[21/March/2010]

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Slovenia, March 20 (Saba) -- Western Balkans nations have ended a conference here with an agreement to adopt a "culture of dialogue" in an effort to build greater regional trust, the respective prime ministers of Slovenia and Croatia, Borut Pahor and Jadranka Kosor, announced Saturday, according to Xinhua.

Seven prime ministers from the Western Balkans signed a joint declaration that reaffirmed their commitment to joining the EU, their respect for European standards and their commitment to pursue the necessary reforms. The declaration also called on the EU to "maintain the enlargement process high on its agenda".

Along with the co-sponsors of Slovenia and Croatia, Nikola Spiric of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Nikola Gruevski of Macedonia, Hashim Thaci of Kosovo, Milo Djukanovic of Montenegro and Sali Berisha, prime minister of Albania, attended the conference, entitled "Together for the European Union: Contribution of the Western Balkans to the European Future."

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele and Lamberto Zanier, head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), also attended.

At the press conference, Prime Minister Pahor said the leaders discussed, behind closed doors, a variety of problems from EU integration, to inter-regional disagreements and problems pertaining to the fact that certain regional states do not officially recognize each other.

There was speculation in the days preceding the conference that it would be cancelled when Serbian President Boris Tadic indicated he would not attend if Kosovo was recognized as an international state. Consistent with previous events, Serbia, which disputes the legality of Kosovo's self-declared independence, boycotted this conference. Bosnia and Herzegovina also does not recognize Kosovo.

Pahor praised the Bosnian prime minister for attending the conference, despite reservations and in spite of the fact that his country does not have diplomatic relations with Kosovo.

"We need bridges of cooperation, interpersonal respect and a climate of dialogue and then problems become solvable," said Kosor, the Croatian co-host. The relationship between Slovenia and Croatia was cited by both hosts as an example for others in the region to follow. Despite a border dispute which led to Slovenia blocking Croatia's EU accession process, a model to overcome the impasse was eventually found through bi-lateral discussion.

The leaders in attendance also agreed to set up a similar conference for economic ministers in the region in the near future.

Saba