SARAJEVO, JUNE 13 (ONASA) – The ministerial meeting of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) was held today, June 13, organized by the Republic of North Macedonia, ending its one-year presidency.
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the most important regional organization based in Sarajevo, which brings together twenty-five countries, fourteen of which are EU members, as many as five countries from the G20 format, in its Board of Directors.
At today’s meeting of foreign ministers of the Cooperation Process in Southeast Europe, in which the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Elmedin Konaković also participates, the candidate of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Amer Kapetanović, was appointed by consensus of 13 countries as the new Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
Amer Kapetanović, a long-time BiH diplomat with work experience in management positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, and many years of experience in the responsible position of political director of the RCC, was proposed at the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH and after the unanimous decision of the Presidency of BiH.
Confirmation of Kapetanović’s appointment is expected today at the SEECP Leaders’ Summit.
The RCC plays an important operational role in the Berlin Process, which in the last ten years has become an important catalyst of the EU enlargement process to the Western Balkans.
It is an organization under whose leadership roaming in the Western Balkans was abolished, the price of roaming towards the EU was reduced, and four mobility agreements were signed. The RCC, together with CEFTA, plays a key role in the implementation of the Action Plan for the establishment of a single regional market, which is one of the important assumptions for the implementation of the EU Growth and Development Plan for the Western Balkans.
With today’s unanimous appointment of the candidate of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Amer Kapetanović, as the general secretary of this important regional organization, a strong message of good cooperation and unity of the region was sent.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković addressing the audience
stated that the cooperation process in Southeast Europe serves as a key forum for solving common challenges, fostering trust and strengthening regional ties.
He emphasized that this is very important to us because regional cooperation is one of the key priorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s foreign policy.
The Minister stated that the SEECP is the main platform that provides assistance to aspirants on our way to membership in the European Union, as it promotes the values and standards of the Union. He reiterated that this year in March, a turning point was made on BiH’s path towards the EU with the EU Council’s decision to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and confirmed that we remain committed to the further progress of the reform program on our way to joining the EU, it has been harmonized but we are still harmonizing our foreign policy with the EU, with its declarations, decisions and positions, and we will continue to do so in the future.
The Minister praised the work and constructive role of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in many aspects of our developing regional cooperation and added that the RCC remains a vital partner in our region, as it has played a key role in the development of practical and successful regional cooperation that offers tangible results.
Given the clear determination of Bosnia and Herzegovina to contribute to the development of good neighborly relations and regional cooperation, the appointment of representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina to leadership positions in international organizations and regional forums enables Bosnia and Herzegovina to gain greater visibility and improve its image as an impartial intermediary and mediator in interstate issues. (end)