ISTANBUL/SARAJEVO – The ministers of foreign affairs of the states participating in the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) re-appointed Hido Biscevic as the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), at their meeting in Istanbul today.

The re-appointment is for the period until 31 December 2012.

“It has been a privilege to serve the interests of South East European people to the best of my abilities for the past almost three years”, said Biscevic.

“This re-appointment is both an honour and an obligation. Rest assured that I will do my utmost to justify the confidence given and dedicate my time just as vigorously to promoting mutual cooperation and European and Euro-Atlantic integration of South East Europe, in order to inspire development in the region to the benefit of its people.”

The foreign ministers also approved the 2009-2010 Annual Report of the RCC Secretary General on regional cooperation in South East Europe as well as the RCC Strategy and Work Programme for 2011-2013, which will serve as the basis for the organization’s operation in the years to come.

Hido Biscevic took office as the first Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council on 1 January 2008, following the appointment by the SEECP foreign ministers in Zagreb on 10 May 2007. A Croatian diplomat, Mr Biščević previously served as the State Secretary for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Croatia (2003-2007), as well as at a number of other high-level diplomatic posts. Before joining the service, Mr Biscevic was editor-in-chief of the Croatian daily Vjesnik.

Speaking points of the RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic at the Meeting of the SEECP Ministers of Foreign Affairs are available HERE.