Balkan leaders discuss regional cooperation

Leaders of nine Balkan countries met in Tirana on Thursday for the fifth annual meeting of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP), with the aim of promoting political and economic cooperation. «We have reaffirmed our strong commitment to further advance the cooperation process of the participating countries through confidence-building measures that will play a greater role in building regional security to the benefit of peace, stability and sustainable development in the region,» said a declaration by the heads of state and government of Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, Romania, Montenegro, Greece and Turkey. The leaders of the troubled region said also that they «welcomed the important commitments and all efforts and progress made by participating countries to overcome the difficult situations and crises experienced in the region during the last year.» ýhey reconfirmed their «commitment to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of our countries’ borders.» Bayim was released on Tuesday after promising to bring back the money. Instead, he contacted the police. The Africans were arrested for fraud, while the Gypsies were charged with abduction.