The PES and the Forum for Democracy and Solidarity have a particular responsibility in this area. Therefore the PES, together with the Group of the PES, plans to organise a series of roundtables, in which socialists from Western Europe as well as from the Balkans will participate, to accompany the implementation of the Stability Pact. The first meeting already took place on 28-29 September 1999 in Skopje. The focus there was on issues of democracy and human rights in the Balkans. Areas such as civil society, media, community administration and minority rights were central discussion points.
Peace is an on-going process.
Even if the fighting in Kosovo is over, there will only be peace and stability there when violence and hate between different groups of peoples are overcome. Creating democracy and stability in the Balkans remains our common challenge. Rudolf Scharping President of the Party of European Socialist Feel free to copy this text, but please acknowledge the source.