South-East European States agree at UN summit to use waterways to promote peace
13 June 2008 - The leaders or representatives of nine South-East European countries have pledged today at a United Nations-organized
meeting to use the region's waterways to encourage greater cultural understanding.
The Athens Declaration, adopted by seven Heads of State and two high-level representatives, emphasizes the importance of
rivers, lakes and maritime routes in contributing to regional cooperation.
"No civilization and no culture is monolithic as both are the result of millennia of contacts and exchanges," according
to the declaration, which was reached at a summit in the Greek capital co-organized by the UN Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Turkey committed themselves
to developing a pool of joint projects involving the waterways to contribute to regional peace and stability.
ENDS