Within the framework of the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) a meeting of the Ministers of Defence of the countries from the region will be held in Sofia on March 11th 2008. The forum’s topic is “Defence policy for security, cooperation and development of Southeastern Europe”.
SEECP is a forum for diplomatic and political dialogue, in which Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Croatia and Montenegro, are participating.
The main priority of SEECP’s Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office is the consolidation of the stability in the region and strengthening the regional cooperation in a close interaction with the European Union.
This is happening in the context of the current transformation of the regional cooperation in SEE and implementing the “regional ownership” principle. Another important aspect of the events during the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office is the work on the transformation of the Stability Pact and inauguration of a new structure – the Regional Cooperation Council, as of March 1st 2008.
The upcoming meeting will be the first ever of that kind that will enable a review of the existing mechanisms of cooperation in field of defence as well as outline the priorities in the work of the newly established Regional Cooperation Council in this area.
History
This initiative started back in July 1996 in Sofia within the framework of meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the countries from Southeastern Europe. At that meeting a decision was taken to develop a long-term process of multilateral cooperation between the member countries in the following areas:
 Strengthening of stability, security and good neighborly relations;
Economic development;
Humanitarian, social and cultural issues;
Justice, fighting organized crime, illegal traffic of drugs, weapons and terrorism;
Program
The Meeting will take place on March 11th 2008 at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia. The International Press Center will be situated in Hall 3. The detailed media program will be available after accreditation. All media events will be broadcasted live to the media centre via closed TV circuits.
09.00 – 10.00 - Opening of the meeting
10.00 – 10.30 - Coffee break and “family photo” of the Ministers of Defence
10.30 – 11.15 - Plenary session
11.15 – 11.40 - Coffee break
11.40 – 13.00 - Plenary session
14.30 – 15.00 - Press Conference
Venue
The Meeting will take place at the National Palace of Culture /NCC/ located in the center of Sofia. The International Press Center is situated in NCC in Hall 3.
Accreditation and Security
Those who would like to cover the Meeting have to send their accreditation to the Press Center of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Accreditation forms can be downloaded from the web page of the MoD: www.mod.bg.
The filled in accreditation forms have to be sent by e-mail at:  or by fax: 9873-228.
The deadline is March 4th 2008. Accreditation forms received after that date won’t be considered.
Accreditation form
 Download the Accreditation Form in PDF format 
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