SEDM meeting in Tirana

TIRANA (ANA-MPA) -- A joint statement issued after a Southeast European Defence Ministerial (SEDM) process meeting here underlined the need for cooperation between the countries of the region, while noting that countries aspiring to become NATO members should be supported in their efforts.

Addressing the meeting, Greek Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos emphasised that a political evaluation of SEDM and the multinational brigade SEEBRIG should get underway, reminding that the SEEBRIG HQ will be based in Greece between 2011 and 2015.

Moreover, he said that the global economic crisis, developments in NATO and the EU are issues that will have to be taken under consideration.

On Monday, Venizelos had bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Albania, Montenegro, Turkey and Ukraine and other countries represented in the meeting.