International Peace Forum organized by Civic Paths - Bitola 

With A Platform For Peace - A Step Closer To Eurointegration


“We remind the countries that they are obliged to respect and implement the European Human Rights Declarations and Conventions...Armed violence, terrorism, and crime need responsible and long-term policy and the democracy, rule of law, human rights and sustainable development are the best prevention and remedy. We are sending an appeal for better cooperation between the South-eastern European countries..." - states among other things, the Peace Platform, signed by 50 NGOs fro the region of South-Eastern Europe, sending a joint message for peace in the region.

The Platform, prepared in Macedonian, Greek, Serbian, Albanian and English, is the first official document of the International Euro-integration Network, whose members are non-governmental organizations from Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Albania and Greece working in the field of youth problems, civil society and human rights.

Regarding the present security and political situation in Macedonia as part of the region of South-Eastern Europe, network-member representatives gathered from 5 to 7 September in Bitola at the "Peace Forum", organized by "Civic Paths" and supported by the European Council

"Signing the Platform on 7 September, at 5 minutes to 12, the members of the International Euro-integration Network emphasized the urgency of the actual peace initiatives that should be implemented in practice in the spirit of the Stability Pact. The Platform will be sent to the governments of the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and Albania, as well as to the international community institutions" - says Aneta Sijakova, president of "Civic Paths".

"Europe is more interested for integration than for disintegration of the Balkan countries" - stated at the Forum, the former ambassador Rade Bogdanovik, emphasizing the fact that on the Balkans, there are strong perspectives for good-neighbour cooperation. Regarding his experience as a coordinator for Balkan cooperation in SFRY, a former Serbian Ambassador in Albania, a General Serbian Consul in Greece, consultant at the Tanzanian Government and Ambassador in Liberia, Bogdanovik is now a higher consultant at "Civic Paths" within the Programme for International Integration and a representative for Serbia and Montenegro.

At the Peace Forum, the members of the International Euro-integration Network presented their strategy for further strengthening of the network through openness for new organizations and providing additional support to the Platform, that will "travel" in future to NGO meetings through the Balkans, under the motto "TOGETHER WE ARE LOUDER, MORE VISIBLE AND STRONGER!!!".

The NGO "Civic Paths" was elected a coordinator of the International Euro-integration Network for the next 6 months, and their first task is to coordinate the planned programmes for disarming, "Arms in exchange for development" and for fight against corruption, foreseen by the Platform.