ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Tuesday, ''the trilateral summit meetings to be held with the participation of presidents of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, will constitute a model for other regional countries as a beneficial forum, which will contribute to peace and stability in the Balkans and the Black Sea Basin.''
Holding a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure for Romania, President Sezer said, ''the sixth trilateral summit meetings among Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria will be held in Romania this year. The trilateral summit meetings to be held with the participation of presidents of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, will constitute a model for other regional countries as a beneficial forum, which will contribute to peace and stability in the Balkans and the Black Sea Basin.''
''Our meetings make valuable contributions to efforts to strengthen close cooperation and solidarity among our countries. During my visit to Romania, I will have the opportunity to meet separately with President Ion Iliescu of Romania and President Georgi Purvanov of Bulgaria. During this year's meetings, we will exchange views on recent developments in the Balkans and international problems concerning our countries,'' he said.
President Sezer told reporters, ''issues such as opportunities to further develop tripartite cooperation among Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria; roles to be undertaken by Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, as allies of the future, in improvement of stability and security in the region; Southeast European Countries Cooperation Process; possible results of cooperation of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria in regional initiatives such as the Southeast European Stability Pact and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation; development of economic and commercial partnership in our region; and energy and transportation corridors will be taken up at the meetings.''
''I believe that trilateral summit meetings will further strengthen our cooperation in line with joint interests of our countries, and make an important contribution to peace, stability and prosperity in Southeastern Europe,'' he added.
(UK-AY) 03.06.2003