"STRONG COMMITMENT" TO STABILITY PACT IN SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE;
"REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AND RIGOROUS REFORMS" RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Strong commitment to regional co-operation in the framework of the Stability Pact was the main message to emerge from the South East Europe Summit in Bucharest at the weekend (12 February). In their final declaration the Heads of State and Government of Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey emphasised their commitment to good neighbourly relations as well as economic and democratic reforms. Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with Croatia, had observer status at the Summit.

Following the signing earlier in the day of the Charter on Good-Neighbourly Relations, Stability, Security and Co-operation in South Eastern Europe, the Summit participants declared their appreciation for the "practical steps taken for the implementation of the Stability Pact" and their "strong commitment to reform and to carrying out the reform processes endorsed by the Stability Pact, starting with the Investment Compact and the Anti-Corruption Initiative".

Bodo Hombach, Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact, expressed his enthusiastic support for the approach taken by the regional leaders. After extensive bilateral consultations with the Romanian hosts - including Prime Minister Mugur Igarescu and Foreign Minister Pietre Roman - ending late on Sunday (13 February) the Special Coordinator said: "The Charter signed at the weekend is a significant achievement of the countries of south eastern Europe, and an important contribution to the implementation of the Stability Pact. This is a step toward a better future. Prime Minister Isarescu and Foreign Minister Roman made clear in their talks with me that realistic expectations combined with rigorous reforms were the recipe for success. I expect the Stability Pact Financing Conference at the end of March to respond to the efforts of the region with aid measured in billions of Euros".