Q:
A:
Western Balkan countries closer to EU standards
Belgrade,
7 April 2006
Serbian Minister of Interior Dragan Jocic said today at the opening of the regional forum of the Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI) that the three-year functioning of that project represents another confirmation of the fact that the countries of the Western Balkans are unmistakably getting closer to the standards of the EU.
Author:
FoNet
Opening the third meeting of the forum being held at the Palace of the State Union, Jocic said that this progress is being made by strengthening regional cooperation in Southeastern Europe, effective and coordinated implementation of reforms in the national legislation in the areas of asylum, refugees, integrated regulation of borders and visa regimes, as well as alignment of practices in these areas on a national and regional level.
He said that the Serbian government and the Serbian Ministry of Interior are completely open to strengthening and expanding cooperation with the international community and countries of Southeastern Europe. He added that in that context support will be given to all initiatives and continued arrangements of all the most important institutions of the international community, but also to all other efforts that aim to establish this region as a factor of stability, peace and tolerance.
According to Jocic, in the process of further building up the capacity for joint activities and establishing common aims and cooperation, member countries of the MARRI must keep in mind that this does not destroy national identities.
Jocic expressed hope that the region of Southeastern Europe will become a zone of permanent peace and stability with the aid of international community and particularly the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, the EU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). He said that the countries members of this initiative will do everything for this region to become the place of the rule of law and all other prerequisites that will allow faster integration into the EU.
The meeting today addressed verification of results achieved during the previous year as well as the adoption of directives and decisions for next year.
Members of the Regional Initiative include Serbia-Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Macedonia.
The objective of MARRI is to assist in enhancing regional cooperation, facilitate and coordinate developments in the fields of asylum, migration, visa, border management and sustainability of return and to meet international and EU standards.
This meeting was the last one presided over by Serbia-Montenegro and this role will be taken over by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the next period.
He said that the Serbian government and the Serbian Ministry of Interior are completely open to strengthening and expanding cooperation with the international community and countries of Southeastern Europe. He added that in that context support will be given to all initiatives and continued arrangements of all the most important institutions of the international community, but also to all other efforts that aim to establish this region as a factor of stability, peace and tolerance.
According to Jocic, in the process of further building up the capacity for joint activities and establishing common aims and cooperation, member countries of the MARRI must keep in mind that this does not destroy national identities.
Jocic expressed hope that the region of Southeastern Europe will become a zone of permanent peace and stability with the aid of international community and particularly the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, the EU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). He said that the countries members of this initiative will do everything for this region to become the place of the rule of law and all other prerequisites that will allow faster integration into the EU.
The meeting today addressed verification of results achieved during the previous year as well as the adoption of directives and decisions for next year.
Members of the Regional Initiative include Serbia-Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Macedonia.
The objective of MARRI is to assist in enhancing regional cooperation, facilitate and coordinate developments in the fields of asylum, migration, visa, border management and sustainability of return and to meet international and EU standards.
This meeting was the last one presided over by Serbia-Montenegro and this role will be taken over by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the next period.
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