Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo (SRSG) Søren Jessen-Petersen’s speech at the meeting of South East European Prime Ministers on enlargement of the Central Europe Free Trade Area- Bucharest, 6 April 2006 -
Mr Prime Minister, European Commissioners, Dr Busek, Distinguished Prime Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you.
I salute both the Government of Romania and the Stability Pact for today’s initiative. The very high-level presence here, including that of the European Institutions, only underscores the crucial importance of the event.
I am grateful for the invitation, and I am also pleased that Prime Minister Agim Ceku is with me to represent Kosovo at this important event. Kosovo stands at a crossroads, literally and metaphorically; literally because of its geographical location, and metaphorically because of the ongoing process that will settle Kosovo’s future status, which itself will have a direct impact on the stability of whole region.
Whatever the outcome of that status, though, Kosovo – like every other place in the region – must, in order to prosper, be an integral part of regional co-operation in general, and of trade in particular.
Kosovo’s participation in this event is therefore highly welcome, both as a symbol of its status as a regional partner, and as a first step on the road to unfettered trade – and with that the political co-operation that must necessarily follow.
In fact, Pristina has already signed free trade agreements with Albania and the Republic of Macedonia, and a further agreement is pending approval in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pristina is thus ready to move beyond a network of bilateral arrangements and toward a free trade area encompassing the whole region.
Discussions on the enlargement of CEFTA are significant because CEFTA’s record of success encompasses not only trade, but also other forms of co-operation, most notably in respect of preparing its constituent parties for membership of the EU. I am sure that CEFTA will continue to play that role as it extends into all states of South Eastern Europe. As they strive towards the goal of EU accession, they are fated to co-operate politically just as they are fated to work together economically.
I know that I also speak on behalf of Prime Minister Ceku when I stress that CEFTA also carries responsibilities; responsibilities to fulfil the conditions of involvement in the process. The Provisional Institutions of Kosovo are committed to this, and we in UNMIK are committed to supporting them – for the benefit of all citizens in Kosovo, and of the wider region.
2006 will be a critical – and no doubt at times difficult – year for the countries in the region. It is therefore timely that events such as this one confirm that the European future of the entire region is clear. Today’s event marks an important further step on the journey to that future. Thank you.