[english.cri.cn] Five Southeast European countries signed in Belgrade on Friday a ministerial declaration on border security in the region, in which they express readiness to fulfill the required standards for joining the European Union and the Schengen Agreement.
The declaration adopted at the sixth annual ministerial conference on security cooperation in Southeast Europe was signed by the interior ministers of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
The ministers said that border security, as one of the crucial conditions for full-fledged EU membership, was of vital importance for the citizens.
The declaration also said that the progress which has been made so far in terms of border security in Southeast Europe leads to visa liberalization, and eventually to a full abolishment of visas.
The ministers backed the setting up of a joint coordination center, which will enable a better cooperation between national border services.
The document said that some of the goals that have to be fulfilled by 2012 include adjustment to European legal standards regarding border security and a better harmonization of border checking and surveillance with the provisions of the Schengen Agreement.
Speaking after signing the declaration, Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that "the brotherhood and unity among the nations in the former Yugoslavia" had been reduced to "the brotherhood and unity of criminal groups" and that now was time for the unity of regional ministries of the interior and police forces to enable the countries in the region to successfully fight organized crime.
The conference, which opened on Thursday, was organized by the Serbian Interior Ministry and the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces. Besides the five countries, the conference was also attended by interior ministers from Croatia and EU countries Italy, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
Croatia took part in the conference as a partner helping other countries in the region.
Source: http://english.cri.cn/6966/2009/03/07/1461s461279.htm
