President Crvenkovski at REF SEE in Dubrovnik

Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski Thursday is to participate at the Regional Economic Forum for Southeast Europe - REF SEE in Dubrovnik. Working title of REF SEE 2007 is "Competitors and Partners on the Way to European Union." Besides Stjepan Mesic, president of Republic Croatia, who is the official auspices of the event, participants will be addressed by Branko Crvenkovski, President of Republic of Macedonia, Bamir Topi, President of Republic of Albania, Filip Vujanovic, President of Montenegro, Zeljko Komsic, Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman and Peter Dimitrov minister of economy and energetics of Republic of Bulgaria. Representatives of leading companies, banks and business associations have been invited as well.

President Crvenkovski on the sidelines of the forum is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic and Zeljko Komsic, Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman.

Within REF SEE 2007 there shall be 4 round tables, all covering important regional macroeconomic issues, development politics, business environment, initiatives and possibilities for cooperation of the companies and banks in their interregional operations.

Following topics will be discussed: "Traffic infrastructure" focusing on road and railroad construction; "Energy markets" targeting development, restructuring, liberalization and association of markets; "Financial markets development in the region"; and the last -"Telecommunications".

Amongst these, president's session will be subjected to discussion on CEFTA-Central European Free Trade Agreement.

Regional Economic Forum for Southeast Europe REF SEE is nongovernmental initiative which goal is to gather businessmen, academics and high officials from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and Slovenia. Each of these countries along with their economies, either separately or jointly, have to face inevitable challenge on their way to European Union - being partners and competitors at the same time. REF SEE offers institutional frame and motivating environment to political and economical participants to gather once a year, present the forum, exchange experience and ideas related to the key issues of short and long terms plans of the countries, their economies and citizens in the region.

Previous meetings were held in Cavtat and Milocer, with more then 250 government officials, representatives of business sector, academic society and media.