ANKARA - Turkey reaffirmed on Thursday its determination to maintain its active support to the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP).
Turkey had supported the activities of the process from the outset, a statement of Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
"Turkey also contributed to efforts aiming to prepare and update the charter of the process," the statement also said.
The statement said that Turkey`s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan represented Turkey in the SECP meeting held in Pomorie, Bulgaria on May 21st, 2008.
In the meeting, the participants decided that Turkey would undertake the rotating presidency of the SECP from May 2009 to May 2010.
Thus, Turkey was invited to the SECP troika as of May and would continue to be in the troika till May 2011.
"Turkey will make more contributions to peace and stability in the Balkans, to which it attaches great importance, thanks to its role as the president of the SECP," the ministry said in the statement.
The South East European Co-operation Process was launched on Bulgaria`s initiative in 1996. At the Bulgaria-chaired meeting in Sofia, the SEE countries laid the foundations for regional co-operation for the purposes of creating an atmosphere of trust, good neighbourly relations and stability.
The basic goals of regional co-operation within SEECP include the strengthening of security and political situation, intensification of economic relations and co-operation in human resources, democracy, justice, and battle against illegal activities.
It includes Turkey, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Greece.
The SEECP is a regional non-institutionalised process co-ordinated by the presiding country. The SEECP presidency lasts for one year and is rotated among the members.
(BRC)