Conference of parliamentary speakers of countries participating in the South-East European Cooperation Process was held in Sofia today. At the seventh conference held in Bulgaria which is chairing the South-East European Cooperation Process, parliament speakers of the region signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Interparliamentary Cooperation in South East Europe and adopted a Declaration which will be the foundations of future cooperation and activities of the countries of the region. The Memorandum of Understanding on Interparliamentary Cooperation in South East Europe was signed by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Miloljub Albijanic.

At the meeting of Heads of State and Government of the countries participating in the South-East European Cooperation Process in May 2007 in Zagreb, the countries of the region, aware of the importance of regional cooperation, made the decision to transfer the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe into regional ownership. As a result of this decision, realised with the help of European Union member states and its institutions, the Regional Cooperation Council for South Eastern European Countries was set up, with headquarters in Sarajevo, as the coordinator of the development of the cooperation of South Eastern European countries, and Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Cooperation with headquarters in Bulgaria, as the coordination centre for parliamentary activities.

As is stated in the Memorandum of Understanding on Interparliamentary Cooperation in South East Europe, the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Cooperation represents a forum for negotiation, consultations, cooperation and exchange of views and experiences, aiming to develop god neighbourly relations and regional cooperation.

All regional initiatives so far are of particular importance for Serbia, starting from cooperation within CEFTA, cooperation within the energy community of South Eastern Europe, cooperation of European Integrations Committees, and Cetinje Parliamentary Forum in which the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia is still actively involved. All abovementioned initiatives aim to draw Serbia closer to and connect it with the European Union through regional cooperation, which is one of the priorities of Serbia’s foreign policy, but, above all, to alleviate the development of a region of peace, stability and economic prosperity.