDA OF THE MEETING

[01] BALKAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET IN SOFIA JUNE 8,9

A broad range of observers have also been invited, among them the Presidency of the European Union and the European Commission; Members of the Contact Group; the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the Chairmen of Black Sea Economic Co-operation and of the Central-European Initiative and international financial institutions.

During the meeting a press-center will be set up to help journalists cover the event. Foreign journalists who wish to be accredited for the meeting can do so at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs till the 5th of June and directly at the press-center afterwards. A letter of accreditation from the journalists' employer (news organisation) can be faxed to numbers (+3592) 703041 and 704186 in Sofia.

Additional information is available by phone number (+3592)704416.

Contact at the Embassy: Michayl Christov, press attache, phone 202 387 7969

[02] ANNEX: AGENDA OF THE MEETING

1. Measures to enhance stability, security and good neighborly relations in the Region:
1.1. Development of good-neighborly relations
1.2. Confidence and security building measures.
1.3. Exchange of views on the contribution of the countries of the region to the implementation of the general Framework Agreement on Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

2. Measures to enhance multilateral economic and trade co- operation in the Region.
2.1. Trans-border co-operation: interaction with EU programs as well as other international institutions; multilateral and bilateral agreements; elaboration of a joint regional program, including environmental protection.
2.2. Development of transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructure: elaboration of a common position on the transport projects which are situated along the trans-European corridors crossing the region; upgrading and modernization of regional transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructure; attracting investments and transforming the infrastructure in the region into an integral part of the European infrastructure.
2.3. Promotion of trade and investment:
Trade promotion: measures on mutual facilitation of trade access, on harmonizing trade practices and encouraging sub regional trade; consideration of a Regional Center for trade promotion; ensuring EU, WTO and UN support for this process.
Investment promotion: creating a climate conductive to investments in the region with the objective of stable economic growth, development of infrastructure and trans- border co-operation; engaging the International financial institutions, EU and countries with substantial investment capacity.
2.4. Identification of other areas for enhanced multilateral co- operation, where progress can be reached relatively quickly.

3. Promotion of humanitarian, social and cultural co- operation: on the basis of international obligations and universal principles such as: freedom of travel for personal and professional reasons; freedom of contacts, of family ties, reunification of divided families; free individual contacts in the fields of science, culture, sports and tourism; freedom of access to and exchange of information and co-operation in this area.

4. Co-operation in the field of justice, combat of organized crime, illicit drugs, arms trafficking and elimination of terrorism; elaboration of regional programs and measures for joint combatting trafficking and all acts and practices of terrorism, complementing national efforts in this respect.

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