SARAJEVO – “Regional cooperation is key to any significant advancement of South East Europe (SEE), and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) plays an indispensible role in making this progress happen”, President of the Republic of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic, said at the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo today.

President Mesic made his remark during a visit to the RCC Secretariat, where he expressed full support to the work of the organization and highlighted the importance Croatia attributes to regional cooperation.

"I believe that Europe will not be united until the South East European countries enter the EU", said Mesic. "The Republic of Croatia is prepared to give all possible support to the countries of the region on this path. For, European association is a millennium endeavor in which all borders will be made open."

The RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic thanked President Mesic for Croatia’s support to the RCC work, pledging the organization would do its utmost to make the region move forward.

“We very much value Croatia’s commitment to regional cooperation, and look forward to the country’s continued contribution to the success of our efforts in promoting mutual cooperation and European and Euro-Atlantic integration of SEE in order to inspire development in the region to the benefit of its people,” said Biscevic. “Needless to say, greater regional responsibility and ownership are crucial not only for the work of the RCC but first and foremost as a guarantee of our region’s stability and growth.”

During the stay at the RCC premises, President Mesic met with the Secretariat’s staff, representatives of the participating States of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the media, and representatives of the RCC Secretariat’s host country.