"The political declaration of the Southeast Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP) has been approved by all countries participating at the meeting despite the fact that towards its end the Serbian delegation did leave in protest", declared Bulgaria's Premier Minister Sergey Stanishev, after the meeting's conclusion.

The 11th meeting of the Southeast Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP) took place in the Bulgarian sea resort of Pomorie Wednesday. The meeting was held under the leadership of Bugaria's Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev. At the forum Bulgaria officially took the chairmanship of SEECP from Moldova while the Regional Cooperation Council announced the start of its activity.

The participants issued a joint declaration stating their mutual engagement and firm resolve to lead the countries from Southeastern Europe towards European integration.

The strategic program of the Regional Cooperation Council for the 2008-2009 period was also adopted at the meeting.

The report about the work executed by the Bulgarian representatives in the organization, presented at the meeting, received very high marks by participants from other countries.

The candidature of Stanislav Daskalov, diplomat and former Foreign Minister to become responsible about the connection between the organization and the European Commission was approved by the meeting's leaders as well.

Towards the meeting's end Serbia's delegation, headed by the President Boris Tadic, left in protest after the Kosovo delegate Skender Hiseni was allowed to speak.

According to the Serbian representative, the political director of UNMIK Dzolio Nagele has violated the procedure by giving the right to speak to Hiseni, who presented himself as Kosovo's foreign minister.

The Serbian delegation reacted but after its objection was rejected, it proceeded to leaving the meeting.

Serbia's President Boris Tadic declared his country would never give up its territorial integrity as well as its EU perspective.

"Serbia will never recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, and no one has the right to set this as a condition for its EU membership", Tadic said adding his state had the legitimate right to become a EU member.

Earlier during the meeting PM Sergey Stanishev met with the Montenegro's PM Milo Djukanovic. Both agreed on the need of more intensive cultural and economic contacts between the two countries especially in the areas of tourism, transportation and consular relationships.

Montenegro's PM praised Bulgaria's consistent support for Montenegro's European integration and informed his Bulgarian colleague about the political and economical situation in Montenegro.

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