Distinguished Mr. President Vujanovic,
Distinguished Mr. President Nishani,
Distinguished Madame President Jahjaga,

At the outset, let me express my thankfulness to our esteemed host, President Vujanovic, for the extended hospitality in the splendid city of Budva. By organizing this, fourth in a row, regional presidential summit, the first cycle of meetings has been accomplished, aimed at enhanced bilateral and regional cooperation and European future for our citizens.

We all know the rules of the game. Exchange, cooperation and unity for all issues of common interest. Starting from European and Euro-Atlantic integration, through strengthening of the democratic processes, the rule of law and implementation of European reforms; through economic cooperation, energy and infrastructure connectivity, cross-border cooperation, fight against organized crime and corruption, to environmental protection and cooperation in the field of education, culture and tourism.

Our peoples often say for someone who has said an obvious thing that he has “re-discovered America”. Our expectation today is, indeed, not to do what Columbus did exactly 520 years ago. We are here to find a way how to make the capital functional which has been accumulated in the past three years, since the commencement of this regional cooperation. We are here to see how this regional cooperation can be put in place for the real needs of the citizens of our countries.

The lowest common denominator of our regional cooperation should certainly be the good neighborly relations. We must not lose sight of the fact that the good neighborly relations are a two-way street. This kind of cooperation is, however, a crossroads of more intersected two-way streets. It speaks of the great possibilities and potentials for cooperation that need to be further exploited.

Good neighborly relations are essential so that we can better and faster hook our crossroad to the European institutional highway. Neighborly relations, along with regional cooperation, are indispensable tool to change the perception within our region and towards our region and a prerequisite for continued EU integration.

Distinguished attendees,

Not long ago I participated at the PanEuropa Congress in Vienna, where I spoke on behalf of all the countries that are in the waiting room of the European Union. On that occasion, I reminded the European leadership that despite enlargement fatigue, there is also tiredness of waiting. I stressed that it is time to speed up the enlargement process for the countries of our region to be admitted in our common home - Europe.

In the past period, our region, in general, has made a step forward in the European integration. Croatia is at the gates of Europe. We experience Croatia’s success as our success, as success of our region. However, we must not forget the other countries in the region that are still stuck in the waiting room of Europe.

In October this year, the European Commission recommended Albania to be granted candidate status to join the European Union. Bosnia and Herzegovina is preparing to submit its application for EU membership, Montenegro started its accession negotiations, Serbia is already a candidate country. Macedonia is a candidate country since 2005, and is eagerly awaiting the date to start negotiations. Few weeks ago, we received the fourth positive European Commission Report on Republic of Macedonia’s progress. In the report, the European Commission, fourth time in a row, recommends the European Council to start European Union membership negotiations with Macedonia. It is time to accelerate the enlargement process and our countries be admitted to our genuine home - Europe.

There is a new window of opportunity in front of us. We are eagerly waiting the conclusions of the European Council sitting next week. I believe this is a chance for the European leadership to show consistency with the primary idea of Europe as a peace project. Whilst pessimists see the crisis as a threat, optimists see it as an opportunity. The crisis facing Europe bears in itself exactly an opportunity to attain the vision of the fathers of Europe.

It is true that some things do not depend on us. However, there are many things that do depend on us. Notably, good neighborly relations, as I said, are a two-way street.

Indeed, we want to be not only part of the European institutional highway, but also physically and realistically connected to the European infrastructure and energy corridors. Geography determines economy and politics, but also security and stability.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Last year in Ohrid, my proposal was one of the priorities to be the provision of energy security and stability, infrastructure and energy connectivity for our countries.

I am strongly convinced that connecting the Adriatic-Ionian Highway with Corridors 8 and 10 is an excellent opportunity to achieve this goal.

Adriatic-Ionian Highway enables connection of Central Europe to Greece, to Turkey, to the ports. We must not forget that the level of cooperation between our economies, our business communities is really dependant on the infrastructure connectivity.

We can sign a number of memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements in the field of economy, but only if our corridors are physically linked, this cooperation would bring true and long-term positive results, beneficial for our countries.

I assume that we should give this initiative a chance. I deem that we need to open the road, in the truest sense of the word, to our business people, our companies, to collaborate, to be connected. As the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Kosovo need to join the Corridor 10, the Republic of Macedonia needs to join the Adriatic-Ionian Highway. And we will all benefit from it. Our countries and the countries of Central Europe will have an alternative route to supply its markets, as well as for tourist travels to the East.

Einstein said that time and space is relative. And he was right. Today, time passes so quickly. Patience of industries, companies, travelers is diminished. Connecting Corridors 8 and 10 with the Adriatic-Ionian Highway will significantly reduce the time required for transport of people and goods, and thus will narrow the space.

Economic indicators speak of the necessity. Trade exchange of the Republic of Macedonia with your countries in the course of this year is approximately 350 million Dollars. It is far below the level of our political relations. I believe we can do much more in this regard. Not only to increase the trade, but also to be present jointly in third markets. Our intention is to replace the economic dependence of our countries and our region with economic interdependence.

We need cooperation in utilizing the Union’s pre-accession funds through joint projects. The cooperation will, thus, be fostered and the unity further promoted on the path to the European Union. As most successful are proven, within the European Union, those regions that have cooperated in the projects.

Excellencies,

Today we are in this wonderful old city that 33 years ago most directly felt the wrath of nature. The earthquake that struck Budva in 1979, as well as the 1963 Skopje earthquake, reminds us that disaster risks are a reality we have to bear in mind.

We can not stop earthquakes and climate change. Oftentimes, we can not prevent violent fires, coming floods and stifling droughts. Even epidemics, pollution and nuclear accidents are sometimes a real challenge for our capabilities. But we can and must help our countries get prepared. We can and must be prepared for the future predictable and unpredictable risks, in order to provide a safer future for our posterity. Disaster risks never acknowledge and recognize political, ethnic or religious differences and national boundaries. Disaster risks are a reality we can best face only if we collaborate for the benefit of all.

Cooperation is necessary in the field of environmental protection, too. Mountains, lakes and rivers were once seen as natural boundaries that separated us. Today they must be seen as something that connects us through the shared effort to protect them. Policy and decision makers are responsible for the present generation, but also for the generations to come. We must not forget that the present is something that we borrow from the future generations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today’s discussion topic is: Cooperation towards Progress: Challenges and Responses.

One of the challenges we constantly face is the negative image that exists in the world for our region. In part, that image is a result of the recent turbulent past that we slowly leave behind us and focus on the future. But this negative perception is also sustained by a contemporary problem, and that is the organized crime and corruption. Joint efforts are needed in the fight against the cancer that destroys our societies, economies and systems.

As for organized crime there are no ethnic, religious nor language barriers, for the competent authorities of our countries there should be no barriers as well in the fight against organized crime and corruption. Security for our citizens, for our societies and countries is what we want.

In light of this is the rule of law reform. We are not implementing the reforms only for the sake of Brussels and the European Union to which we strive. We are primarily implementing them because of us, our citizens. There is a lot we can share with others; we have experience that we can exchange.

It will contribute to strengthening the overall security and stability of our country and our region.

Esteemed Colleagues,

I am confident that working in close cooperation on these issues, we will build a region in which geo-cultural reality, cultural, ethnic, religious, linguistic diversity will be respected. It is the only way to build relations in which the resolution of all outstanding issues will be carried out through dialogue. Only in this way we will create stability and security for every one of us, we will create economic interdependence.

Thank you.