Moldova takes over SEECP presidency

Moldova will take over the presidency of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) today, May 21. The mandate will be taken over at the 11th SEECP summit of heads of states and governments in Pomorie, Bulgaria. The event is joined by Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, Info-Prim Neo reports. The SEECP presidency is extremely important from the political viewpoint, and it yield valuable benefits in promoting the image of this country at the regional and international level, reads a communique issued by the Foreign Ministry. While holding this mandate, will host over 15 political and sector events, aimed at contributing to the development of the priorities in the South-East European area: economic and social development, justice and domestic affairs, education, science and research, air transportation, health, parliamentary cooperation. According to a communique issued by the Moldovan presidency, in the speech to utter at the SEECP summit, Vladimir Voronin will reiterate the importance the Moldovan authorities grant to the active participation within the SEECP, as well as in other regional European instruments, which represent a supplementary and indispensable frame of getting closer to the values, standards and principles of the EU. Vladimir Voronin will also speak about Moldova's presidency in the SEE Cooperation Process and about the perspectives of developing the cooperation within this organization. According to the Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan the period 2008-2009 represents an enormous diplomatic challenge for Moldova, as it will chair five presidencies in regional arrangements in Central and South-Eastern Europe: the Central European Initiative, CEFTA, the Multinational Advisory Group (MAG) of the Security Cooperation Center – RACVIAC, the SEE Health Network and the SEECP.