The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, held consultations in Berne today with the Deputy State Secretary of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Pierre Helg, on cooperation among RCC members and upcoming projects in the organization’s priority areas of economic and social development, infrastructure and energy, justice and home affairs, security cooperation, building human capital, and parliamentary cooperation.

The two officials also discussed the situation in South East Europe. Secretary General Biscevic stressed three main messages he is conveying throughout the region: additional urgency that the countries of the region need to apply with reference to the EU integration, greater self-responsibility, and perseverance with reform projects connected to EU accession. He announced preparation of a high-level conference planned for December 2009, together with the upcoming Swedish EU Presidency, that would focus on stimulating development in the region.

Deputy State Secretary Helg commended the work and results of the RCC. He expressed his Government’s support to the RCC activities, especially in light of the announced December conference. He added that South East Europe is a priority region for Switzerland.

During his visit to the Swiss capital, the RCC Secretary General also met Assistant Director General and Head of Department for the Cooperation with Eastern Europe and CIS of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Therese Adam, and presented her with the upcoming and planned RCC projects. Adam expressed her full support to the work of the RCC and its Secretariat.